New Road opens to chaos

I see that KMonline are reporting utter chaos as part of the new East Kent Access road is open.

Do Kent highways ever get things right, while the new road will undoubtably eventually improve Thanet's links to the outside world, it seems as with so much here in East Kent to be poorly managed and a little late, by the time it's fully operational most of Pfizer's will have gone.

Thanet traffic misery, seems unavoidable, Westwood Cross is as bad as ever, even more worrying for me will be the building of Tesco-on-sea just along Marine Terrace, which for much of the day will become a hideous traffic jam.

Thanet council and their lacklustre colleagues at Kent Highways seam incapable of coherent planning.

Already TDC have agreed to a thousand plus houses at Westwood and are now trying to add to the misery by allowing house building on adjacent land currently designated for industry.

Why can't Kent council work together and try a little strategic thinking I just hope they haven't cocked up my route to and from work.

Anyway enjoy the heatwave where god intended stuck in slow moving traffic jam.

Did they ever? Crikey

I must say this item in todays i newspaper, I found quite a surprise, basically it reports that Palestinians have lost faith in Tony Blair's role as Middle East peace broker.

It's touching that long suffering Palestinians, ever did trust him.

Back in 1967, Israel did quite rightly what it had to, in order to protect itself, forty years later there is no excuse for them to hold onto land taken then.

Palestine also has a right to exist, as much as any nation, it's not good enough that America and her allies assist Israel's long term strategy, which is to hang on to the occupied lands, and imprison the people of Palestine.


Apparently Blair doesn't agree with Palestine's demand to be recognised, an odd position to take from the man who gave Scotland and Wales their own assemblies, which if it isn't already seen as such, will one day be noted as the pivotal point in the break up of the United Kingdom.

The thing about Tony Blair is he seeks approval from those he sees as more powerful than he, which goes a long way to explain Iraq, Afghanistan, his upgrade in religious affiliations and did I hear-right godfather to one of the Murdoch's.

I understand why some sections of the Labour party admire him having been the only successful Labour leader in recent times, pity he didn't look to have much time for social justice.

The Middle East needs a fair minded strong individual with the balls to stand up for what's right.

Still nobody takes responsibility Kent’s Child Care failings

BBC report that KCC are making significant improvements to child care and lord knows they need to. For details of how they’ve improved things click to read the BBC local news report.

Still no news, as to who within Kent County Council is responsible for placing children at risk of significant harm, I suppose we will never be told, as KCC seems committed to side stepping this for reasons, we will have to guess.

So just where does ” the buck stop “ on this issue? Will Paul Carter ever sort out that enquiry as to what happened?

Finally KCC have a least had the decency and honesty to drop the claim to perform excellently, a bit of an exaggeration given the seemingly endless er… cock ups unfortunate occurrences, with staff, media, money and by far the worst children's services, I must say it would be difficult not to put Kent first, seeing as its on the stationary.

Opulence and Public Service

Driving down London's, Euston Road en route to or from work, for a while now I've been curious as to what rich probably uncaring entity, could afford to occupy a rather striking, opulent, brightly lit building between Euston and St Pancras

Due to the traffic congestion, I eventually spotted the signage for Unison (public sector union) and wonder how this brash glass and concrete building fits into the role representing Unison as the embodiment of hard done by, selfless, caring, public sector workers.

I know I'm cynical of those whose jobs are funded by the taxpayer, and frankly take the view that the majority in the public sector don't know half of what goes on in the commercial world, I'm only too aware that in the wider economy, workers have few if any rights, and ignoring rights is rife in the commercial world.

In the last week or so there have been a couple of examples of extreme abuse both concerning slave labour admittedly rare, although exploitation of migrant labour is commonplace, just where Unisons heart is in relation to such matters, I don't know, but do know where their home is and its one of the more expensive parts of London.

BBC Regional politics from elsewhere

Not often I watch the Politics Show South East, today I did, despite having some interest in politics, this programme rarely has any truly local politics and today was no different tried and tested, it follows a tired and predictable path, a subject that could cover any region and more often than not a Westminster politician or two.

This weeks bland approach was enhanced by that more than irritating technique in which BBC reporter ask another what they think? Who cares?

I get the impression that the role of political correspondents, in the regions is a sort of apprenticeship and that one day they’ll get the chance to bore us witless with clichéd thinking on the main BBC news.

Delving into regional politics, the nitty-gritty end of reporting local government seems beneath the BBC, so why don’t they buy in local talent from local newspapers and use reporters who know local issues.

One item BBC South East have brushed aside is the challenge to Cllr Paul Carters leadership of Kent Conservatives and the Council, fortunately local press still report as is the case in todays, Kent on Sunday, who reveal that one Kent Council Cabinet member Kevin Lynes reckons it’s the wrong time to challenge the leader, still he would say that wouldn’t he.

I know this subject is boring but so is regional reporting from BBC South East and their failure to be part of or report the local democratic process.