EAST MARSH INVOLVE – APRIL MEETING

The April Meeting of East Marsh Involve will be held tomorrow night, which is the last Tuesday of the month (as usual), April 28 and will be held at the Grimsby Neighbourhood Centre and will start at 6 pm.

The meeting as usual is open to all members of the East Marsh Community and the aim of this community meeting is to discuss community issues; with the purpose of overcoming ongoing problems, improve service and report regularly on all issues raised at previous meetings.

Guest speaker: Marcus Czarnecki will be present at this meeting to talk about the newly launched Community Payback Scheme.

AGENDA FOR EAST MARSH INVOLVE:

Councillors Ward Funding

Other Funding Requests

Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Co-ordinator Marcus Czarnecki

Priority Action Team Meeting

Ward Councillor’s Update

Neighbourhood Development Worker’s Update

Any Other Business

SUSAN BOYLE: NEW INTERNET PHENOMENA – MORE HITS IN ONE DAY THAN IAIN DALE GETS IN A WHOLE YEAR

Unusually yesterday I had the chance to watch the BBC News at 1 pm, and of course there were the usual political stories – to feed my daily appetite.

But, then I heard about the new “Internet Phenomena” – Susan Boyle! Susan appeared on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday night - and was an instant hit. The moment she walked on stage we knew something spectacular was going to happen – she was going to be hit or a flop!

Susan is a 47-year-old church volunteer from West Lothian who has become an overnight singing sensation with millions watching her perform not only on TV but now on the YouTube Channel and yesterday at 1 pm there had been 5 and half million views of her Saturday night performance, and what a performance.

On Saturday, Susan Boyle literally stunned the judges with her performance of I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables – even Simon Cowell was lost for words – he was stunned.

Ms Boyle has now become the bookies’ favourite to win the talent show.

In less than 24 hours Susan popularity ratings are shooting way beyond she could ever imagine – there have been millions of other internet viewers, and now the video footage of her appearance on Britain’s Got Talent has been viewed by an amazing 12,336,268 views and received a grand total of 69,782 comments. I posted this article on my other site earlier today, and only a few hours later the number of hits has increased by a further 600,000 – surely this must be a “record breaker – it proves “Britain’s Truly Got Talent”.

If, this carries on at this rate; there could be a danger of an “Internet Meltdown” and the death of the political blogger – we now have new phenomena – is it a cunning plot by Gordon Brown to save the world?

Watch out Iain Dale, your total yearly hits have been surpassed in just one day – you have now lost your “Internet Crown”.

NEW ONLINE POLL – WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A NEW LIBRARY BUILT IN GRANT THOROLD PARK?

Today, I am launching a online poll: you have a simple choice. Would you like to see a new Library built in Grant Thorold Park?

All three East Marsh Ward Councillors have campaigned for a new Library for the East Marsh Ward – the present Library is in urgent need of replacement – it is presently subsiding.

North East Lincolnshire Council is committed to rebuilding a new Library, but members of the Planning Committee voted against the Planning Officer’s recommendation, which appears a little unusual.

The present Library is well used by children, young people, adults, and the elderly – it is one of the most popular Community libraries in the whole of the Borough. Some residents have argued that the new Library would create anti-social behaviour; however many young people presently use the Library as a safe haven and a meeting place – they just meet to have a chat. What is wrong with that, they respect the building and we are sure that they will respect the new building.

The computers are well used, and they are a vital facility for the local residents; in particular local children who often do not have access to a home PC.

If you would like to view the proposed plans for the new and the reasons why the Councillors turned it down

>>>>CLICK HERE

Don’t forget to make sure you vote in this online poll; this poll will close on April 21, 2009.

Tonight’s Grimsby Evening Telegraph leads with a story on page four that North East Lincolnshire Council Planning Committee rejected the application from the council’s own library services – the committee voted eight to three against the proposals for the futuristic building. On this occasion elected members overturned the recommendations of the Planning Officers who believed that the proposals were perfectly acceptable.

Agents NELC architectural Consultancy, had hoped the state-of-the-art project on Durban Road would replace the current library facilities – which have been earmarked for demolition and were described as “out-of-date”.

Unfortunately, 16 residents who live opposite the proposed development had signed a petition objecting to the plans – which included nine parking spaces – saying they were concerned about the impact on their lives, access and potential anti-social behaviour.

In the days before the Planning Committee I worked closely with fellow ward Councillor; Jon-Paul Howarth with the aim of making sure the application was approved. Unfortunately, I was unable to speak at the meeting; therefore Jon-Paul spoke on behalf of all three East Marsh Ward Councillors, he said: the library would be monitored by CCTV.

He also said the building had green credentials thanks to its planned “living wall” which would have a hedge growing in it.

He said: “It is long overdue and the building is aspirational.”

In the last few hours I have heard from many residents that they are concerned that the Library may not built - they want action NOW!

They have called a meeting of local residents at Grant Thorold Library on Tuesday, 14 April at 12 noon; the local media have been invited along with local Councillors, East Marsh Action Group, Friends of Grant Thorold Park and members of East Marsh Involve.

If you want to make sure that Grant Thorold Library is re-built don’t forget to be in the park next Tuesday, 14 April.

EASTER EGG PACKAGING SLASHED BY A THIRD

Liberal Democrat MP for East Dunbartonshire, Jo Swinson in her annual report on Easter egg packaging, she claims: packaging has been cut drastically this year, but recyclability is also a concern.

The report compares the packaging of ten Easter eggs with measurements from 2008 and 2007, and concludes that several manufacturers have reduced their packaging, although more could be done to cut it back even further. Companies reduced the weight of their packaging by an average of 33.5% on last year. Significant improvements have also been made in the amount of environmental information provided on the packaging. However, in some cases packaging has been reduced at the expense of keeping it recyclable.

The Lindt Easter egg was the worst performer for the third year running, having made no significant changes to its packaging at all, with the egg still taking up on 9% of its box. The company who showed the most improvement since 2008 was Nestlé, while the packaging for Terry's eggs actually increased. Eggs produced by Sainsbury's, Terry's, Cadbury and Green & Black's eggs all produce no landfill waste.

Commenting, Jo Swinson said: "While it is encouraging that the amount of packaging used for Easter eggs has gone down, they remain one of the most excessively packaged and wasteful products available.

"On average the Easter eggs still take up only 40% of their packaging, so there is still more that can be done to reduce it even more. It is also important to make sure not just that packaging is reduced, but that it is recyclable and that is made clear to consumers.

"The progress that has been made in the past year is encouraging, but manufacturers must go much further."
To read Jo Swinsons Annual Report >>>>>CLICK HERE

SHOCK HORROR – COUNCILLOR PLAYS GAMES ON CBEEBIES WEBSITE – BUT WILL THE STATE BE WATCHING

Today, and yesterday my two young grandchildren and myself have been playing games on the CBeebies Website – yet again! But from tomorrow I will have to be careful; because the State may be watching our every move.

Yes, believe or not the State could be watching “SHOCK HORROR – COUNCILLOR PLAYS GAMES ON CBEEBIES WEBSITE”; they could be watching “Tommy Zoom”, “Boo”, “The Roly Mo Show”, “Underground Ernie”, and much much more!!!! But today, it was “Finlay the Fire Engine”, “LazyTown”, “Lunar Jim”, “Fimbles”, and “Pingu” amongst others – I will have to careful, or I will be accused radicalising my lovely little grandchildren.

Seriously, tomorrow a European Union directive, which Britain was instrumental in devising, comes into force which will require all internet service providers to retain information on email traffic, visits to web sites and telephone calls made over the internet, for 12 months.

Police and the security services will be able to access the information to combat crime and terrorism.

Simon Davies, director of Privacy International, said: “I don’t think people are aware of the implications of this move. It means that everything we do online or on the phone will be known to the authorities.

“They are using this to produce probably the world’s most comprehensive surveillance system.
“This is a disgraceful example of the covert influence that Brussels has across our freedoms and liberties. The entire episode has been marked by a litany of secret dealings, vicious political games and a complete absence of transparency.”

Phil Noble of privacy group NO2ID, said: “This is the kind of technology that the Stasi would have dreamed of.

“We are facing a co-ordinated strategy to track everyone’s communications, creating a dossier on every person’s relationships and transactions.

“It is clearly preparatory work for the as-yet un-revealed plans for intercept modernisation.”

At the North East Lincolnshire Council’s Community Consultation Event residents were asked whether they were in favour of 100 Guildford Street homes being razed to the ground as part of a proposed £7.9-million redevelopment.

Scores of East Marsh homeowners attended a consultation meeting at the Grimsby Neighbourhood Centre on Tuesday afternoon – just before the East Marsh Involve.

Local residents were shown a number of altenatives of how the street layout could be improved, suggestions included: demolition of 100 houses and building a new meandering road; creating open spaces; introducing pedestrianised areas and create thoroughfares to neighbouring Victor and Weelsby Streets.

As reported, North East Lincolnshire Council is in the process of purchasing the 100 run-down properties in the street – and residents are now being consulted on how the area should be redeveloped.

Mike Haynes, NELC’s interim program manager for the redevelopment, said: “We want to find out from the community how they think the street should be changed.

“We have come up with some suggestions of our own based upon the whole or partial demolition of the existing properties, and we hope these will stimulate some interesting views.”

John Harrison (59) lives in the area of Guildford Street where homes will be given improvement grants.

He said: “Our end of the street is pedestrianised already and it causes no end of problems with anti-social behaviour.

“To start with, I thought the only option was to knock all the other homes down, but after hearing some of the council’s ideas I think the regeneration may be a good thing.“

East Marsh Councillors hope the Guildford Street Conultation will inspire residents to provide the council with their vision for the street.

Councillor Jon-Paul Howarth said: “There are some exciting proposals already and this is just a start of the consultation.

“Once the community starts getting a feel for the project, I hope it will inspire them to say how we can make a change in the right direction.”

Councillor Steve Beasant added: ”I’ve always said that two thirds of the housing should be knocked down and the rest should remain – it needs a new lease of life!

“But the whole point of the consultation is that we have to listen to what residents want and find a solution.

“I like what I have seen so far, but I don’t think the right solution is yet on the drawing board. I have confidence in the local residents to come forward with an attractive and inspirational plan.”

The results of the initial consultation will be used to formulate a draft redevelopment brief.
FIND OUT MORE: Contact the redevelopment team on 0845 8492000.