A Liberal Bank Holiday!

The campaign for the Norton Radstock Town Council by election is going extremely well.

I spent most of my bank holiday weekend in Midsomer Norton pouding the streets with leaflets, glossy flyers and meeting local people.

It was quite encouraging to hear from a resident on Saturday afternoon that ours was the first leaflet they had received. Where are the other parties? Are they not putting much effort in because they think they'll win (or perhaps won't win) or was it just that the street we were in the opposition had not covered?

Just when we thought no one else had made a show two men in suits were spotted wearing blue rosettes (in a car with a boat on the roof rack!).

Having now covered the whole of Midsomer Norton North with our first leaflet there is still no sign of the party that called the election - Labour. Are they feeling a little foolish now? I guess we'll find out in ten days time.

BMX Campaign Continues...

The campaign for a BMX bike track continues in Peasedown St John. For many years a group of local people have believed that more facillities should be provided for young people to stimulate them, keep them active, and steer them away from boredom and potential anti-social behaviour.

Despite continual 'interventions' from members of the Parish Council trying to slow the process down we are determined to carry on with getting the job done.

Unfortunately the the best field to have such a track belongs to the Parish Council - so we need to get their permission and support before anything can begin to take shape.

I was really encouraged to see to in this year's Olympics that 'BMXing' is now part of the games. Could Peasedown St John provide an athlete for this sport at the 2012 games in London? It would be fantastic and good for village morale but unless the Parish Council identifies the need for this project and is willing to show signs of change and modernisation our hopes will not become reality.

By Election Campaign Underway

We are now just under three week's away from the Norton Radstock Town Council by election on September 4th.

I thought the Journal last Thursday gave a very fair outline of the three main candidates which clearly showed that the Lib Dems had the most active and electable candidate.

Mike Jakins will be fighting the Lib Dem corner at the by-election with a history of community action and leadership under his belt. Living in the ward for over 20 years Mike is a Head Officer in the Boy's Brigade and Local Preacher in the Methodist Church.

I have the priviledge of heading up Mike's campaign as Campaign Manager. I mean it when I say 'priviledge' because Mike is an asset to the Lib Dems and will be to the people of the Midsomer Norton North ward once elected.

Quite amusingly, if the Lib Dems win the first person we have to thank will be Labour Councillor Eleanor Jackson who told the world in the local newspapers that there was going to be a by-election. Thanks Eleanor!

A Level Results

I think it's a great insult each year when some say the A Level courses are getting easier - what's really happening is our young people are getting brighter.

When I did my A-Levels six years ago I have to say they were some of the hardest exams I had ever sat. I would do another degree any day over A-Levels.

I had the priviledge of celebrating exam results last night with a group of people from Ralph Allen School in Bath. It's so encouraging to hear they are all going to their chosen Universities - they all deserve it and had worked so hard.

I wish them all the best of luck in what they do in the future. In particular, Rachel Morgan who achieved 3 'A' grades and is now off to Imperial College London to study Mechanical Engineering. I am so proud of her - well done Rachel!

Home at last...

It's only when you leave this Country that you realise how good it is - how beautiful the countryside is and how much we have in terms of personal freedom and social welfare.

I have just spent two weeks relaxing in southern Turkey. The weather was excellent, one day the tempeture rose to 52 degrees 'C'. The locals, on the whole, were friendly and everything was well priced.

It is good to be home though. The end of our holiday was marked by a 16 hour delay because the plain engine had broken down, so 180 of us were put into hotel accomodation for the night. I'd seen these kind of things happen on TV programmes such as Airport and Airline but you never think it'll happen to you. I have to say Thomas Cook dealt with the situation very well and I will definately be flying with them again in the future.