…I have found a  telling quote.

‘Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.’
 

This is a quote from econimics whizz John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - 2006),  who was an adviser to President John F Kennedy and his words of wisdom ring so true. Some of today’s so-called economists  appear only to work to increase their personal funds. 

….Britain’s cultural attractions have recorded an increase in visitor numbers as cash-strapped families sought a free day out. Defying the impact of the recession, top attractions drew more visitors last year than they did in 2007, according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.

Mansfield’s Museum was named Museum of the Year at the Nottinghamshire Renaissance Heritage Awards held at the Museum on Wednesday 23 July.The Museum also jointly won the category of Best Exhibition for the Golden Sands exhibition held last summer. The other joint winner was Newark Musuem. Make your family’s day by going to the museum.

Telephone: 01623 463088 Fax: 01623 412922
Mansfield Museum, Leeming Street, Mansfield, Notts. NG18 1NG
Email: mansfieldmuseum@mansfield.gov.uk
Supported by Mansfield District Council

….who is brave or stupid enough to make that decision? Listening to the eloquence of the son of his first victim on Look North tonight, I ask why should a man who killed thirteen women be ever considered for release?

To say that at 62 years old he no longer presents a threat is naive in the extreme. There are some crimes which must call for a life sentence to be served and this man’s evil and hideous crimes certainly fall into this category.

Jack Straw is the man who has to make the final decision, advised by doctors who apparently have less of the milk of human kindness than could be expected of them. All well and good to fight Peter Sutcliffe’s corner, but why not be radical and think first of the victims of his horrific killing spree?

….and my thoughts turn to Delia Rumley, who was Leeming Ward Councillor prior to her death. It was as a result of Delia’s passing that I was elected to my position of Councillor and I often think of her. I received quite a lot of help from Delia, during my time as secretary of Peafields Community Association and we members of PCA planted snowdrops in our gardens in her memory. There are eight flowers on this one plant and  are a truly beautiful sign of approaching spring……

I shall always think of Delia with fondness and I strive to be as good a person and as conscientious a councillor as she was.

Guidance by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council suggests putting Bibles on the top shelf to avoid giving offence to followers of Islam.

Has the world gone mad? Are copies of the Koran also on the top shelf? Whatever happened to ‘Live and Let Live?’

Great Britain is essentially and historically a Christian country and to suggest putting The Holy Bible on the top shelf is something that I find exceptionally offensive. Where do I go to complain?

……..to test the efficiency of Mansfield District and Notts County Councils’ ability to cope in the event of an emergency, whether it were a natural disaster such as a tornado, flooding, a train derailment or suchlike or in the event of terrorist activities.

I attended the rest centre which had been set up at the MDC Leisure Centre on Jubilee Way, Oak Tree Estate. I was amazed at the smooth running of the event, which catered for ‘evacuees’ and their pets. There was a holding pen (the changing room) for dogs, a ferret and a goldfish and the sauna was put into use for a snake!

The WRVS were out in huge numbers, supplying superb meals, teas and coffees, snacks and emotional support for the  ‘evacuees’. The Police, Fire & Rescue service and SJAB were out to support the operation and Executive Mayor, Tony Egginton was on site to welcome and comfort those who had been forced to leave their Mansfield Woodhouse homes as the result of the ‘tornado’ which had struck earlier in the day.

Of course, it was an exercise and not a real life scenario, but the efficient way that this operation was mounted left me in no doubt of the district’s ability to deliver a brilliant rescue should there be a genuine need. Well done to all involved, including the volunteer evacuees, without whom it would have been rather an empty exercise. They entered into the spirit of the occasion and those that I spoke to were all in role-play mode.

I was unable to attend the de-brifieng, but I feel sure the results were exceptional.

….Area Partnership met on Friday, to discuss the feedback from the first Area Partnership which met at Turner Hall on Thursday, January 22nd. There were close to 100 residents at the meeting and they gave their priorities for the area. This information has been analysed and some of the easier priorities have already been addressed, in the time-honoured ‘You said, we did’  fashion.

Those priorities which need input from the partners , including Primary Care Trust and Police will be brought back to the next Area partnership meeting, which is to be held  on Thursday, 19th march, venue To Be Confirmed.

…is in full swing and our local Police Beat Manger and PCSO have been working tirelessly to address these issues and have their  Police Surgeries on Sunday, 15th February at Manor Sports Complex (4-5pm), 15th March at Ludborough Walk (6-7pm) and finally Sunday 12th April at Manor Sports Complex, again 4 -5 pm.

If you have any problems you wish to be addressed or information that would be helpful to the Police in driving forward the Safer Neighbourhoods Initiative, please do try to attend.

….tonight at 6.30 at Ludborough Walk C.C. I am sure that high on the agenda will be the recent spate of vandalism, during which wheelie bins have been taken and fired in the woodland, the shop has suffered a broken window and smashed fence panels. Our local Police Beat Manger and PCSO have been working tirelessly to address these issues and have their  Police Surgeries on Sunday, 15th February at Manor Sports Complex (4-5pm), 15th March at Ludborough Walk (6-7pm) and finally Sunday 12th April at Manor Sports Complex, again 4 -5 pm.

….especially for the elderly who rely on being able to get about to shop and visit the doctor. The pavements have been treacherous, but I did prevail on the caretaker on Peafields estate to grit the sloping pavements along Trusley Walk and Coton Close.  Senior citizens look forward to their social evenings at Calver Street Community Centre so their walk down there will be a little safer. We are, though, still awaiting the connection of the newly installed lamp on Trusley Walk. This area around the jitty running through to Litton Road is a particularly dark spot and residents have taken to carrying torches. I was told that it would be 5 -10 working days for the connection and this timeline runs out on Friday of this week, so I shall be watching closely and will chase up the connection should this be necessary.

….on 7th February - this Saturday. Local shoppers will be without a superstore during the changeover to Morrisons and subsequent refurbishment. No doubt this will be ASDA’a gain as more people take advantage of their free bus service.