2009 October

Entries from October 30th, 2009

More rail misery for FCC commuters

October 30th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Uncategorized

There are times when I am so relieved not to be a daily commuter any more. I have just heard of the other side of the coin from this morning’s optimistic announcement about the Abbey Flyer service, which is of course part of the London Midland franchise.
Back in the topsy turvy world of the First [...]

Abbey Flyer to take off as a tram

October 30th, 2009 · 2 Comments · Sandy's blog

I was delighted to attend today’s announcement by my old friend Andrew Adonis at St Albans Abbey Station of plans to convert the existing Abbey Flyer rail service into a tram service instead.
I know from my time working for Transport for London what the likely benefits will be.
The long-awaited passing loops will be less [...]

Nothing to fear in Brown’s brave new Britain

October 29th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog

One of the phrases I truly loathe is “You have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide.” It is too often used as a catch-all excuse for completely unwarranted invasions of personal privacy. So it is truly shocking to learn that more than 90,000 innocent people have been added to the National [...]

Knives on the tables

October 28th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog

Drama in St Albans seems to be on something of a roll. Last night I attended the locally based Ovo theatre group’s first performance in their new home in the former Patons bookshop on Holywell Hill. It was a great loss to the city when this stopped being a bookshop – I remember it from [...]

Stabbed in the front by Herts County Council

October 28th, 2009 · No Comments · Hands off Herts, Sandy's blog

I am frankly dismayed by Hertfordshire County Council’s decision not to make any highways-related objection to the Helioslough freight terminal application. It looks like they have just caved in to Helioslough’s legal threats. It is totally abject for them to cite concern about costs being awarded against them – of course there is [...]

Victory in Super Off-Peak rail fare dispute

October 27th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Sandy's blog

I am pleased to have received confirmation from Jim Morgan, Managing Director of First Capital Connect, that any passenger who can show they purchased a weekend day return from a self-service ticket machine over the summer and failed to benefit from the Super Saver discount of up to 25 percent will now be compensated with [...]

Are school exchange CRB checks going too far?

October 23rd, 2009 · 1 Comment · Sandy's blog

I have just been listening to the BBC You and Yours item on CRB checking of host families for school exchanges and concerns this would make schools and families even less likely to participate in such activities.
We are welcoming a German girl into our home next month, and the school was advised we would have [...]

MPs should hang their heads in shame over Equitable Life

October 22nd, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog

Earlier this week I joined a lobby of Equitable Life policyholders from Hertfordshire and Middlesex to see local MPs including Anne Main. The lobby was organised by the Equitable Members Action Group (EMAG) and the picture shows some of us standing in the shadow of Big Ben before going inside.
Yesterday saw the first full debate [...]

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Tags:EMAG·Equitable Life·Vince Cable

First Capital Connect Super Saver Scam

October 20th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog

I have just been interviewed by BBC Three Counties Radio about the astonishing blunder by First Capital Connect in failing to ensure their summer promotion super saver weekend day returns could be purchased from station ticket machines.
The super saver tickets were launched in June. They offer up to 25 percent discounts on weekend train travel [...]

Signal Success in tour of Architectural Highlights

October 15th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog, Uncategorized

For too long St Albans South Signal Box was a paint-peeling eyesore at the entrance to St Albans. So it was a fantastic thing when local residents in Ridgmont Road decided over a pint that they could and would rescue it. It now glistens in old Midland Railway scarlet livery, is open to the public [...]

Sandy 4 St Albans

Sandy Walkington is the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for St Albans