How moved we were by the tragic story of Rifleman Aidan Howell from Sidcup who died serving in Afghanistan.

Compare and contrast his life with that of Anjem Choudary, a British born cleric and trained solicitor from down the road at Welling. He is plotting a march through Wootton Bassett to protest at Britain’s “murdering” soldiers in Afghanistan.

Whatever one feels about the rights and wrongs of our presence in Afghanistan, it certainly has more legitimacy than our invasion of Iraq based on a dossier of lies. And our brave soldiers there are doing their best to route out terrorists who, with our porous borders will directly or indirectly threaten every citizen of UK.

The added grief which such disgusting protests would cause to the bereaved families, is nothing short of a disgrace. 

Paul Laundy - Secretary,

Sidcup Community Group

Cyclist offended

On his January Chronicle page, John Steward tediously repeats the usual list of offences attributed indiscriminately to all cyclists. The problem is that all the offences are also committed regularly by drivers, often with much more serious results. The evidence can be viewed daily on TV ‘Road Wars’ type video recordings, but we’re not supposed to notice of course.

Naturally he omitted all the many offences applicable only to driving activities. Examples are driving uninsured and / or drunk, failing to use seat belts, parking the wrong way round, invalid Road Tax and MOT certificates, misuse of hand held mobile phones, horns and hazard warning lights, damaging tires by kerb riding, and of course speeding.

As he states, drivers are antagonised, and especially so if caught in the act when they break rules, hence the hatred of speed cameras and traffic wardens. Driving contributes most to carbon dioxide pollution and congestion, compared with virtually zero for cyclists, so Steward wants fewer cycles and inevitably more motor vehicles. Not very bright of him. 

It’s interesting that despite claims by drivers that they are too busy to keep an eye on their speedometers, they can find time to observe cyclists on footpaths, often behind a solid line of parked cars. Something needs to be done about traffic offences, but it should apply to all road users and be proportionate to the harm caused, not just to appease drivers who want public roads to themselves.

John Norman - Bexleyheath

Family search

The Chronicle is seeking information about the whereabouts of one Joan Burles, she was formerly known as Mcarthur, nee Harding. She left Gravesend in 1949, and may have returned to her family in Erith. She is my mother and I have been searching for over 40 years, so any help would be appreciated.

Maggie Salmon

• Readers who have any information should call the Chronicle offices on 8 302 6150 who will forward the information to Maggie.

Tough Times....

In these tough economic times Boris Johnson is demonstrating that he is on the side of council tax payers, especially those on low or fixed incomes, by freezing the Greater London Authority precept for the second year running. By being tough on costs and driving up efficiency, each precept pound is going that much further.

My constituents want a mayor who can cut his coat according to the economic cloth and whilst providing an additional 550 police officers for frontline work; expanding Oyster cards on to the overland railways; modernising the fire brigade through consolidating major incident response centres on four sites; making children who mis-behave on public transport earn back the right to free transport; and cutting Transport for London’s staff by 1,000. All of which is Boris is rightly doing.

James Cleverly AM
London Assembly member for Bexley and Bromley

• Mr Cleverly could you ask your friend Boris if he is going to ask your residents for more money to pay for upgrading his underground railway which doesn’t serve them? And why he is penalising your residents for working in London by asking them to pay 20% more to travel? Is anyone on the GLA representing us marginal Londoners? Ed

Drama Club

The Fiasco Division are inviting members of the Bexley community to come down to the Howbury Centre in Slade Green, and get involved in the new FREE drama club that will be starting there this month, and running until the end of April 2010.

There will be two different clubs: one will be for over 60s, the other will be for 13 -16 year olds. However, the Drama Club will be open to anybody, of any age, who is enthusiastic about getting involved.

No previous experience is required and both clubs will be a chance for all participants to have a lot of fun meeting new people and trying out something new.

For those who are interested in getting involved, get in touch by:

1) Telephone number: 07708136240 (Ask for Stephanie)

2) Email: tfd@hotmail.co.uk

3) Coming along to our recruitment day at the Howbury Centre, Slade Green: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, 16th January, 2010.

Further information about the project or The Fiasco Division can be found on the website: www.thefiascodivision.com. If preferred, please do not hesitate to email any queries to tfd@hotmail.co.uk or call Stephanie on 07708136240.

This project is supported by Bexley Council, the European Union’s Youth in Action Scheme, and Rose Bruford Drama School.

Lauren McCullum Of The Fiasco Division

07805735330

Drunks and the NHS 

Do you not think it would be a good idea that from now on all drunks that are dealt with at any time, should be charged a  fee of £150 having the NHS ambulances to attend to them for their stupidity. It’s their own fault they get into this state. Have a drink by all means but why get paraletic and spew all over place,there can be no enjoyment in that. Other people have to clean up behind them as well. This should be, of course, on top of any fine handed out by the courts if prosecuted by the police. They must be costing the NHS a fortune so why should they get away scot free? I have had good nights out on the booze in my time but enjoyed every moment because I didn’t get stoned out of my mind and I still had my wits about me. I’m now 82 and still have a good drink. We the general public have to foot the bill for their mindless drunkenness. For my part I would let them lay where they collapse and let them get on with it. They may then see the light in the morning waking up in their own spew, cold and miserable. Why should we worry about them? It would be easier for the councils to hose down in the morning so they could be charged for that too. What do you the rest of the public out there think. It would be interesting to hear their views on the subject.

Ross from Crayford

• Brilliant idea Ross and the sort of direct action I would support. Whether our nannie politicians would is another matter.  I wonder when someone is going to wake up and realise we are such an easy touch for these people. Ed 

Eric Easton

Further to your editorial about Eric Easton and Danson Crescent I was intrigued as to the information you had about Eric.

Living next door to the Eastons from 1935 (I was nine) and had Eric as one of my heros as he won the London Schoolboys 880 yards and came second in the All-England Schoolboys in the same year. He was also a magnificent swimmer and good footballer.

Harry Barnett also played football for the London schoolboys. Ben as we called Harold Bennett came back to see Mrs Easton at the end of the war.

Geoff Page, - Welling

• Such a tragedy that only one of the talented friends survived WW2. Ed

Mismanaged economy

“First, I would like to wish all Bexley Chronicle readers a Happy New Year. 

Britain experienced real problems in 2009 with the recession, rising unemployment and business closures. The Government has mismanaged the economy and as a result, our country is massively in debt. We can’t go on like this.

I hope that 2010 will be a year of change. We need a new Government that will be positive, and invest in our health service, improve our schools, offer new opportunities for young people and create new jobs. We also need a Government that will deal with the problems of crime and illegal immigration. 

Most importantly, by promoting the traditional British values of aspiration and responsibility, and supporting small businesses, we can rebuild our economy and encourage growth.

This can only be achieved with a change of Government when the General Election is called this year”.

David Evennett MP

Fallon stays 

Well done Sevenoaks Council for getting top marks for efficient management and use of tax payers money.

It is a pity that the Sevenoaks representative in Parliament, Michael Fallon, did not fall into the category for efficient management of tax payers money when claiming his expenses. The Sevenoaks Conservative Association told me they had no problem with his exorbitant claims and have no intention of deselecting him. Shame on them. 

Gordon Myatt - Swanley

Getting the hump!

Early in 2009 the Council, as part of the Sidcup traffic improvement scheme, constructed a large raised platform at the crossroad junction of Elm, Chislehurst Roads with The Green and The Park. As part of the A222 the Elm and Chislehurst Roads carry not only numerous numbers of vehicles but a wide variety of heavily loaded vehicles too. The actual ramps up on to the raised platform in Chislehurst and Elm Roads were exceptionally short but steep (like a curved step) and resulted in heavy and/or loosely loaded vehicles crashing on and off the raised platform with a very noisy explosive vibrating impact on the nearby homes. The reason for the raised platform was to stop vehicles travelling at speed over the junction. However, as part of the traffic improvement scheme a vehicle activated sign was also installed to monitor the speed of Chislehurst Road northbound vehicles a short distance south of the raised platform. The Council also installed a new pedestrian crossing over Chislehurst Road south of the raised platform with a central traffic island which reduced vehicle speeds in either direction anyway.

In November 2008 prior to the commencement of the traffic improvement works and the gas works in Station Road, the average traffic numbers per day was 16,915. In May 2009 when the raised platform was in place and with gas works in Station Road the daily average was reduced to 15,519.

The nearby residents complained about the excessive noise and vibration from the raised platform to the Highways Department. They were told that the raised platform was satisfactory to the Council Highways Department. They then complained to the Council Environment Department and received a response from them stating that on London Clay – yes we are – the legal distance criteria of 15 metres from the raised platform to the nearest home had been met. Nothing would or could be done. However, the neighbours closest to the platform measured the distance of their house walls to the raised platform. Their house wall was only 12.5 metres away from the raised platform. This information was provided to the Council.

On Monday evening 14 December 2009 the ramps were altered to make the rise on and off the raised platform flatter. We now still have a raised platform but there is now a long slope on and off instead of a curved step.

I obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (which the Council do not like citing costs) the following information:-

The cost of the Vehicle Activated Sign installed in Chislehurst Road was £2,313. The cost of a raised platform is approximately £20,000 – the Council was not specific. Therefore the Council has spent at least £20,000 installing this illegal raised traffic platform and even more money trying to rectify the noise and vibration problem it created for nearby residents. Properly it ought to be removed but that would cost even more.

Jean Gee (Mrs) - Sidcup

Hadlow Road

With reference to the above letter sent to Bexley Council by Margaret Vowles, relating to the condition of Hadlow Road, Sidcup and the response by Mr Ron Bridgeman that there was no money available to carry out repairs. In a response to a recent freedom of information request submitted by me, Bexley Council admitted that in the financial year 2008/09 they had spent approximately £990,000 on traffic consultants fees. Perhaps Mr Bridgeman or Mr Peter Craske, the Conservative Transport Minister for Bexley Council, would like to inform us how and why it was necessary to spend almost a million pounds of taxpayers money in this fashion, to whom it was  paid and if it was necessary to seek outside advice, what are Mr Bridgeman and Mr Craske doing to warrant a salary and allowances?

Michael Barnbrook, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate,

British National Party 

Roads in Sidcup

I recently read with interest Margaret Vowles article on Hadlow Road, Sidcup and the reply from Ron Bridgeman - Area Manager South Works Direct, Bexey Council which just about says it all.  There are two roads in Sidcup i.e St John’s Road and Church Avenue that have the luxury of being private roads and if open St Johns Road in particular would at least ease the pressure on Hadlow Road and its wearing course which is clearly showing deterioration.  Is it not time now that residents of Sidcup put pressure  on Bexley Council to open up these two roads particularly in the light of their lack of road funding budget and allow the majority of people who pay their Council Tax value for money and not the minority of residents living in these two roads clearly a totally unfair luxury.  Where is the fairness?  Opening these two roads would also allow better flow of traffic. Trying to get out of Hadlow Road in the morning when unloading is taking place in the High Street is ridiculous.  Please when is somebody on the Council going to see some sense?  

Also, I realise the Library funding does not come out of the road funding budget but the money that has recently been spent on the outside of the library in Hadlow Road with its seating and colourful paving is absolutely daft when the road outside is full of pot holes and we are told there is no budget available at the moment to repair it.  It’s like rubbing salt into the wound.  

Sorry to be so disagreeable at the start of the New Year but to me there is an easy solution to the problem if only the Council were to address it. 

Sandra Gratwick, - Sidcup

• We have six councillors living in Sidcup of which two are a part of the decision making Cabinet. Perhaps they should be invited to visit Hadlow Road.  They will probably say they have greater things on their minds until May, when they will be knocking on our doors seeking our vote when they will promise you anything.   Remember four years ago when the conservatives promised to address the problems of the town’s grid locked roads! The ‘private’ roads should include gated St John’s Road where residents have to put up with a constant flow of traffic going round in circles. 

Perhaps our council have to get the permission of Morrisons head office before anything can change!  Ed

Traffic mods! 

The poorly publicised public consultation on traffic modifications in Station Road has been completed. Despite representations from the public, commuters young, old and infirm will have an uphill walk to relocated bus stops outside the solicitors at Alma Road junction so that car drivers can access Tesco! So much for discouraging shopping motorists. 

Referring to a £3.4 million grant to Bexley Council by Transport for London, London’s Transport Commissioner said “Bexley has identified a range of small and large-scale projects which will…… improve the environment and promote greener forms of travel”. 

Can someone from Bexley Council please explain this contradiction? 

Paul Laundy, Secretary SCG, Sidcup 

The Manor House

Those who have the interests of Sidcup at heart will be pleased to know that the  threat to the Manor House has been lifted. The Council has approved a restoration and maintenance plan for the Manor House, and it will be kept as a Registry until at least 2014. It will not be sold off to finance future Council accommodation as was first put forward. 

In order to finance the plan, later additions added to the historic house will be demolished, and it is hoped that new development on part of the site will be built that will not damage the integrity of the historic building. A separate review of the Registry is to be made. 

This salvation is largely due to the Bexley Civic Society which organised a large petition and subsequently encouraged many letters of protest to be sent to the Council. If local residents do rally sufficiently to a good cause, the Council does take heed.

John Mercer - Chairman