Wiltshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) is planning to reorganise the way that GP services are provided out-of-hours. They say that this will improve the service and work more efficiently. We all hope so, of course. Over the years that I have served on the Health Scrutiny Committee at County Hall, I have been struck by the way that some people appear able to get better treatment than others - because they know how to use the NHS. So I am looking to the PCT (and to be fair, they have promised this) to ensure that the publicity is simple, straightforward and tells Bradford on Avon people exactly who to phone when they need the NHS out-of-hours.
Wiltshire Councils “Department of Spin” needs to be closed down.Last week Wiltshire Council trumpeted a fall in the teenage pregnancy rate. But by looking at the official figures, it is pretty obvious that the numbers fluctuate from year to year and that the change is not statistically significant. In fact, it comes at the end of three years of increase. The most likely explanation for the tiny fall is that midsummer night was unseasonably cold on Salisbury Plain ! The statistics show a stubborn problem across England, with all counties (including Wiltshire) struggling to make any impression.
It really isn’t good enough for the department of spin at Wiltshire Council to invent good-news-stories out of nothing – people will stop believing anything that the council says”.
Have been attempting to help constituent in their need for housing in Bradford on Avon (Please forgive the shortage of details, but I am trying to write this not to identify anyone). Having a name, a face and a real life circumstance to put to the problen - not just numbers - does bring home just how difficult things can be.
Anti Bridge campaigners have shown their true colours by issuing threats to the Mayor, Mrs Isabel Martindale.
An email from the email address of Annette Seekings says,
“We do urge you to persuade the Mayor not to capture the chair (as she has the right to do) by the device of attending a meeting that she need not attend. Her presence in the chair (or that of your vice chairman) will be questioned on account of her inevitably one sided interest. This could well provoke unpleasant and unnecessary hostility at what should be a civilised gathering of electors”.
The email refers to a “Parish Meeting” being called by 8 members of the group to discuss a Parish Poll on the subject of the Foot and Cycle Bridge. The rules quite clearly state that the Mayor must chair such a meeting if she attends. Although it is not convenient to her, Mrs Martindale has undertaken to the BBC that she will attend.
When and if I get a retraction, I shall take this post down.
Canvassing in Woolley Street, Bradford on Avon yesterday and heard vividly (can you hear things vividly?) why the opinion polls are showing a drop in support for the Conservatives. Like it or not, people do not trust David Cameron - and I am talking about people who would lean towards the Tories.
Not a single Labour voter - the tactical voting message is getting through! Labour voters made up less than 5% of the vote in Bradford last year - and across the Chippenham constituency, it was the same.
Alot of people recognised Duncan Hames, the Liberal Democrat candidate- so the hard-work he has put in since 2003 may be about to be paid back - fingers crossed.
Met British Waterways and local residential boat owners in Bradford on Avon yesterday, with local councillors Trevor Carbin and Linda Conley. Also pleased that Toby Sturgis, member of Wiltshire’s cabinet took time to attend - along with officers from Wiltshire Council.
And now I find an email message saying “British Waterways is Following You on Twitter!”. Should I be worried ?
After many years and many accidents, the Leigh Road crossroads (just north of Bradford on Avon) is to get traffic lights, Wiltshire Council confirmed to me last week. I am not yet certain of timescales.
Have started collecting a petition in support of the Cable-Stay Bridge for Bradford on Avon. Despite the successful planning application, we need to demonstrate support for the bridge in order to bid for funding from a variety of places. All of them want to see evidence that the bridge has backing.
Well done to council workers for filling so many potholes so quickly after the recent cold-weather. Aided by the development of Cold Curing Asphalt, we should find potholes across the county (indeed across the UK) being filled more easily in future.
However, the powers that be in County Hall still haven’t quite got it. Many of the potholes repaired have been recently repaired and have broken through again. You will recognise this one in Trowbridge Road. The original repair (in 2007 after being reported by Lib Dems) took two visits, but came out again within a day of the cold-snap starting. Trowbridge Road needs a new surface.
Prior to the bad-weather, people across Wiltshire rang Wiltshire Council asking them to fill the local gritbin. These are the yellow road-side bins you can see around town - usually in hilly places. Unfortunately, many were not filled in time. I am grateful to the gentleman in Elms Cross Drive for reporting this to me. Wiltshire Council are now asking Parish Councils to help in identifying bins needing refilling. Now call me slow, but I would have thought that a big label on each bin saying - “Please ring Clarence on 0800 232323 if I need refilling” would do the job.
