Thank goodness for common sense government. Today’s announcement that the Secretary of State has over-ruled the planning inspector and rejected Helioslough’s second appeal against refusal of the lorry terminal at Park Street is thoroughly good news.
It is the proper reward for years of hard campaigning.
Had this awful development gone ahead, it would have irrevocably destroyed [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Sandy's blog'
Railfreight victory by the skin of our teeth
July 8th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Sandy's blog
Tags:Helioslough·Herts County Council·Herts Highways·Park Street·Radlett freight terminal·Sandy Walkington·St Albans·STRiFE·Tesco
Single Transferable Vote (STV) good enough for MPs but not for the rest of us
June 10th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Sandy's blog
The recent election of Deputy Speakers in the House of Commons was not the subject of headlines though it is the first time that democracy has been allowed to sully the process.
The BBC online report coyly noted that “after a series of five votes by MPs, in which other candidates were eliminated in stages, [...]
Tags:
Brand New Politics
May 24th, 2010 · No Comments · Sandy's blog
I was asked by Julia Hobsbawm of Editorial Intelligence to write an article on the election and after for a publication to coincide with a conference on the theme of Brand New Britain.
Not an easy ask since every day has thrown up a new surprise, and doubtless there will be more today with the first [...]
Tags:Editorial Intelligence·Julia Hobsbawm·Nick Clegg·Sandy Walkington·St Albans
May 6th is polling day
May 5th, 2010 · No Comments · Sandy's blog
I expect you knew that. It’s certainly a relief to the candidates that we have almost reached the finishing post!
This week we had Simon Hughes in his dayglo taxi on Monday – and his magic touch conjured up even more poster boards in prominent locations.
Today Vince Cable came to town. There’s only one Nick Clegg, [...]
Tags:
Guardian and Mirror predict probable Liberal Democrat victory in St Albans
April 29th, 2010 · 2 Comments · Sandy's blog
There’s just one week to go (thank goodness). All eyes are on the party leaders and tonight’s debate.
Today’s front page story in the Guardian by Julian Glover headlined “Lib Dems set for most MPs since 1923 – poll” reports on the newspaper’s polling carried out on Tuesday this week. It shows [...]
Three Counties Radio debate
April 27th, 2010 · No Comments · Sandy's blog
Today all the candidates sparred on Three Counties Radio’s Jonathan Vernon-Smith consumer programme.
The BBC was determined to give no hint of the lavish excess we have come to expect from Broadcasting House. Arriving at the nondescript office building at 1 Hastings Street in Luton, we were shown to a totally empty floor, just carpet tiles [...]
Tags:Jonathan Vernon-Smith·Nicholas Breakspear school·Sandy Walkington·St Albans·Three Counties Radio
St Albans Abbey hustings
April 21st, 2010 · 1 Comment · Sandy's blog
Last night’s packed St Albans Abbey hustings demonstrated that there is a huge interest in this election. The nave was a magnificent and uplifting venue with the evening sun streaming through the west window.
The event was chaired by the Archdeacon, Jonathan Smith. He began by introducing us based on short descriptions we had provided – [...]
Tags:
Ashes to ashes
April 19th, 2010 · No Comments · Sandy's blog
Our skies may be unusually quiet and clear of aircraft but many local people will have found themselves stranded at their holiday destinations after the Easter break. I am particularly concerned at the impact on Year 11-13 students facing GCSE, AS and A2 exams in a few weeks if key teachers are missing.
Of course there [...]
Tags:Hertfordshire County Council·Sandy Walkington·school closures·schools·St Albans·teacher shortages·volcanic ash
Who is smiling now?
April 18th, 2010 · 3 Comments · Sandy's blog
I’m not letting my hopes run away at the current opinion polls but clearly something is happening. People want change. But they suddenly realise it does not have to be pendulum politics, there is a real alternative.
I campaigned for Nick Clegg in the Liberal Democrat leadership election because I believed then that he had the [...]
Tags:
What the papers say
April 15th, 2010 · No Comments · Sandy's blog
There has been some really encouraging comment about the Liberal Democrat manifesto in the newspapers and from key commentators. Here are just a few quotes:
The Lib Dems are well aware of the stakes. For their moment in the spotlight, they chose a focused, costed and serious political message.
The Guardian – 15th April 2010
The Liberal [...]
Tags: