BJ Street furniture

BJ - Mist on the R Trent -early autumn morning

Street Furniture -expenditure

Driving thro the village recently I was surprised to see that Local Government had decided that further resources should be ploughed into replacement of our existing Street Furniture

All the existing, functioning, street lights in the village Main Street were being replaced entirely by some latest designs (presumably). Not only were these existing functional lights being replaced but these replacements involve digging up the pavement areas, with additional wiring and erecting the new model within 1M of the originals.

To the uninitiated, this appears to be a gross unnecessary expenditure - we all like to update our cars , televisions, computers etc., with current models, but in these times of financial uncertainty we have to “cut our cloth to suit” so why cannot the administration do likewise. The “powers that be”, will reply.. these replacements have been scheduled and contracted for some time and that there installation/contracts cannot be deferred.

Well how about building in more flexibility into the scheduling contract. Alternatively, and a better solution would be to reconsider with the question. Why is it necessary to replace the existing/functioning - Is it legislation? New specifications /standards? etc etc..

As a local, I am not aware that the present street lighting is inadequate , I am not aware of an safety issues .. So why is it necessary to replace the existing ?. The established light standards and fittings will be removed, with all the cost implication, and then there is also the cost of their disposal ( yes there may be a market in second hand street lights in the Developing countries or in the present price of scrap metals -- Ugh! )

Simultaneously with the replacement of our Main street lighting, is the erection and replacement of our existing Bus stop signs . In the past some economies were achieved by using existing street light standards to “double-up” their function by attaching/clipping the older Bus Stop sign to them. Today the new signs are complete with their own standards/posts. Yet more expenditure by some section of local administration. What a waste .. ..

Eventually, someone has to pay .. Guess who !! .. !!

bjblhs

"bjblhs" .??..!!

Is anyone aware what "bjblhs" represents?

Throughout the world today, information transfer via the www /Internet rules.. is an everyday ocurrance for business, commerce, education, research and everyday personal issues - across towns, countries, continents, into virtually every country in the world, 24 hours/7 day a week .. .. .

The problem for many of the un-initiated appears to be that this "new, upstart medium" - still relatively young (10 years or so ). has resulted in a huge section of our community who have yet to embrace this new information highway as a way of life. .

Yes!.. .. I am referring to a section of the more mature individuals amongst us.

Why do I raise this as an issue - because there is a section of the BJ community ( by nature the more mature) who give a great deal of their time to investigating, selecting, gathering and collating as much information relative to Burton Joyce and Bulcote, which appears relevant. Yet this group, of dedicated people, individuals and collectively, still appear hesitant to embrace the www. and Internet, within their group activities.

I am bringing this subject to print, in return, for the help given to me by the "Tuesday Morning Ladies" at the "Burton Joyce & Bulcote Local History Society ", some three years ago, .. .. YES ! That is precisely what the initials.. .. bjblhs .. . signifies .

I want the BJ&B LHS to embrace the fact that the www and Internet. will open up a whole new world and opportunity for the collection and transfer of pertinent, useful and relevant information of our villages, to all and every interested individuals locally and worldwide. Not sometime in the future when all their present information is collated and manually filed, for that is a time which will never come . What is required is an immediate and progressive attitude to change ( for most of the BJ&BLHS are by nature "the more mature")

It does appear to be a fact, that the more mature/older we are, the more interested we become in our history, ancestors and genealogy

1) Just imagine, how many Internet users there are in this village of ours, PLUS all the other individuals and families (locally, nationally and world wide) WITH, or seeking information relevant to the area. All these people could be contributing and establishing real content to the Society's archives.

2) Just imagine, the ease which which your volunteers could be instantly collecting or distributing materials, files, text and images via e mail, by simply depressing computer keys .

3) Just imagine the benefits and ease in interactive productivity a small interconnecting network of laptops could provide. None of this is out of the question, or beyond consideration for those with a progressive attitude

The www and Internet is not a "Black Art" - it is a economical, straightforward, viable technology, which is now well established, understood, used world wide, proven and definitely here to stay

.. bjblhs.. .. .. Please! Please! embrace this superb "information highway", as speedily as possible (it does not bite!) -

Flooding = more cash

"FLOODING" = cash to central Government !!

The floods of 2007 and 2008 resulted in extensive damage to many local buildings and areas. However, there still appears to be no overall development scheme, plus the remedial work to repair the homes affected across the county is estimated to have generated a staggering additional £1.2 billion for the Government in VAT and the Tax on profit (the Conservative Party states)

Why therefore is it the Government is only willing to give Local Authorities a mere £49 million to rectify the damage ?? ..?? and why is it that some 15 months on there are still families up and down the country STILL in temporary accommodation?

A house with history

"Who lived in this house?

Try testing your knowledge BEFORE you look to the answer

"FERNSIDE" - Criftin Road

Answer - The late benefactor Harry Roberts ( "Roberts Children's Playing field" ) and his wife Sophia ( nee ALVEY) built this, their home. The land was purchased from Sophia's father, - JOSEPH ALVEY. - In fact at that time Joseph Alvey owned all the land, now known as Criftin Road

BJ Flooding

New Flood defenses - BJ

"ANY REPEAT OF 2007 BJ 'FLOODING ???

Week Ending 7th Sept Well this week we have had more than our fair share of rain - similar to those of a year ago when the village was closed off at the Lambley Lane /Main street junction, due to the dumble/beck dramatically overflowing. So how have the recently created flood defenses performed? On my morning walk I was anticipating some dramatic scenes, either in the dumble/beck on Main St, in St Helens Grove or at the dumble/beck outlet into the River Trent


I'm pleased to report, - so far, so good - which is excellent news particularly for those living in the area of last years outburst - particularly after last nights TORRENT and with the reports and TV images from other parts of the country. The engineers have designed and constructed a comprehensive solution on the embankment. Some may say that the untold months of construction and the amount of steel/concrete used, is similar to taking a sledge hammer to crack a wall nut and AT WHAT COST ? - (Projects undertaken by the establishment invariably always appear to have an element of overkill - better to be safe than sorry!)


Sunday 5th Oct- 2008
Once again we have torrencial rain ( through-out the early morning) We have still to see the results as the Trent will obviously rise even more from its present high level as and when the upriver waters reach us

B J 2008 Flood Defenses - solution to village flooding, created by the dumble/beck overflowing thro excessive rainfalls - although these were started in February- The environment agency advises that work is at last nearing completion - That is great for the locals whose homes are susceptible to flooding, however I am somewhat surprised at the "urgency" !! shown by the establishments

BJ Post Office

What is the truth?

What is the true story behind the on-running saga of the management of Burton Joyce Post Office?. One of my readers asked, and how many more of us living in BJ would also like to know.
Let me set the scene. Are you sitting comfortably - I will begin .............. Once upon a time - quite a long time now, there was a BJ Post Office run by a local villager named Michael, who operated what appeared to have been an efficient friendly staffed Post Office business in the Village centre - appreciated by just about everyone. Now after his retirement and the TWO subsequent officially accepted operators, it appears that the ever changing faces of replacement "Stand- in/Locum Managers" persists. In a time when village Post Offices ( with legitimate operators and satisfied customers) all over the country are being shut down because they do not satisfy the Post Office HQ's Management's financial criteria, we in BJ are facing the possibility of having our PO face a similar fate, because of the supposed difficulty in finding a solution to an unknown problem and a supposed ever falling business activity (financial) level.- Who knows what is really going on? When can we expect our local POST OFFICE to be operated by permanent, efficient, caring staff? - Legitimate/genuine information will be gratefully received

NOTE

Burton Joyce Post Office is up for sale !! - Sales info states.........
Turn Over - Not declared
Approx Remuneration - £67,477
Asking Price - £85.000

Well!, Well!. Well!. Who on earth will buy a business like this, at this time and at this asking price?????

Poplars Sports Ground

Parish Council Review

You will see from a previous Blog that I highlighted the adverse cost impact on the Parish's annual budget the ongoing operation of the Poplars S G was making. Well it now appears that the members of Parish Council have instigated/requested a comprehensive review of the day to day running of the Sports Ground and Pavilion ( incl fees and contractual arrangements). The findings /recommendations are to be presented to the Finances and General Purposes Commitee in November

With the coming 2012 Olympics - surely, someone, somewhere, can/will realise the potential use of this tremendous facility. There ought to be permanent schemes/requirements, with local/national organisations, groups or individual atheletes in various sports seeking space and facilities for day to day training and development or weekend camps etc.. - Yes there may be a requirement for additional facilities but surely an event such as the Olympics is worth some detailed investigation - just imagine the cudos an association with such an event can have for our village

Parish Plan

It is reported that there is much interest in this Plan - Why not consider some association with the Olympics - Surprise! Surprise ! .. .. More details are in the pipe line .. .. ..