National Rail Enquiries - Stonewall for Southeastern

As you will appreciate from the graphic above, finding that the National Rail Enquiries couldn't answer a straight questions yesterday (see earlier post), about train services without giving the wrong answer, least not those posed by my family, or it seems anyone else, I thought I'd try again, having heard some real "porkies" yesterday.

National Rail Enquiries invites you and I to ask Lisa and from her photograph she looks helpful enough, so I thought I'd start by asking her Why can't you give honest reliable information about Southeastern trains?, as you'll see, above, she swerved the first question, answering one that hadn't been asked.

I asked a few more questions

Me
Shall I try and make it simple?
Lisa says:
I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean. Could you please rephrase it for me?


I find it easier to understand short sentences and keywords.


Me:
Why can't you give accurate information for Southeastern trains?
Lisa says: Nothing


Me:
If you don't know who does?
Lisa says:
I've been programmed with lots of information, so I hope I'm giving you the right answer.


Me:
Could I speak to your manager?
Lisa says:
I'm loading our Feedback page, which will point you in the right direction to let us or a Train Operating Company have your feedback.

Me:
cheers!
Lisa says:
It sounds like you want to pass some kind words of thanks to us about travelling by train. It's nice when someone goes out of their way to say a few kind words of praise about someone.

Me:
not really
Lisa says:
I'm struggling to grasp what you mean. It might help if you use just a few keywords to explain what you're trying to find out.

I have to say that the complacent and dare I say, contemptible attitude shown by the rail industry toward  consumers comes as no surprise and in reality I wonder if after nearly 20 years of privatisation anything has really changed since BR days, yes large heaps of money are being handed to commercial companies however they still seem to exude that public sector attitude of arrogance that somehow their doing us a favour and we the customer should be grateful for any service.

Shock Horror - Thanet disrupted by a bit of Snow

Who could have predicted that a few inches of snow could interrupt travel and business to the extent that it has today.

How is it that South Eastern Trains in the days of Twitter Facebook and all those other internet resources, could not communicate, the fact that trains leaving from Minster were basically stuffed, checking on the internet South Eastern were optimistically and with no apparent  reference to reality was suggesting that trains were "on time", which according to Mrs Me was certainly not the case.

Eventually Mrs Me got a train from Faversham, and missed the kick off at Chelsea, and is not happy, not following these things myself, I suggested that at least she'd seen a few goals, not knowing that Chelsea were at one point 3 up against M U, I expect she'll be writing a letter tomorrow to South Eastern, and I suspect by the end of the week they'll be ignoring it.

Anyhoo I got to shop up at a deserted Westwood, only interrupted with an irate phone call, but really how difficult could it be to sort out, our transport systems, and how come the roads are in such a poor state, Kent Highways are in my opinion useless, you see them out gritting on mild winter evenings, and the first snow flake....

Just as I finished this posting, I kid you not, I  came across this from another blogger Chris Scoggins who is happy to state on his blog "I'm Chris Scoggins, the Chief Executive of National Rail Enquiries – a privately-owned company that runs one of the UK’s top websites and one of the busiest telephone services."  even better I note that not only are trains late but such is the culture at National Rail Enquires, his New Year Greetings, are not posted until 20th of January!

Mrs Me, has now arrived home and will be sending a letter, to perhaps Mr Scroggins tomorrow, maybe something along the lines Dear Mr Scoggins how is it that four people contacted independently, rail enquires to be told that trains were running as scheduled from Minster, only to find this couldn't be further from the truth, why couldn't you and your flippin colleagues give the correct information.

Missy the Cat

I thought I'd not blog today, so instead here's some pictures of Missy the new family cat, admittedly there are plenty more serious subjects to choose from locally and the greater world, stuff like Sainsbury's proposed new supermarket, which if it goes ahead will make traveling out of Margate a mission, as of course will the wretched plan to allow Tesco, to occupy an incongruous location for massive supermarket on the front of Margate seafront and of course not forgetting the equally out of place "occupy protest" outside the Turner Gallery 

Still its the weekend and for once I'm  not working, I hope to get down to see the elements and hope to be the first local blogger to resist the temptation of engaging with anti capitalist protesters, a tall order indeed, which thus far neither Michael Child, Luke Edwards, Simon Moores has resisted, perhaps Peter Checksfield could do a photo shoot for his blog, for myself I might fail to resist the urge to suggest they get a job (yes I accept that the protesters if not in full time employment are actively seeking work by seeking the downfull of the capitalist system).

Anyway this blogger shall mainly be concerned with occupying a comfortable armchair at Flaig Mansions enjoying the company of family, watchin telly, observing as the cat continues her education, dark thoughts of gready bankers, bent politicians can at least wait till Sunday.

BBC Judge and Jury?

Chris Huhne resigns, having no choice following allegations, as I understand by his ex-wife, who suddenly if I've got this right, confessed to having taken penalty points for a speeding offence (way back in 2003), some years later in 2011, which should have gone taken by her then husband.

Both will now appear in court to answer charges of perverting the course of justice, now I cannot help thinking, the rights and wrongs of this will be decided by a jury, however I cannot help thinking that the over  the top coverage being played out just now on the BBC's News channel is prejudicial, and if I was unkind might suggest its also biased and plain boring.

Switching channels, I see Sky news have other items on their news, maybe as I often suspect, BBC Journalist are just too lazy, why bother reporting news when, you can chit chat in a vaguely relevant way to a colleague standing somewhere in Westminster talking well informed bollix.

Where's my vote? - Scots dictate my future, why?

I've had a little break from blogging and apart from yesterdays post on Turner, a few things have rattling around the fairly insignificant Flaig brain as subjects fit for discussion, honesty or lack of it has been mooted by acedemics and rather cheekily in my opinion by David Harnett boss of HMRC complaining about tax evasion when as I understand he allowed Vodafone and Goldman Sachs to side step billions in tax payments, another worry is continued British involvement in Afganistan supporting a corrupt government, fighting a barbaric opposition and with all this going on a country where primitive pea brained religious leaders imprison victims of rape apparently backed by a hostile Pakistan, still with all that, the subject which gives me most cause for concern is Scottish voters and politicians running roughshod over the democratic rights of the majority of British people.

Some time ago I predicted the break up, of the United Kingdom and now it looks to me as if within the next Ten years it will be game over for the British Nation. Now I don't have any particular grievance against Scotland or it's people, however I do object to, preferential treatment given to fellow British citizens, some of you will recall how Labour sold out England when devolving power to Scotland and Wales, for some reason Labour didn't think it necessary to allow for equality, so we have a situation where regional decisions concerning England can well be decided by Scots MP's which explains why English students pay tuition fees and Scots don't likewise with prescription fees and care for the elderly.

How Blair and Brown justified devolved government excluding England has slipped my mind or why it didn't provoke outrage in England at the time, still it's pretty much a fait accompli, I'm sure if lose weight adopt a healthy lifestyle I shall live long enough to say I told you so.

Labour were very much polished in the use or rather misuse of language, for propaganda purposes at the time Blair and Brown were encouraging the break up of the United Kingdom, much play was made of English "Regional Assemblys" to pervert the inclination of English people asking for an equivalent devolved English Parliament, however even this bone was eventually withdrawn.

So where do we stand more than 10 years on from the first meeting of the Scottish Parliament, well if your Scottish not bad, chances are you've got a cushty, job courtesy of the British taxpayer, and the satisfaction of after years of blaming the English, you currently have the upper hand.

I find being English that whether I want to or not, I feel somehow responsible for past sins of Britain, whether it's engineering the Irish potato famine, Scottish land clearances  or colonisation of much of the globe, despite the reality that those responsible were as always the minority wealthy governing classes.

To summarise, I feel it's time we all took a reality check about honesty, morality Britain, as I pontificate, the United Kingdom is lets face run from the top down by cretinous politicians and supported by a bent press, rotten to the core, big business evades billions of tax, and overpaid half wits at HMRC expect us to pick up the tab, worst still  although the UK has less influence than at anytime in it's history, a worrying number of this country's citizens are bent on attacking fellow countrymen and British service personnel are put at risk for what, in Afghanistan.

On the later point I'd like to see the government withdraw British forces today and instead educate communities susceptible to hostile views of anti western terrorists, of the liberties, freedoms, tolerance, equality and dare I say once acceptable customs of this nation, still I didn't mention democracy since it's the case, that Labour despite using that solid sounding term "stakeholder" often referring to the likes of you and me, have disbarred English residents from having a say on the future of the United Kingdom, the only ones who count are those residing in Scotland, since they get to vote, and you and I don't.

Even the thought of not having to see a smug Alex Salmond, explain how his dynamic Scottish economy is flourishing without mentioning the huge subsidy by British (English taxpayers) is quite a bonus but the price for both Scotland and England is I think too much, still what I think doesn't count does it.

PS I've probably overstepped the mark and I suspect that a few will have me down as a nut, something that might well be, still, my generation grew up in a time when free speech was more so than it is today. We live in a world today where sadly you cannot upset anybody and where the rich can without cause easily silence free speech with a bent lawyer.

MANSTON -Bob Bayford Leader Thanet Conservatives refutes Labour Claims

It seems that Bob Bayford is a tad, upset, (see press release below) as well he might be, on claims made be the Leader of Thanet Council,Cllr Clive Hart, that he created " monster of a process " referring to consultation over Manston night time flying policy, for myself despite, an apparent cross party agreement on helping Manston expand at the time it was suggest BA world Cargo might use the airport, it has become a political football, sadly with Labour milking the nimby vote for all its worth, with little consideration for those of us, who work for a living.

Still below is the Conservative Press release

Manston Airport - Open Letter from Bob Bayford, TDC Conservative Group
31 January 2012


Leader Clive Hart's latest press release concerning consultation on Infratil's night-time flying policy is simply breathtaking in its distance from the truth.

He claims that I had created 'a monster of a process', clearly ignoring the fact that the approach to consultation was determined by an in-house group of officers together with myself and (Labour) Councillor Mike Harrison, the then chair of the Airport Working Party. A draft process was then taken to that working party, where members made their contribution before final agreement. Hardly my process!

During the formative stages, a number of principles were established, with Cllr Harrison's full agreement. Amongst these were:-

1)  That the substantive consultation had to be carried out by an independent, well-respected organisation. This was to remove any suggestion of TDC bias in the results.

2)  That any reports produced by the airport in support of their proposals would be subjected to a rigorous 'peer review' to establish their veracity.

3)  That the consultation should be 'zoned' to ensure that weighting was afforded to those most affected by night-time flying but that opinion had to be sought from not only the rest of Thanet but also those other residents and businesses in Kent who had an interest in Manston's expansion. To facilitate this wider consultation, KCC were contributing £40,000 towards the cost and Canterbury City Council £5000.

1. That getting the consultation right was more important than rushing to a conclusion.

As far as I am aware, these principles were all endorsed by the working party.

The timing of the consultation was always going to be determined by when the airport submitted its policy proposal and the subsequent submission of noise impact and economic impact reports. The peer review of the latter was published on 23rd of January, which clears the way for public consultation.

The only money spent by TDC to date is the cost of the peer reviews. In my opinion, whatever the future may hold with regard to Manston, it was vital that any reports produced for the airport should have been subjected to expert, independent scrutiny, to inform the Council's stance on the airport's activities.

I am frankly surprised by the present leader's stance on this issue. On the one hand, he suggests that there is no need for the Council to consult but then proposes a half-baked consultation, guaranteed to produce a biased outcome.

Whether the Council can, at this stage, make any binding decisions on the airport is irrelevant. TDC has a civic leadership responsibility to have a view on the airport's expansion and operational ambitions. It is a topic that elicits strong opinions on both sides of the argument. The eventual fate of the airport will have economic and environmental consequences for many. TDC must give a lead, having considered the public's views and Infratil's proposals.

Bob Bayford
Leader, TDC Conservative Group

Turner Complacency

Above from Turner Contemporary Facebook page

I'm indebted to Cllr Clive Hart (Leader of Thanet Council)  for inspiration on this blog post, having received an email reminder of what I could have enjoyed, had I been aware of, that being the projection of a poem by artist Lemn Sissay, who I assume is somewhat more accomplished in arranging words than I, anyhow it looked from photographs on Clive's Facebook page to have been a fantastic visual treat.

I have to admit that I dont know enough to tell when words become poetry, however I'm sure I'd have enjoyed the visual side of this event, certainly Cllr Hart's photograph's shows that this projection lifted the normaly bland monochrome appearance of the gallery into something special and sympathetic to Margate's brash gaudy heritage.

I regularly check out the Turner Contemporary website and have to say, that Gallery seems to run a selective or ineffective public relations/information strategy , although this event was not directly commissioned by the gallery, it was linked and should have been bigged up, a bit more than it was, speaking to the gallery bods yesterday, I mentioned I could find no reference and was pointed to a brief mention in the whats on section.

Looking at the "press" section of Turner Contemporary website, there seems to be a dearth of information, according to the list of press releases, since December 19th last year, nothing has been worthy of mention, such as Lemn Sissay or indeed, Jon Snow news presenter, officially opening the exhibition last Friday  (according to this weeks Thanet Times), an event one assumes to allow the top knobs to er hobnob, without risk of being exposed to us lower orders, who through patronage of the national lottery, and tax system  fund the gallery.

I appreciate that Turner Contemporary is marketed and promoted with a bit more panache than the odd email or press release, using social media such as facebook and personal contacts, but it doesn't seem, judgeing by a quick glance, at the main website, as if there has been any great excitement, over the arrival of Turner's elements.

No doubt some of you have an idea that I have a downer on the gallery, not so and get hacked off at the muppets who litter the letters page of the Isle of Thanet Gazette with simplistic views, however since to the best of my knowledge the gallery is publically funded, I just question why the gallery has been schtum about what was billed by the Guardian as the opening of Turner and the Elements on Friday 27th. Given that  John Kampfner is both chair of the Board of Turner Contemporary and Chief Executive of the organisation Index on Censorship, I can't help thinking that there is more than a hint of irony. Still that's my opinion, and since I like to think we're a bit more inclusive here at Bignews Margate, John Kampfner or anyone else can always correct me by making a comment.

Anyhoo remember that T C is part of local life, not just a curiosity for arty farty types from London so enjoy the elements a real treat I'm sure, and finally it's clear that the gallery has reached out to those locally who are receptive and this first year will have exceeded the projected visitor numbers, however I hope that people arent complacent for myself I think that T C will continue to succeed  but they cannot relax.

PS I may have been harsh taking a gander at TC's facebook pages, these seem more informative and active than the proper Website, me I don't really do facebook and as it gets more intrusive the less I like.

Click here for Lemn Sissay poem 

Turner Contemporary Facebook page

East Kent Hospitals - Turn back the clocks

If you thought the idea of an evening spent listening to local councillors, debate next years council budget was depressing, you'd be right, however the prelude to the meeting in the form of a briefing given by Stuart Bain Chief Executive of East Kent Hospitals, referring to the future of emergency treatment for major trauma, wasnt without some concerns either. 

I understand that management of East Kent Hospitals are currently "engaging" with staff, doctors and local MP's over changes in dealing with major trauma. This apparently follows from advice by the Royal College of Surgeons, the drift of discussion (I wont use the word consultation just yet, since that's the formality were we comment on official proposals that are usually set in stone) anyhoo if you'd like to bone up on the subject this document might help.

The jist of East Kent Hospitals University Trust thinking is that improved resources will be funnelled into the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, and similar plans being suggested for the Medway Maritime Hospital at Gillingham and the new Pembury Hospital (That's the one even the locals struggle to get to) the rationale being that major trauma injuries currently treated in London Hospital's should be dealt with closer to home. 

It sounds a good idea and maybe it is, however many of us remember that its not too long since you couldn't get anything but the most basic emergency treatment here in Thanet, so I'd like to see some confirmation that Margate Hospital is not once again to be sidelined and rundown. 

After Mr Bain had made his presentation questions were invited, Cllr Iris Johnson piped up expressing appreciation thanks and gratitude to the chief executive for coming to the meeting, Cllr Ezekiel raised important points about the difficulty relatives and friends would have visiting particularly those on low incomes, Cllr Ian Driver, also bought up travel time (as someone who once worked in Ashford my best time, late for work! is around 40minutes) and more importantly the issue of treating the elderly, nationally it's clear that some old people are neglected and over the years I've seen short comings first hand, however from his response to that last issue and my own correspondence with Mr Bain and resulting in a prompt resolution, I'm inclined to think that things are genuinely improving.

When the "consultation" proper takes place which I understand will start in April, lets hope we get all the facts and  that focusing resources in Ashford does not mean the thin end of the wedge in which we see Margate Hospital reduced once again to cottage hospital status despite being in the middle of East Kent's largest population.

UPDATE Since posting this it has been suggested that maybe I have attributed things that I shouldn't etc. see comments So as ever you may wish to read this with caution, it is my personal take and recollection.

Channel 4 News - Are these people real

Just an idle thought about media bods, watching the channel four news last night (Wednesday) , I couldn't help noticing the gulf between what I consider normal in the current job market and the seeming unfamiliarity of the presenter of last night's channel four news.

Unemployment is a miserable existence, it isn't just money, work or not working defines you, it's a the thing that makes you belong or not, outside of the underclass workshy bludgers, most of us prefer to work.

Watching Jon Snow, interviewing a young man who having graduated from university last summer with a degree in archaeology and has yet to find a full time job, although he has had several temporary jobs, maybe I got the newsman wrong but Snow seemed somewhat surprised at the state of the jobs market.

Anyway if you didn't see it, here's how I recall some of the interview, Jon Snow "I gather you even got to selling Christmas trees?" a question in style and  tone which I thought would be more appropriate had the subject been involved in drug dealing or people trafficking.

Subject "yes, yes Christmas I sold Christmas trees"  

Jon Snow still reeling from the depths to which people can sink "When you were sitting your archaeology degree you can hardly have thought, you'd end up digging up Christmas trees"

And then this from Mr Snow "How difficult is it for you, as somebody who has now been through 7 or 8 months of not having a proper job?" now I appreciate many of you will be in a steady job, following a conventional career path, or retired and out of the game but come on, millions in this country perpetually work on temporary contracts, I just wonder what world media bods inhabit.

Jon Snow will be down in these parts at the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate, at the end of the month having been given the honour of opening "Turner and the elements" exhibition, this I understand will be an exclusive soiree with art/media industry wallahs, the monied classes, perhaps he could, spend an hour or two outside the media bubble and do some research while he down this way and see how ordinary people exist.

Reference was made to getting a "proper job", assuming this means secure ongoing employment, this is something that is disappearing for much of the workforce, the only part of the economy immune is the public sector, its a worry the news presenter seemed so unfamiliar with how things are, perhaps one question that Snow could have asked the former student, harsh but relevant why archaeology? why not something a bit more appealing to employers?  To anyone looking for work, my advice is to take anything going.

PS Yet to graduate from the University of Life, what do I know, which might explain why I only expect to make it through to the end of my next shift.

Link to interview in question not sure how long it will be available

Blogging Hell

Crikey some days you think that blogging has come of age, and then something crops up you think it's as crass as it always was.

God knows here on the planet Thanet, there has been enough twaddle spoken and written about blogging often by those who should know better.

I see Cllr John Worrow is off on one with his recent blog posting (sadly unavailable as I post this) about ethical diversity blogging or something similar yes I know the stuff I inflict on those without the self control to avoid these pages with a load of twaddle and really if I had any decency about me I wouldn't do it, I mean think of all those poor vulnerable politicians, and jobsworths who can't defend themselves.

Still it seems that John is suggesting bloggers come together and appoint vigilantes sorry wardens to monitor blogs with a mind to curbing racist and religious intolerance, a noble idea, but in the real world there will always be cranks and criminals who will abuse free speech and then of course there will always be those self appointed arbiters of what's right and wrong.

At the end of the day we all know the difference between reasoned fair comment and twisted words of propaganda and inuendo, so while I concur with John's motives, I think he is barking up the wrong tree with this one.