For the last few years, Stuart Carpenter has taken on the responsibility of maintaining Santa’s sleigh. This year, he thought it might need more maintenance than ever. His foot going through the rotten floor may have been a hint! In fact, he has virtually rebuilt it almost from scratch, in his own time over the last several weeks. So many thanks, Stuart.
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A few weeks ago, a gentleman approached me and said that he liked what I had said here about North Devon District Council. As he put it, “They have been bleeding us dry.” Judging by other comments I have received over the years, this is a commonly held view. Now clearly, there are many things that are best handled over a wider area, so as, for example, to take advantage of economies of scale. Equally, however, there is much that would be best handled by those on the ground, who have good local knowledge and an incentive to do well. Think, for example, what the Landmark Theatre would be like now were it only to be run by our local theatrical folk. I would guess it would be buzzing every day, instead of dark most of the time.
We also would not need a so-called “ambassador” who, so far as I am aware, has done absolutely nothing for the town, is elected by and so represents what is basically a suburb of Barnstaple and so, like most of his fellow councillors, is naturally going to put his local needs ahead of ours, and seems to have no connection to Ilfracombe.
So how about it? independence for Ilfracombe!
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I know that many of you do not read the Journal, but I am sure some of you do. What do you think of its new look? I like it: it looks cleaner and I find it easier to read. I also like the three opinion columns on one page, although I am not too sure about the pictures of the three old men across the top. Whatever happened to the young fella I used to see in the mirror back in the day, when I used to shave?
And finally, back to Christmas. The weather is looking good for Friday and the rest of the weekend, which bodes well. Lighting the Lights begins at 6pm at the War Memorial.