FOLLOWING A leaflet showdown over Wyre, finally our font of truth and wisdom, the Gasjet, has begun penning a story about the much more relevant and much more damning Crystal Road leaflets: and the article could hit the headlines on the night before the election.
Don’t expect to read anything you haven’t already been made aware of, however. The Gasjet are known for their “quantity not quality” approach, with “drunk swears at policeman” and “car stolen by youth” being the food and drink of the ailing Johnston Press rag.
As we are all aware, it is unlike the Gasjet to munch on a political hot potato like this one where the participants are all poised to serve writs on each other, and quite surprising that on the eve of the election they have suddenly taken an interest.
That said, local champion David Palmer has been photographed and interviewed, and the Gasjet cameraman indicated that he was heading to Crystal Road to photograph the property which local ratepayers were compelled to purchase for £180,000 by the council executive.
The Gasjet have known about this story from the outset and have been supplied in the past with large dossiers of information, but have been reluctant to write about it, with one reporter citing editorial pressure. Yet at a time when it could irrevocably damage the Fowlers and Callows they finally bite. Could they have been nudged by the councillors involved to put a pro-council spin on it due to fears of a blanket leaflet distribution plan being actioned tomorrow night? The Gasjet would be, after all, the ultimate leaflet; and it wouldn’t eat into the councillors’ election propaganda budget!
Tomorrow might well be one of the few times that the Gasjet is worth buying.
One additional thing to ponder. I have an email from Helen France to Ian Fowler dated the 5th of November 2009, citing that the council was proceeding with the acquisition of his Crystal Road property, that it would be treated in the same way as all the others and that the valuation had been submitted to the district auditor to ensure that, in Helen’s words, everything was “squeaky clean”.
One wonders to what valuation she refers, though, given that the actual Keppie Massey valuation is dated 17th November 2009. How could Helen France be aware what the valuation was 12 days prior to the valuation report actually being written?
I can think of one way!
Sounds like it was engineered to me, sound like she knew of the outcome before the report was done?
Did Helen France get a cut for her services?
Brilliant Phil,you have done it again, this will bury Fouler and Callow and why not France?
Are you readin this Simon?
If so, you must get rid of the executive, you must make radical chnages to get this town back on its feet!
Dave Palmer = National hero!
Simon told me he doesnt read the site; maybe because his nemesis True Blackpudlian seems to have disappeared into thin air!
lol I bet he does, he would be mad not to read this site as one user is set to bring down Fouler and possibly the council,lol.
If Callow and Fouler are out on friday, its down to a combination of Philtheone and Dave (kills council Goliath) Palmer,People power prevails!
It shows the power of the internet.
Ok, I admit it – I am reading it! SHB.
If thats the real Simon Blackburn, then I expect he will be leader of Blackpool council on friday,I hope you do your best for Blackpool, people are crying out for a council that learns from mistakes and brings investment into the town.
Yeah and we’re not “Donkey Botherers” you pie-munching East Lancashire twat!
lol lol,,lol
From the horses mouth !
Today while I was on Crystal Road I asked the Tyson builders about the condition of 25/27 Crystal Road , I was told “it’s coming down”
Hi Steve,
Helen France has been sending letters to Dave Palmer saying 25/27 Crystal Road is not coming down, and basically what do the builders know about it duh. Can you imagine how pathetic she will look when it does come down. I think resignation is in order, before the information about the other properties we know about comes out. Oh what a tangled web we weave. Block of flats, Block of flats, Block of flats sang to the air of here we go here we go here we go
Indeed, you can add Ian Fowler and Peter Callow to the list of people saying that it’s not going to be demolished as well.
On those flats, you’ve just reminded me about something…
Good I am still digging, need a bit of help, but will get there.
Its a shame TB has gone, I liked his rants.
I’m sure he’ll be back on Friday!
Hooray!
Back and much chastened I imagine
Eat those words Bickerstaffe!
Fair point! Although he did actually come back, didn’t he?
His result was one of the few surprises of the election, I think. I had expected that his opponents would have made more of his past comments as TB and his semi-naked Facebook photo, but obviously that didn’t happen. Fair play for giving him a chance, I suppose. Or just assuming that Squires Gate was a no-go area. Is there somebody who lives in Squires Gate who can give a dispassionate view of the election campaign that took place there?
Now that Callow’s gone, I hope the order to pretend that the Internet doesn’t exist has been rescinded. It was, after all, how Paul Galley made his mark.
Yes I did come back John, because I like to keep in touch with the electorate and let them know what’s going on. I will tell you what I know about campaigning in Squires Gate. It was a good clean and friendly campaign, myself and my running mate kept our leaflets positive and did not stoop to personal attacks on other candidates or parties. I simply want the best for Squires Gate. I know the area well, I have met some fantastic people on the doorstep canvassing and it is a great privilege to now be their councillor. On the announcement of the Squires Gate results there was no hostility between candidates, we all shook hands and thanked each other for a well-done campaign. The Gazette website is read by a minority of people is all I can say. The good people of Squires Gate met the real me and clearly I made a good impression. I know have every intention of showing them they made the right choice by giving me a shot.
I hope Christian will support his fellow Ward Councillor Doug Green, in obtaining a position on at least 1 Committee. I am hearing that the officers (on suggestion from Simon Blackburn?) are saying as he is on his own he cannot be on any committee.
It is in the interest of Squires Gate residents that both their Councillors get to influence things, and Doug is a top rate accountant and has much to contribute. Come on Simon this would be a very bad start if you try to sqeeze out the lone Lib Dem voice.
Doug just told me Simon Blackburn will allow him to be on the Licencing Committee. It seems the officer Mark Towers was being ………. off his own bat.
I agree Steven, Dougie is an excellent councillor and his background as an accountant should be well-regarded, he is a very experienced councillor and definitely should get to be on committees. We may be from different parties but I am behind Dougie all the way, we both want the best for Squires Gate.
Gasjet would be, after all, the ultimate leaflet
I disagree. More people in Waterloo will have seen David’s leaflet than will read The Gazette. Its numbers are dwindling year-on-year (in proportion to its quality and cover cost?). It won’t be too long before it goes the way of the Lytham and St Anne’s Express, becoming a weekly publication. There are, after all, only so many “bicycle stolen” and “local busybody retires” stories to be written about (although Blackpool’s inability to grapple with town centre violence and alcohol abuse might give the newspaper a prolonged stay of execution).
Callow’s single-mindedness in only dealing with newspapers is baffling, particularly when most people don’t read The Gazette. It seems shortsighted to me for him to ignore modern inventions like the wireless, or the even more uber-modern ‘computer’. He really is a man of his time (although Blackburn seems just as fearful of anything that has an electrical current passing through it).
Are you readin this Simon?
If so, you must get rid of the executive
Well I can’t quite see him keeping Callow & co in place if he does get a ruling majority!
well said john, its shows his shallow mentality and how out of touch he is,his failure to grasp the value of the internet/evolving media culture has really done him down,not thats a bad thing mind you.
One only hopes on friday that Weaver et al are out or on their way out.
One only hopes on friday that Weaver et al are out or on their way out.
I wouldn’t count on it. As I’ve said previously, that will cost money, unless Weaver does the honourable thing and falls on his sword. Somehow, I can’t imagine that that is what Blackburn and the interests of Unison will want. Who will be there to help build their public sector empire/ electorate otherwise?
Ever the cynic, John. Love it!
Funny thing is, I wouldn’t be so cynical if others didn’t give me reason to be so!
I dont disagree John, just more of a hope than an expectation, still we will all find out on friday.
Wyre by comparsion is boring to Blackpool,lol, I expect the tories to be back but Fleetwood will elect a few more labour councillors though, Fwood doesnt like WBC,as its Poulton orientated.
Well done Phil,your work is amazing.
Well, yes – we can all try to be optimistic – it just means we fall a lot further when our hopes are dashed :p
Wyre, by comparison, seems to be a better-run authority. I’m sure it’s probably a different perspective that I have by not living there, but I haven’t seen/ heard of anywhere near the level of fiscal incompetence and organisational ineptitude that Blackpool has. I know you have strong feelings about the planning department and perhaps the A585 (I think? I’ve never been any good at remembering A roads), but I’d swap those problems in a heartbeat for what we have in Blackpool. Like I said, though – perhaps a question of perspective.
yes it is a better run council bar the planners and of course public enemy no 1 Garry Payne!!
Getting rid of him would be the best thing they could do imho and of course the joker in the pack: Alan Vincent.
The gasjet have a comment day today, go to their page and click on the editors face I have left my comment dont miss the opportunity. He said he will accept all views nows your chance guys go for it, let rip.
Is there an election coming soon – Well that is a shock – Not a leaflet – Not a knock on the door – Maybe carleton is in a time warp !
I have had 2 leaflets from the tories,I think they are worried, if you ask me.
10.30 on wednesday no sign of it on gazette website, will they bottle it?
Who knows, it might be one of the stories they don’t put on there in case the council get criticised by commenters.
looks like they have bottled it.
It’s in the printed version on page 2, and Callow has spun it as predicted. I haven’t actually read it yet, just had it read to me on the phone so I will check it out later and put something up about it.
Interesting,Callows spin will be hopefully be in vain.Cheers Phil.
This morning, on 5live Victoria Derbyshire, someone called Carl from Leeds reflected the angst and problems that most honest voters have – no choice in candy cake.
There is but one up for election with any FORM on delivering a decent service and his party is unelectable.
Come on David. Been waiting for you to call with your leaflets.
It has finally appeared….
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/local/row_erupts_over_cabbie_s_crusade_1_3348168
And as predicted the story has been slanted as a personal attack on Fowler…..
Fowler and Callow’s instructions that the comments box remain closed have been followed to the letter.
Is the term ‘a bitter and twisted person’ libellous ?
Anyway, Fowler claims “Most of the taxi trade has been extremely helpful, but it would appear one person is not satisfied” (er, at least two if you include me as well so wrong already), how has he reached this conclusion ? As I’ve said before the taxi trade had no choice in the changes, any consultations – if there were any – were ignored. Ask taxi drivers around town about the changes and I think you will find the vast majority were against the changes, but Fowler says otherwise, just making things up then, or just lying ? Unless he has facts to back up his claims.
The NVQ’s in particular were just a lazy smokescreen to attract more government grants, once a certain number of adults had been on further education training the council got a handout, to achieve this number they forced every taxi driver to take an NVQ, easy peasy,job done. Although the NVQ’s were voluntary and drivers couldn’t be forced to do them, unless you had one by the start of this year you wouldn’t be issued a licence. So not compulsory unless you wanted to keep your job !
Its a good job the foreign guys with their sat navs werent still driving taxis at this point as they couldnt speak a word of English. That was another dodgy carry on how the hell did they get to drive around the town legally. Enough already. Transparency is the order of the day.
Looks like Helen France is the Council bullshit troubleshooter and “fixer” who will be getting a mighty fall when it all comes home to roost. Perhaps she can fuck off back to Knowsley where she came from; the safari park that is not the Council. We’ve had some cursory experience of France and what we have found out about her via this site confirms a lot. We found her to be a disingenuous, very bad at lying, patronising, deceitful, self serving ballbag; She’ll probably win employee of the year with that CV!!!. And she’s on over a hundred grand PA ffs. She also has a nauseous, kowtowing shitbag underling known as Ms Frudd who, believe me, is about as convincing and useful as her namesake Elmer Fudd. We know that it is bad in Wyre with that Council, we thought, having almost a monopoly on cretinous twats. But even our slight experience of your officers quite rightly gives Blackpool the Oscar for most duplicitous and self serving fuck ups on the Fylde Coast. You have our sympathies.
Went for a walk up Crystal Road last evening (walking off the bit of dinner I had in the Wetherspoons) to see what all the fuss is about this building.
To say that there are no apparent structural defects is a mild understatement. The lintel above the front door has broken leading to a partial collapse of the wall above it and there are obvious defects to the bottom right of the front wall of the property (as you look at it) which has caused movement across the gable end wall evidenced by the loss of some render..
At the very least this building was shouting out in its loudest voice for an in depth structural survey.
It suggests to me that the surveyors didn’t attend the site, although their report says they did, so what do I know?
Is this another Red Book compliant property, let me see Keppie Massie Crystal Road surveyors, Keppie Massie Shadowlands surveyors, Keppie Massie King Edward Apartment surveyors. Is this just my feminine curiosity, or is an inspection of works allegedly carried out in order.
4 down 2 to go,