This is in response to Eric Pickles latest drive to destroy our towns and cities.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24291467
I find Eric Pickles revolting in every sense - to look at, and I think his opinions and actions are revolting as well. I'm not exactly Mr. Thin either but at least I try to balance out the beer & pies with a bit of physical activity. I can't think of a former "Communities Minister" who was so intent on destroying communities (& the environment - see http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/jul/12/ancient-woodland-kent-quarry-site-hermitage - if it goes to appeal I'm sure he will allow Smithy Wood to be turned into a motorway service as well.) Mind you we knew what was coming - he made his name destroying Bradford as a civic entity when he was council leader there, which it has taken the city at least ten years to recover from.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24291467
I find Eric Pickles revolting in every sense - to look at, and I think his opinions and actions are revolting as well. I'm not exactly Mr. Thin either but at least I try to balance out the beer & pies with a bit of physical activity. I can't think of a former "Communities Minister" who was so intent on destroying communities (& the environment - see http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/jul/12/ancient-woodland-kent-quarry-site-hermitage - if it goes to appeal I'm sure he will allow Smithy Wood to be turned into a motorway service as well.) Mind you we knew what was coming - he made his name destroying Bradford as a civic entity when he was council leader there, which it has taken the city at least ten years to recover from.
He's obviously not stupid though -he is playing a crafty political game of starving councils of funds, particularly Labour ones, and criticising them when they raise funds through other means to gain and electoral advantage. His systematic destruction of local authority systems also means that other governments departments can offer local authorities funds for initiatives that they are simple incapable of taking up because they do not have the resources to manage the projects and leave them to be publicly humiliated.
Working with local authorities can be very frustrating and there is no doubt that they are in need of reform, but this is not the way to do it.
