Tuesday 5 May 2009

Surgery thrives!


Thanks to all who called in on Saturday morning. Issues included:

neighbours who only use their black bin;
parking in Shillitoe Close;
buses turning round too quickly and dangerously by the swimming pool;
car wash in Maynewater Lane;
and 'smelly' Abbey Gardens ladies loos!

The most positive comment was from three ladies who asked for a day centre for the elderly and/or inform in the town centre.

We are working on all the above, but don't promise miracles. Next surgery June 6th.

21 comments:

Picklesmum said...

I am surprised at the ladies loos comment, they are usually so clean!

Charlotte Howard said...

So am I, but I've passed on the info. (Not that I have any personal experience, that is.)

Bury Boy said...

How about using the ground floor of the market cross. That must be costing some thing to stand empty.

Rose said...

I agree Bury Boy. We could do with one to replace the one at the old library. I'm also surprised about the Park loo comment. Although must admit I haven't been there lately.

Charlotte Howard said...

Not clear to what you are both referring...must be thicker than I thought I was.

Picklesmum said...

Toilets?? You started it!

Charlotte Howard said...

Well actually a lady who came to my surgery did. I couldn't possibly comment.

But surely BB wasn't suggesting that because one set of ladies loos are allegedly not clean enough, then we build some more elsewhere - that would be a daft argument. I remain confused.

Bury Boy said...

Not difficult to confuse you then?

The comment cuts two or maybe three ways.
First why not have a public toilet in the market cross.
Was there not one in the next block for many years.
Did you or some one else not suggest it 18 months ago.
It would also be an ideal setting for one. ( toilet that is)

Second
The market cross would make a good day centre, drop in centre, or advise centre., may be even a local ammenity, or town centre office.

Third
This building in the centre of the market square has sat empty for far too long, WHY.

Hope thats not two confusing

Picklesmum said...

Silly BB, why would we need a set of toilets right in the centre when there are some perfectly good ones at the far reaches of town!

Charlotte Howard said...

All very clear BB, and I like idea 2 most. However, it would be an expensive option. Maybe that answers 3? As for 2, see below.

PM - 'far reaches of town'? Try timing the walk from the Corn Exchange to Abbey Gardens.

Picklesmum said...

Try timing it with a 6 year old who needs to go NOW!!!

Bury Boy said...

How about a zero wage increase for council employees working in the nice new building ( both here and in ipswich), and closure of the final salary pension scheme, senior managers salary cap, maybe even some reducdions now there is a 50% tax band. That should free up a few million pounds to fund projects for the local people, paid for by the local people. ( rates) allocate more to the police for foot partols, and ( bikes), scrap sunday parking charges, then reduce the people involved in changing our schoools yet again for no obvious benefit.......no need to answer I know its election time. note I did not mention expenses.

Rose said...

The original town loos (ladies and gents) were, until about the early 1980's, situated on the left hand corner of what is now the front of Laura Ashley's. Any native of 30 plus may remember going to the town library in this building.
The loos were in an ideal spot for the evenings when the park was shut, for those of us out late. Is there anywhere open now in the evenings?
To be fair I think you need to time the walk with all ages from 6 to 60 plus, with shopping, bad legs, walking sticks, need I go on?

Charlotte Howard said...

Oh dear BB. I think you should really stand for election. The only thing is you wouldn't be able to change everything.

For example, local government workers pay is negotiated with the government nationally (like teachers), as are pensions. The police set their own council tax.

Good point Rose, I'll find out. In the meantime I suppose anyone going to eat or to entertainment can use the in-house facilities.

Bury Boy said...

I remember the the old libary, having spent many a intesting time there, went i was a mere youngstar never went upstairs?

I never worked out why the old toilets were closed down, just maybe they were replaced with the cattle market ones, you know the ones which are no long there. Which brings me full circle. Why not position some new toilets in the market cross. The french have many examples of public toilets that need little supervision. Come to that so do suffolk coastal at felixstowe. Or we could be really daring and have some out door french motorway ones, the ones open to the fresh air.

Bury Boy said...

Enter politics and stand for election..... I suspect I would be struck off within the week for saying the wrong thing.

Maybe sole elected people can not change things in the short term, they can how ever influence, Do some of your new to be friends not sit on the police authority, did not some of you exculted political chiefs decide to add £50k to the chief execs pay pacakges, did the full council not vote in the budget, which inturn includes head count. just try saying we will not increase the budget spend in 2009, find savings from head count. Be very specific, HEAD COUNT. then watch our over paid council employee find the savings.

lastly was it not a tory council policy decision to change the schools, was it also not the council and its officiers who decided to employ 8 or 9 new people to over see the change ( the jobs and salaries were advertised). Or are you saying unelected council officials can spend what ever they like without redress to the elected. I suspect not. As and when you are elected for Tower these are the things which need to be voiced, and at that level you can influence.

Charlotte Howard said...

Mrs F doesn't like those French open air ones, but I use them myself (the gents side that is).

Councillor BB has rather a nice ring to it. How about the next town council by-election. There's bound to be one soon; they're a bit like buses.

Bury Boy said...

Will there be polling cards, or will it be a secret.

Charlotte Howard said...

Mrs F and I have already received ours, BB. If you haven't, you will do in time. This is because they are not paid for by the town council.

Was your presence at the Town Meeting a sign of things to come...?

Rose said...

I remember one room upstairs at the old library had a large table in it, I think all the old newspapers were kept up there.
BB Where in Felixstowe are these special loos ?

Bury Boy said...

Ah rose thanks for confirming, I always wondered what was upstairs.

Felixstowe has many basic and very clean and well maintained traditional toilets. Most along the sea front, the ones at brackenbury fort are a prime example. always clean, mopped out regually, smelling of old fasioned disinfectant. They dont have any out door or french type I suspect because they dont need them, having kept an ample number upto speck in places the public want to use them. Come to that the ones in the old libary were fairly basic but functional. Perfect for market days, and nights on the "town". Why oh why did the council close them!