Musings from the Merse
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
RALLYING AROUND
The vote against a repeat of the Jim Clark Rally in Duns next year seems to be settling down as follows:
Would you like to see the Duns stage of the Jim Clark Rally repeated next year?
Yes [28.3%]
No [71.6%]
Don't Know [0.1%]
(why do the 'don't knows' bother to vote one wonders?)I suspect the habitual voters are back to more vital topics such as should Berwick be part of Berwickshire although the Duns Poll remains THE ISSUE in the Berwickshire News.
Not that the organisers will take a blind bit of notice of any expression of public opinion unless it is in their favour
In the meanwhile the Hutton Think Tank (Rally, Roadworks and Bike Section) have suggested a novel stage for next year, instead of abusing Duns : 'The B6461 Scramble
(A) Close the B6461
(B) Half the cars start at one end the others from the other ( junction with Berwick By Pass)
(C) Simultaneous start from each end
(D) Winner is the car that travels the furthest distance before the race is stopped for health and safety reasons
Fun! And folk in Duns can stroll their streets in safety
Mr Pagan : Over to you
(Thank you 4_hero of Flickr for the image. Not much the driver could do about that one?)
Labels: B6461, Jim Clark Rally
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Jim Clark Rally. PS
Huttonian is reluctant to bang on about the JCR and its 'great success' in disrupting life in Duns but he has to mention the sad case of one restaurateur whose business is just off the market square. She, in anticipation of a profitable weekend (as she had before enjoyed in Kelso in a previous establishment) laid on extra staff and imported more exotic food. Bookings for the weekend were excellent from visitors to the Rally. On the day before it started she happened to have one of the organisers eat in her restaurant. He asked if she had seen the programme which she hadn't (a snip at £5) Well he said you will have to close all Saturday for your safety and most of Friday night. She pointed out that she had lots of reservations; they will have to be in your place before 6pm and can't leave until after midnight. But I tell you what you can do-set up a stall in the street market and sell stuff that way. Oh I assume this is a form of compensation for effected businesses? Not exactly, it will cost you £300.
She is still estimating the cost of business lost. Many cancellations and the rest she had to turn away and the extra staff paid of as well. No one had contacted her before hand to warn her of the disruption closing the street in which she had her premises-the event went past her door- nor had she felt the need to buy the Souvenir Programme having no interest in motor sport. The Berwickshire with its list of effected roads came out the day before the Rally.
She has suggested compensation from the organisers.
Will she get it?
If you are going to hold your breath I suggest you get
a ventilator
(The image is of one of the cars roaring through Duns at night-no doubt just passed the restauramt in question half a second before)
Labels: Duns disruption., Jim Clark Rally
Friday, May 29, 2009
Dinging Duns Again?
One of the periodic 'Issue' polls in the Berwickshire invited votes on the Jim Clark Rally as follows:
Would you like to see the Duns stage of the Jim Clark Rally repeated next year?
Yes [50%]
No [50%]
Don't Know [0%]
Perhaps only two people have voted so far: Kevin McPro and Sandra McCon. No can't be that as I have just clicked my vote and the result has not changed.
Rigged Ballot?
Anyhow I suggest that the test of opinion is confined to the citizens of Duns. Some envious Greenlawer might well like to have stuck up Duns incommoded for a second time.
Anyhow good people and true; rally round and make your vote count.
Cringing apologies: the Poll is obviously kosher and three hours after I cast my vote the result now is ;
Yes [33.3%]
No [66.7%]
Don't Know [0%]
So at least one more person has voted no.
Go on Anon of Ayton, do it again.
One of the periodic 'Issue' polls in the Berwickshire invited votes on the Jim Clark Rally as follows:
Would you like to see the Duns stage of the Jim Clark Rally repeated next year?
Yes [50%]
No [50%]
Don't Know [0%]
Perhaps only two people have voted so far: Kevin McPro and Sandra McCon. No can't be that as I have just clicked my vote and the result has not changed.
Rigged Ballot?
Anyhow I suggest that the test of opinion is confined to the citizens of Duns. Some envious Greenlawer might well like to have stuck up Duns incommoded for a second time.
Anyhow good people and true; rally round and make your vote count.
Cringing apologies: the Poll is obviously kosher and three hours after I cast my vote the result now is ;
Yes [33.3%]
No [66.7%]
Don't Know [0%]
So at least one more person has voted no.
Go on Anon of Ayton, do it again.
Labels: BBC. Broadcasting House. Duns, Jim Clark Rally, Opinion Polls
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Corn Trampled in Great Success Saga Shock
Tomorrow's Berwickshire (so this is tomorrow's post) carries the following effusion
SIR, - May I through your column praise the recent Jim Clark Rally event which run last weekend.
I feel the need to write to your newspaper to praise the event and the way that I feel this has put Duns firmly back in the picture of the Scottish Borders, especially surrounding all the uncertainty recently over our Royal British Legion and Volunteer hall etc.
I am by no means an avid rally enthusiast but to see my little girl Sophie (who is only four) cheer on all the competitors and watch her little face light up with all the excitement in which I felt was a true carnival atmosphere was just the crowning to a great weekend.
Now I know there will be letters criticising the inconvenience, litter and trampling of corn fields no doubt, but for once could we please put all the negativity aside and look forward and take the positives out of such a well organised weekend.
Lastly on behalf of my family we would like to give a big vote of thanks to the marshals who give up their time to make such an event a great success. (Name withheld by Huttonian to avoid possible bloodshed
So apart from the trampling of Corn fields, mountains of litter and undoubted inconvenience for hundreds of people not interested in motor sport this was a very enjoyable experience. Aka A Great Success
Oh Goody
(A balanced article on the event is here)
Tomorrow's Berwickshire (so this is tomorrow's post) carries the following effusion
SIR, - May I through your column praise the recent Jim Clark Rally event which run last weekend.
I feel the need to write to your newspaper to praise the event and the way that I feel this has put Duns firmly back in the picture of the Scottish Borders, especially surrounding all the uncertainty recently over our Royal British Legion and Volunteer hall etc.
I am by no means an avid rally enthusiast but to see my little girl Sophie (who is only four) cheer on all the competitors and watch her little face light up with all the excitement in which I felt was a true carnival atmosphere was just the crowning to a great weekend.
Now I know there will be letters criticising the inconvenience, litter and trampling of corn fields no doubt, but for once could we please put all the negativity aside and look forward and take the positives out of such a well organised weekend.
Lastly on behalf of my family we would like to give a big vote of thanks to the marshals who give up their time to make such an event a great success. (Name withheld by Huttonian to avoid possible bloodshed
So apart from the trampling of Corn fields, mountains of litter and undoubted inconvenience for hundreds of people not interested in motor sport this was a very enjoyable experience. Aka A Great Success
Oh Goody
(A balanced article on the event is here)
Friday, May 22, 2009
The Marshalls are Comingg
WE escaped from Duns as the iron ring of the Jim Clark Rally was snapping shut around the beleaguered town.'No parking' cones or as they are calling it ,'No waiting' ones (Difference not explained*)have sprung up like mushrooms in even such obscure and rarely visited locations such as Gourlay's Wynd and The Clouds. Roaring from supercharged gas guzzling rally cars and fumes were sending up a haze around the Small House in Duns as we loaded up in record time and scuttled off to disappointed looks from the gang of marshalls and their posses sealing off side streets as we passed by Even as roared past the Gavington turn off at nearly 28 mph the danger was not over as drivers and race officials streaked past us to lay ambushes and block off peaceful country lanes in our path. Fortunately the Greenlaw Earlston road was still open although a couple of C roads had been blocked by officious persons hiding behind their Bullet proof 'Road Closed' signs.
When I grow up I would love to be a JCR Marshall, with my looking-like a real driver- boiler suit, my silver star, aka official pass, my beer belly and a Road Closed sign to put anywhere my fancy took me.
A75 just before Stranraer perhaps. But after I had escaped crap town on the ferry
(* In Ireland it is 'No Parking at All' and, fiercer still, 'No Parking At All, At All))
WE escaped from Duns as the iron ring of the Jim Clark Rally was snapping shut around the beleaguered town.'No parking' cones or as they are calling it ,'No waiting' ones (Difference not explained*)have sprung up like mushrooms in even such obscure and rarely visited locations such as Gourlay's Wynd and The Clouds. Roaring from supercharged gas guzzling rally cars and fumes were sending up a haze around the Small House in Duns as we loaded up in record time and scuttled off to disappointed looks from the gang of marshalls and their posses sealing off side streets as we passed by Even as roared past the Gavington turn off at nearly 28 mph the danger was not over as drivers and race officials streaked past us to lay ambushes and block off peaceful country lanes in our path. Fortunately the Greenlaw Earlston road was still open although a couple of C roads had been blocked by officious persons hiding behind their Bullet proof 'Road Closed' signs.
When I grow up I would love to be a JCR Marshall, with my looking-like a real driver- boiler suit, my silver star, aka official pass, my beer belly and a Road Closed sign to put anywhere my fancy took me.
A75 just before Stranraer perhaps. But after I had escaped crap town on the ferry
(* In Ireland it is 'No Parking at All' and, fiercer still, 'No Parking At All, At All))
Labels: . Duns, Jim Clark Rally, Stranraer
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
'Anything for the Weekend?'
I am usually supportive of the Rally but this year they have gone too far' said the guy with the clippers and the cut throat razor to hand.
Huttonian did not argue
'Trapped in Edrom all day Saturday. as the Rally comes past my door. Road closed from 7am until 5 pm'
Huttonian nodded sympathetically
'Friday is a washout as many of my customers are refusing to come into Duns with road closures and parking restrictions. Main road out closed. No visitors to the Knoll hospital all week end'
HNS.
'They can do what they like on Sunday. No skin off my nose.
Huttonian gurgled solidarity
Fingering cut throat razor and regarding the remaining hairs on the back of my neck.
'Bloody Rally'
Huttonian indicated his sympathies were with him.
And escaped
I am usually supportive of the Rally but this year they have gone too far' said the guy with the clippers and the cut throat razor to hand.
Huttonian did not argue
'Trapped in Edrom all day Saturday. as the Rally comes past my door. Road closed from 7am until 5 pm'
Huttonian nodded sympathetically
'Friday is a washout as many of my customers are refusing to come into Duns with road closures and parking restrictions. Main road out closed. No visitors to the Knoll hospital all week end'
HNS.
'They can do what they like on Sunday. No skin off my nose.
Huttonian gurgled solidarity
Fingering cut throat razor and regarding the remaining hairs on the back of my neck.
'Bloody Rally'
Huttonian indicated his sympathies were with him.
And escaped
Labels: . Duns, Jim Clark Rally
Monday, May 04, 2009
Bikers: Get on them
Our Motoring Correspondent writes:
In recent days there is a new temporary road sign, just one of them, which has appeared along the B6461 a few yards east or the turn-off for Horndean and Ladykirk. It is a yellow rectangle which bears the black picture of a motorcyclist leaning sideways. Can anyone explain its provenance or significance?
Mischievously yours,
Rhoda (1 D only) Hogg
Huttonian has seen another one-on the Duns/Chirnside road about a mile out of Duns heading away from the capital. It must be something to do with the up coming Jim Clark Rally (which I will happily escape in Norn Iron).But the JCR is for mptorists (using the term loosely)Are Motor Cyclists been warned to keep out of the way?
Or what? Someone will know?
Our Motoring Correspondent writes:
In recent days there is a new temporary road sign, just one of them, which has appeared along the B6461 a few yards east or the turn-off for Horndean and Ladykirk. It is a yellow rectangle which bears the black picture of a motorcyclist leaning sideways. Can anyone explain its provenance or significance?
Mischievously yours,
Rhoda (1 D only) Hogg
Huttonian has seen another one-on the Duns/Chirnside road about a mile out of Duns heading away from the capital. It must be something to do with the up coming Jim Clark Rally (which I will happily escape in Norn Iron).But the JCR is for mptorists (using the term loosely)Are Motor Cyclists been warned to keep out of the way?
Or what? Someone will know?
Labels: Jim Clark Rally, Mysrerious road signs
