Hubbly Bubbly £1.25 a cup?It was inevitable that the newly installed Coffee Hub in Scottish Borders Council HQ would attract the attention of the regular letter writers to the Berwickshire; hence:
SIR, - Yet again I feel compelled to vent my frustration at the gross hypocrisy of our so called council and councillors.
It was reported last week in the local and national press and the BBC that SBC have just spent nearly £20,000 of our money on a “coffee hub”, this includes £13,657 on alterations and £3,123 each on two new dispensing machines. The new look hub replaces three self operated hot water machines.
The “Hub” is situated next to the debating chamber and dispenses free drinks to our councillors and guests, however, to us mere mortals it is £1.25 thank you very much.
Depute leader Alec Nicol tried to justify the expenditure by saying: “It follows longstanding dissatisfaction with previous arrangements expressed by members and officers alike and a desire from them for a more palatable alternative, provided through improved facilities”.
This is the same Alec Nicol, among others, who told a packed Drill Hall in Duns just three weeks ago that there had to be cuts and it was unfortunate that the renewal of the lease for the Drill Hall was one of them.
He is obviously of the opinion a “more palatable” free cuppa for him and his cronies is more important than providing a community hall in Duns.
Most people in their workplace have to pay for their own coffee through kittys or by bringing their own. Just what sort of arrogance leads them to believe they are above such practises?
The other councillors could learn a lot from Councillor Nicholas Watson who branded it “a waste of public money” and Councillor Davie Paterson who brings his own flask to meetings as a matter of principle.
I urge the people of the Borders to no longer accept these double standards and start asking questions of our council’s behaviour.
Councillor Nicol, wake up and smell the coffee, £1.25 please!
NIALL WHYTE,£1.25 seems very reasonable to me
And now a flash from our motoring correspondent:
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This tale of the B6461 is, for once, not a tale of snail-like geriatric motorists.
"En route to Berwick last night in the early evening I was at the big bend due west of the Low Baldersbury sign. Towards me, riding at excessive speed and largely on the wrong side of the road (i.e. the bit with me on it) was a black clad motorcyclist. Not only that, but he was leaning in the direction opposite to the biker depicted on the tacky yellow sign. Blog readers are advised to proceed with caution."
Presumabaly he will have reached his destination by now?
BGH? Aka GBH?
Labels: Coffee Hubs, Scottish Borders Council
