Musings from the Merse
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Dogged does it
At the (fairly) recent Scottish Border council elections most candidates pledged to do more about dealing with the mountains of dog poo which besmirch our villages and sure enough a plan of action was pledged in the aims of the new administration. A 'vision' rather than a plan of action in councilspeak. This pome(?) by a local bard is seemingly based on a vision-poppy/puppy induced? Who knows. I am advised that although considered by some as possible line of action it was never actually implemented. A pity.
The Hutton Solution
‘ The Notice reads:
'Dogs who offend will be shot’
and in smaller letters:
‘Owners of offending dogs.
You have been warned!’
‘That should do the trick’
said the large man
with a baseball hat’.
putting another shell
into his shotgun.
stepping carefully over
the spent cartridges
and
the corpses
There were some dead dogs
as well.
‘I sometimes think
that the chairman
of the Community Council
takes his duties too seriously’
said
the lady with the pooper scooter
and the bullet proof
vest.
NB very carefully. The chairman of the community council thus depicted must have been well before Huttonian's time
At the (fairly) recent Scottish Border council elections most candidates pledged to do more about dealing with the mountains of dog poo which besmirch our villages and sure enough a plan of action was pledged in the aims of the new administration. A 'vision' rather than a plan of action in councilspeak. This pome(?) by a local bard is seemingly based on a vision-poppy/puppy induced? Who knows. I am advised that although considered by some as possible line of action it was never actually implemented. A pity.
The Hutton Solution
‘ The Notice reads:
'Dogs who offend will be shot’
and in smaller letters:
‘Owners of offending dogs.
You have been warned!’
‘That should do the trick’
said the large man
with a baseball hat’.
putting another shell
into his shotgun.
stepping carefully over
the spent cartridges
and
the corpses
There were some dead dogs
as well.
‘I sometimes think
that the chairman
of the Community Council
takes his duties too seriously’
said
the lady with the pooper scooter
and the bullet proof
vest.
NB very carefully. The chairman of the community council thus depicted must have been well before Huttonian's time
Labels: Dog Poo, Hutton, Local Elections, Merse
Friday, June 29, 2007
The SNP who did miserably in these parts of the Borders are now having a bit of a post election moan. Their cri de coeur is in this weeks Berwickshire To wit:
- I am very disappointed that the motion proposed by Councillor Donald Moffat and which represents the SNP’s manifesto commitment to end the current cabinet structure within Scottish Borders Council has not been reported to date in the press.
This was a substantive motion which I believe would have delivered a more democratic style of government to the people of the Borders and would have encouraged a wider debating forum across the political spectrum.
No-one would have been left out and all members of the electorate would be represented in the council chamber.
There is a growing feeling amongst opposition groups that we are being marginalised at all levels in Scottish Borders Council.
The latest utterances from Councillors Houston and Bhatia at the recent planning meeting that ward councillors who are not members of the committee should not be allowed to speak on matters in their area flies in the face of democracy and those two councillors should be thoroughly ashamed of even thinking about such a tactic.
How they dare to call themselves Democrats beggars belief . . . could it be that we are entering a “dog eat dog” era of local politics?
The latest piece of nonsense that has come to my attention is that a letter has been sent to community councils asking them who they want to be their councillor representative.
Let me make my position and that of the SNP in the Borders quite clear - we will be attending all our community councils within our wards wherever possible or practicable.
COUNCILLOR BILL HERD,
Leader SNP Group,
Scottish Borders Council.
Translation: we did badly in the elections, hardly anyone voted for us but we would still like to share power. Tough. The problem you lot have is called democracy.
As for a dog eat dog era in local politics-now there is a novel concept for you.
Note an ominous threat about community councils. Thank goodness we have no SNP councillor in our ward -East Berwickshire-SNP candidate came way bottom of the poll. However if it was the question of a swap between Tory Conundrum and a SNP councillor from else where-and that was the only offer on the table, then I am sure our CC would consider it:
Very carefully.
As Hoots Mc Tavish of That Ilk used to say when out of his cups:
Better the devil you don't know than the one you do'
- I am very disappointed that the motion proposed by Councillor Donald Moffat and which represents the SNP’s manifesto commitment to end the current cabinet structure within Scottish Borders Council has not been reported to date in the press.
This was a substantive motion which I believe would have delivered a more democratic style of government to the people of the Borders and would have encouraged a wider debating forum across the political spectrum.
No-one would have been left out and all members of the electorate would be represented in the council chamber.
There is a growing feeling amongst opposition groups that we are being marginalised at all levels in Scottish Borders Council.
The latest utterances from Councillors Houston and Bhatia at the recent planning meeting that ward councillors who are not members of the committee should not be allowed to speak on matters in their area flies in the face of democracy and those two councillors should be thoroughly ashamed of even thinking about such a tactic.
How they dare to call themselves Democrats beggars belief . . . could it be that we are entering a “dog eat dog” era of local politics?
The latest piece of nonsense that has come to my attention is that a letter has been sent to community councils asking them who they want to be their councillor representative.
Let me make my position and that of the SNP in the Borders quite clear - we will be attending all our community councils within our wards wherever possible or practicable.
COUNCILLOR BILL HERD,
Leader SNP Group,
Scottish Borders Council.
Translation: we did badly in the elections, hardly anyone voted for us but we would still like to share power. Tough. The problem you lot have is called democracy.
As for a dog eat dog era in local politics-now there is a novel concept for you.
Note an ominous threat about community councils. Thank goodness we have no SNP councillor in our ward -East Berwickshire-SNP candidate came way bottom of the poll. However if it was the question of a swap between Tory Conundrum and a SNP councillor from else where-and that was the only offer on the table, then I am sure our CC would consider it:
Very carefully.
As Hoots Mc Tavish of That Ilk used to say when out of his cups:
Better the devil you don't know than the one you do'
Labels: Borders, Community Councils, Local Elections, SNP
Thursday, May 03, 2007
LET (some of) THE PEOPLE SPEAK
Huttonian and the wife did their civic duty and rushed down Kirk Lane to vote. We found that we were about no 30 and 31 to have done so and actually had to wait in a queue (of three-us and one them) before we could get our ballot papers. We just missed the SNP parliamentary and Local Council elections' candidate-she had to vote herself-daughter would not do on this occasion. The Post Office was open but the Post Mistress has to cast her vote in Paxton-irritating that as she sits 15 feet from the voting booth. Other wise it was very quiet. A villager told me that the Police were making frequent visits in their patrol car. Why?
Crowd Control, apparently.
Huttonian and the wife did their civic duty and rushed down Kirk Lane to vote. We found that we were about no 30 and 31 to have done so and actually had to wait in a queue (of three-us and one them) before we could get our ballot papers. We just missed the SNP parliamentary and Local Council elections' candidate-she had to vote herself-daughter would not do on this occasion. The Post Office was open but the Post Mistress has to cast her vote in Paxton-irritating that as she sits 15 feet from the voting booth. Other wise it was very quiet. A villager told me that the Police were making frequent visits in their patrol car. Why?
Crowd Control, apparently.
Labels: Local Elections
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Spring is Sprung- Lambs wear fleece. And so do we
Unlike the southron folk the Borders is enjoying a normal Spring detached from those parts afflicted with Global Warming. Daffs out on timetable, blossom ditto and the Swallows here at about the same time as normal.It is still chilly out of the sun and the only approach to the tropics I have noticed is the need to mow our meadow aka back and front lawns from early March and at least once a week.
You can say what you like about Hutton and many do but it is a pretty little place in the Spring especially when the Daffodils are on their way out. And the season-the new financial year, brings out the Council Pot Hole Patchers which will keep the road to the Kirk (and eventually to the Old Manse) a pleasant drive until, at least, June by which time the tar has run out and so as the Roads budget. In one of the images you can see the recently filled caverns- a mole no go area for a couple of months. This year Spring has also brought out the politicians-reluctantly leaving their mark on Hutton. SNP signs, a curious yellow, blending in with the dying daffs and, very recently, Tory True Blue matching the sky and the Village Hall roof
On the larger view of the road down to the Church-signed just as Cul de Sac-we should surely give it a name some time*-you can see the old pub at the top of the road. Sadly it has been just after closing time for the last 50 years. Sad, I often fancy a refreshing Pint having watched the jobbing gardeners mow both lawns and it would also have been good to have taken the horse to be shod in the Old Smiddy-top of picture to the left. It has not operated as such since time immemorial (ie I don't know when it folded up its bellows)Nor have I a horse. But it is the thought that counts,isn't it?
* As the road goes, as it's almost final destination, to the old Cemetery a bloggee has suggested it be named' Dead End Lane' Perhaps a more tasteful nomenclature than that made by Big Jim Conundrum as an alternative description of 'Back Lane' in Paxton. ( Some Paxtonians want it renamed and a sign put up, as visitors can't find it, apparently)
Back Passage.
Labels: Hutton, Local Elections, Spring
