………………a story in the Telegraph tells of the massive increases in the revenue from speeding fines.
‘Revenue from speeding tickets has quadrupled over a decade, coinciding with increases in the value of fines, the number of cameras and the number of tickets issued.  Home Office figures reveal that 1.8 million tickets are being issued each year, compared to only 713,000 issued in 1997.  £104.6 million was collected in revenue in 2006 compared to £28.5 million a decade earlier.’

Also the fines from illegal parking are swelling the coffers of local government. I parked in Derby the other day and didn’t see the parking meter because it was painted black and set against a dark background. Of course, I got back to my car after 20 minutes and had a PCN stuck to my windscreen. I dutifully paid my fine; I didn’t really have a leg to stand on, but I have sent a letter to Derby City Council  suggesting that had the parking meter been painted black and yellow, I would have noticed it and paid to park. A cynic might believe that it was intentionally placed in a difficult to see position…… what do you think?

I have never before had a PCN  - I clearly see the sense in paying £1 as opposed to £50 (or £25 if paid within 14 days)I just wish I could have clearly seen the meter.

……..to be held on Peafields Estate could well be a sign that there is little crime in this area of Leeming Ward.

Sergeant Lindsay, PC Colley and PCSO Gilbert were available for consultations in the mobile station, which is equipped with tables and seating. A few residents turned up to show their support for our local force and children were thrilled to get the chance to look around the mobile station, but as for complaints, they were thin on the ground.

The date of the next surgery will be announced and if you have problems you wish to discuss you will get a friendly welcome.

In the company of MDC’s Corporate Director for Customer Services, Community Safety and Regulatory Services, I met with two representatives of Clearsprings, the property management firm tasked by the Government to provide homes for those offenders  who have been released early from prison or persons who are awaiting trial.

The meeting certainly allayed fears I had about an influx of large numbers of ne’er do wells in the district. The people to be housed are perpetrators of what are considered to be low-level crimes. There will be no-one in these homes who has been convicted of arson, sexual assault, violence or paedophilia. The type of crimes that will have been committed by people who need accommodation are petty car crime, shop lifting and the like.

Any who have a drug or alcohol addiction,  have to make a commitment to supported rehabilitation schemes and in addition will be tagged under the Home Detention Curfew scheme.

There are currently no sites in Mansfield identified for use by Clearsprings, contrary to reports.

regrettably, Bath Mill is no more. The vandals have won the day and isn’t that sickening? Bath Mill was a listed building in desperate need of conservation. Any number of reasons can be cited for its demise, including age and  neglect, but the main reason is the mindless thuggery that is prevalent in our society today.

OK, so the old mill wasn’t in tip-top form (in truth it was on its last legs) but it could have lasted a while longer and with care and restoration, hopefully the plans of the owner to convert the building to apartments would have come to fruition and Bath Mill could have taken its rightful place as a landmark in Mansfield.

All this is now lost to future generations; such a waste. We need to protect our old buildings and ensure that they stand as a proud monument to Mansfield rather than become its face of shame.

Follow this link to see more of Mansfield’s old buildings.     http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/bar-mansfield.pdf

I can’t say how many of these buildings are still in situ, but it would be good to know, wouldn’t it? I shall endevaour to find out which, if any, are still standing.

………….down in the mouth. I despair for the future of this beautiful planet, when four newly ‘in leaf’ trees in our park are ripped down or torn apart by brainless, moronic youths in the early hours of this morning, when they should have been at home. Where are the parents during all this illegal activity? I am not just picking on the kids - there were witnesses to their foul deed.

Kids are taught at school that trees are the life-blood of the planet and still they take pleasure in tearing down young trees that , apart from being things of beauty to gladden any eye, but would go some way towards giving oxygen to the world in years to come.

I guess we can’t hold out much hope for youngsters when so-called adults cause the drink-fuelled fracas that occurred on London Underground, on the last day of permitted drinking of alcohol on trains. Kids go on to the park with bottles and cans of booze and we all know that when alcohol hits the brain of a youngster, all sense goes out of their ears!!!!

There, I feel better for that! I just hope that some of them were caught. Watch this space; I shall let you know..

ASBO CHANGES AIM TO HELP AT-RISK TEENS
Children as young as ten will face compulsory programmes to tackle drug use and other offences under government plans to overhaul the Asbo system. Children’s Secretary Ed Balls’ plan is designed to tackle the root causes of bad behaviour and so reduce the number of Asbos being issued. (Story taken from The Observer)

We know that children are not ‘born bad’ and that life experiences and peer pressure are at the root of a lot of problems; our youngsters need as much help as we can give them. The poor behaviour of a few is a misrepresentation of the vast majority of youngsters who are law-abiding and who will go on to become good citizens

Your local Councillors, Veronica Goddard, Phil Smith and Jill Usher pictured with Inspector Lomas (L), Sgt Lindsey (2nd L)PCSO Gilbert and Leeming beat manager PC Colley at the opening of the new Police Station, High Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, on 19th January.