Sandy’s blog

Entries Tagged as 'Sandy's blog'

Do you have £100 million spare cash? Do you want to run a railroad?

December 23rd, 2011 · 4 Comments · Sandy's blog

I am indebted to the informative regular newsletter from the local branch of the Association of Passenger Transport Users for alerting me that the Department for Transport has formally asked for expressions of interest in running the new Thameslink rail franchise from 2013.
What this means is that they have issued an “OJEU Notice” – ie [...]

Stick it up ‘em and other soundbites

December 22nd, 2011 · 3 Comments · Sandy's blog

We rattled across a lot of country on tonight’s BBC Three Counties Drivetime with Roberto Perrone. My fellow panellists were Tom Shaw, a longstanding Labour councillor in Luton, and Darren Isted, editor of the Comet newspapers in North Herts.
The first question was about former Labour minister Lord West’s call to send “a submarine to stick [...]

Christmas Tree Festival at St Saviour’s

December 19th, 2011 · 2 Comments · Sandy's blog

The interior of St Saviour’s Church in Sandpit Lane is one of the glorious surprises of St Albans at any time of year. But it’s particularly spectacular this week with its Christmas Tree Festival of 93 trees decorated by local families and voluntary groups. The festival only happens once every three years, so see it [...]

Meeting with Rail Minister about First Capital Connect

December 15th, 2011 · 1 Comment · Sandy's blog

Very useful and wide-ranging meeting this afternoon with Rail Minister Norman Baker MP in the House of Commons. I was accompanied by Caroline Pidgeon AM, chair of the Greater London Assembly Transport Committee, and by Chris White, leader of the opposition on Herts County Council.
We took with us a dossier prepared by two St Albans [...]

Encouraging those entitled to free school meals to register so as to maximise their school’s pupil premium

December 14th, 2011 · 1 Comment · Sandy's blog

I was very interested to receive today a letter from my daughter’s head teacher about the Pupil Premium – the Liberal Democrat initiative to target specific extra money at schools according to the number of pupils they have from less well off families. This has already resulted in an extra £800,000 for St Albans schools [...]

Here’s dreaming of a greener Christmas

December 13th, 2011 · No Comments · Sandy's blog

I take no credit for the attached suggestions. They are a selection of ideas for a greener Christmas from local members of Transition St Albans (about which I have blogged previously).
It would take dedication to follow all the ideas to the letter, and no-one is suggesting that. Being St Albans, a lot of people reading [...]

Park Street Lorry Terminal – Why the county council must conduct a traffic count

December 12th, 2011 · 1 Comment · Sandy's blog

The Department for Transport and Network Rail have given a green light to the Midland Mainline as appropriate for a Strategic Railfreight Terminal. However much we may try to challenge their reasoning they have effectively knocked away all the arguments on the unsuitability of this line based on loading gauge restrictions and conflict with First [...]

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Just how rich do you think you are?

December 11th, 2011 · No Comments · Sandy's blog

I am indebted to Mark Pack for drawing to my attention the thought-provoking Global Rich List website created by the interestingly named Poke. At a time of so much financial stress, it is salutary to be reminded of our relative wealth compared with so many people on this planet.
I will raise various caveats. Annual income [...]

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Does it matter that David Cameron has upset the other European leaders?

December 9th, 2011 · 1 Comment · Sandy's blog

That was the question posed in this morning’s JVS Show on Three Counties Radio in which I took part, following David Cameron’s overnight effective veto of a new European treaty to address the Eurozone crisis.
I told the programme that I thought it was the wrong question. The issue is not whether other European leaders have [...]

Need to promote St Albans District Credit Union as a far better alternative to payday loans

December 7th, 2011 · 5 Comments · Sandy's blog

Today’s news that millions of Britons are likely to take out a high-interest loan in the next six months to last them until payday – so-called “payday loans” – prompts me to write an overdue post on St Albans District Credit Union (STADCU).
It has its own shop premises in Hatfield Road by the Methodist Church [...]

Sandy 4 St Albans

Sandy Walkington campaigns with the Liberal Democrats across St Albans