This is really for Geoff Abell just to say that I'm sorry to have missed your last meeting Geoff, unfortunately it clashed with the birthday party of an old friend in Cyprus, but I've been to a number of recent meetings and I've gained a good idea of what's involved. And of course I can always catch up on the Webcast, so I won't be badly briefed.
No worries
@Chris Wallis Hope the party went well - we're allowed a life outside politics! Incidentally, I notice that the forest of signs around your house has just been trumped by those in "Fortress Dowling" - good job
@Kevin Dowling for getting so many signs onto 1 property! As
@Steve Gribbon says, he's done most of ours, although they're a little bit more distributed across Marple North. I think it's a sign of a healthy democracy that so many people are still happy to use their land to display posters for all parties.
I have been lucky enough to be a councillor for 4 years, and had an extra insight into the way council decisions were taken and I hope I've shared that with you, dear reader. A few people (like Chris) told me yesterday that they've watched the Marple Area Cmte webcast. I am pleasantly surprised. But for the majority who didn't, I'd like to share with you the 3 bits of casework that stood out. Please excuse me for being self-indulgent for once.
1) First case - lady rang to say I need a nursery place but have no computer. "I'll type it for you now", I said. 2 mins, job done.
2) In spite of my interest in trains and cycling, my biggest influence was saving a reduced 394 bus service, a lifeline for some. Of course, I did not do this alone and I give particular thanks to a Labour Hattersley cllr, officers at TfGM and Derbyshire CC, and the campaign of
@marplerambler We can do none of this by ourselves, even if we politicians shout about it a bit louder.
3) Finally in Jan of 2016 when the snows came down and Marple was gridlocked, I got on my bike and cycled across ice-sheets on Dan Bank (v carefully) to find lorries stuck on the ice and gritting lorries stuck in the queues. Helping free that felt good, although if I'd broken anything getting there, I'd not be so happy now!
I will miss all this. Thanks for reading!