More Strikes - This Time Royal Mail - We Take Action To Pressure For a Resolution To Protect Somerset Residents and Businesses

 

Disruption and Strikes

Somerset Independents stands up for Somerset residents and businesses. They are both being affected by the Royal Mail disruption and strikes. 

So our investigator Andrew Pope has been asking questions, investigating what is happening and applying pressure to get a resolution in the dispute.

Andrew is a former postman and campaigned against the privatisation of the Royal Mail by the Labour Government and then the Conservative Government. He organised rallies and marches across the country and this contributed to Labour u-turning on its plans. But then the Tories won power in 2010 and in 2013 fully privatised it. This has ultimately led to the current dispute.

So we asked the union for Royal Mail workers, the Communications Workers Union (CWU) for a statement. This has not been replied to.

Andrew runs a small business. As a member, he has obtained a statement from the "union" for small business, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Tina McKenzie, Policy and Advocacy Chair, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said:

“We urge both sides to do their best to find a landing zone for compromise, in order to allow for a reliable postal service that small firms across the country rely on to serve their customers.

“It’s no secret that small businesses are facing difficult trading conditions, with consumer confidence near a current record low, and with many facing higher energy bills even once Government support has been factored in, as well as elevated costs in other areas.

“Disruption to postal services being added to the mix is not something that will be welcomed by small firms, especially during the festive period, when both receiving and sending out goods and products is crucial to margins.

“Small businesses would be well advised to plan ahead, to see if alternative methods of sending and receiving can be found. Customer communication will also be key – letting customers know as far in advance as possible when they should order by to avoid disappointment.”

BBC Radio Somerset have interviewed Andrew and will be broadcasting the interview.

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Somerset Independents is a campaigning group and a place of investigative journalism.

Our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page is here.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

"No Such Thing As Impartial Reporting" says Bristol-based Journalist

 

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"This notion of ‘impartial’ journalism is a Western construct. There is no such thing as impartial reporting."

Somerset Independents puts Somerset residents first. However, we sometimes venture "over the border" into Bristol because Somerset and Bristol influence each other. And sometimes these two parts of the South West compete for public resources, such as with Avon and Somerset Police.

In another part of our series on local campaigners and journalists, campaigner Andrew Pope interviewed Joanna Booth, a Bristol-based freelance journalist, book editor and researcher.

Andrew asked her:

Andrew Pope

"Where do you see the dividing line between being a journalist and being a campaigner?

Joanna Booth

Joanna replied:

"I don’t think there is a dividing line. Journalists provide certain skills in making information known. This notion of ‘impartial’ journalism is a Western construct. There is no such thing as impartial reporting. Choices are made about what to include or omit all the time. The professionalisation of journalism is a far cry from the profession of journalism where the radical press in England tried to inform people of what actually would make their lives better."

This is different to the view - often promoted by journalists or editors themselves - that journalists should not be campaigners and campaigners should not be journalists. Joanna also says:

"I don’t consider myself to be a campaigner. I am a resident who is active in how they are represented by those I pay through my taxes and other payments...

As long as I pay taxes and there are people in power who are supposed to represent me, I intend to do my best to scrutinise them...

I aim to work towards scrutiny, transparency, and accountability." 

But there are costs and drawbacks to working in the public interest. Joanna says:

"Whenever you speak in opposition to those in power, you have the added burden of having to explain everything. The dominant narrative is constructed in such a way that it never seems to need explanation." 

The problems that Joanna has found are similar to what Somerset Independents has experienced when challenging authority and holding elected representatives to account, such as:

"Any campaigner who goes against that has to prove themselves and armed with information to back up what they say. Always have the receipts. You will constantly be asked for them and you will be doubted. Expect those in power to offer no proof or evidence in return."

And the costs to a journalist who challenges authority can be severe and personal:

"I’ve recently written about being smeared – I get called a racist or a harasser, a conspiracy theorist (mentally ill), a waster of public money and time, and obsessed."

But it seems that despite this, Joanna is not put off. She says:

"As long as I am punching up and with a view of the public interest, I will keep speaking the truth."

Joanna Booth writes at Substack, tweets at @StillAwake and produces a newsletter at Substack. She has written widely on the local issues in Bristol, including on:

• "Four-jobs mayor declares another pecuniary interest"
• "Karma police, private cops, and the city centre" and
• "Journalists v Managers and Owners"
  

Andrew Pope is being trained in journalism by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and tweets at @APoliticalPope. He is a former councillor and co-founded Somerset Independents in 2020, having also co-founded Southampton Independents in 2015.

 

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Join Somerset's own campaign group to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future. 

Our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page is here.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

Boris Johnson Even Lied In His Last Speech In Downing Street! Is Truss Any Better?

 

The Times, June 2020

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"Truss lied to Conservative Party members to become Prime Minister. Keir Starmer did the same in the Labour Party... Meanwhile, it's ordinary residents that continue to suffer crisis after crisis."

Somerset Independents puts residents first. During the Pandemic, we held Boris Johnson's Government - and his crony Tory councillors at Somerset County Council - to account. We stood up for Somerset residents.

As The Times cartoon from June 2020 suggests, Johnson failed across the board.

Over two years later the BBC has done an analysis of the claims Johnson made about his record during his last speech in Downing Street. It shows that Boris Johnson even lied in that speech.

Leader of Somerset Independents, Andrew Pope, says:

 

Andrew Pope

"Boris Johnson is totally disgraced as Prime Minister and as a man. But he is in denial. If he wants to lie about his record as Prime Minster to himself and his latest wife, that's up to him.

What matters more is that he has lied to the British public. Not just once, but on very many occasions. And he has lied on a wide range of topics, some of which are a matter of life and death, including the Pandemic.

Boris Johnson is a proven liar and a fraud. Having stopped the investigation into corrupt Tory MP Owen Paterson, he is now trying to stop the Parliamentary investigation into himself misleading Parliament.

It's disgraceful that there are those in the Conservative Party who wanted Johnson to stay. This includes Somerset Conservative councillors and Conservative Party members in Somerset who still defend him.

That says a lot about the Conservative Party and their lack of principles. I remember a time when the Tories had principles, although I did not agree with their principles, they seemed to have some.

Now the Conservatives just want power for its own sake. And Liz Truss is just the same as Boris Johnson. 

Truss lied to Conservative Party members to become Prime Minister. Keir Starmer did the same in the Labour Party.

Labour still want Corbyn, and have Starmer. Conservatives still want Johnson, and have Truss.

Meanwhile, it's ordinary residents that continue to suffer crisis after crisis.

Labour or Tory, same old story!"

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future. 

Our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page is here.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

Information Regulator ICO Tells Us It Will Get Tough On Persistently Failing Councils

 

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“Will you be publishing data on councils or other public agencies who are repeated offenders on Freedom of Information requests (FOIs)? If you do already please let me know where it is. For example Bristol Council claims you said they don’t have to meet deadlines and could do a % of” Questions By Somerset Independents Leader Andrew Pope to Regulator ICO

 

Andrew Pope

Somerset Independents puts residents first. We find out the information that the Westminster political parties do not want you to know. We hold the Liberal Democrats, Tories, Labour and Greens to account. And we publish information for the benefit of Somerset residents.

There is a huge variation in how Somerset's councils deal with us.

We give a case study below of our investigations - led by our Leader Andrew Pope - since 2021 into councillors who did not pay their council tax.

Some are more secretive than others. Some councils are more obstructive. Some take more time than others. Some fail to meet their legal obligations. Some answer questions that we did not ask. And some are more helpful than others.

 

Who Are The ICO?

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) regulates requests for information from public authorities including councils. This is governed by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, brought in by the New Labour Government led by Tony Blair.

Because of the persistent failures by some councils, the ICO has pledged to get tough. We asked them some questions about the ICO publishing the details of repeat offenders. They have responded. And their response is very promising.

The ICO told us that they:

"would commit to delivering more systemic enforcement action against public authorities that clearly and consistently fail to meet their FOI obligations"

 

A Case Study: Councillors Who Did Not Pay Council Tax

Here is an example of the variation in FoI compliance by councils. During our investigations into councillors in council tax arrears, below is a comparison of the responses from Somerset's - and nearby Bath & Bristol - councils. Our FoI requests were very similar to each of the eight councils, in investigations that began in 2021 and some of which are still continuing:

• Sedgemoor District Council responded to say that no councillors had been in arrears
• Somerset West and Taunton responded and gave information about six councillors in arrears and two councillors who had been in persistent arrears. One repeatedly declined to answer our questions. The other paid up and then was removed from the council.
  
• Somerset County Council responded by saying that they did not hold the information and that it was for the district councils to check on councillors. In other words, they passed the buck. This led to us making representations to them on the serious implications for the standards set by their councillors and whether their budgets are set lawfully. We showed that one councillor had broken the law.
  
• Mendip District Council (MDC) responded and revealed that a councillor had been in arrears. The councillor refused to resign or answer questions. MDC declined to give other information. We had to complain to the ICO to get the other information. Once the ICO had enforced over MDC, the council revealed that the same councillor had been in arrears over more than one year.
• Bath and North East Somerset Council responded to say that their councillors had all paid up by the time of the 2022 Budget Full Council meeting. This was an interesting interpretation of our questions, which may lead to further questions from us.
  
• South Somerset District Council (SSDC) did not respond quickly. They declined to provide information. The names of councillors were covered up. We had to contact the ICO, who enforced their powers over SSDC. Over a year later, our complaint to the ICO is still under investigation.
  
• Bristol City Council did not respond. They had to be chased to even respond. We had to involve the ICO to even get a response. Then Bristol refused to give the information. We have had to complain to the ICO again. The ICO are investigating.
• North Somerset Council did respond, but it was late. And the information they gave was completely bungled, with one councillor's arrears being missing when asked by us to do it again. This led to an apology to us by the Leader of the Council Steve Bridger. Eventually, three councillors were named - not two. We had to pressure the head of legal at NSC to get proper answers. The information that NSC failed to provide was eventually revealed to us.
  

So you can see the variations in responses to FoI requests to eight different councils. To say again, the questions were very similar but the responses and how the councils responded, or whether they responded at all, were vastly different.

It has been reported more than once by BristolLive (a.k.a. the Bristol Post) that Bristol City Council (BCC) is failing on FoI requests. BCC has claimed in public that the ICO has allowed them to only make a percentage of responses (see our question above).

It is clear that the ICO have had enough of persistent offenders like Bristol and South Somerset District Council.

We hope that the ICO will be true to its word and this will lead to better compliance with the law by Somerset's councils.

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future. 

Our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page is here.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

UPDATE (22/9/22): TWO MONTHS LATE & MILLIONS OF POUNDS - SEE Monster Art Project Named As Part of "Festival of Brexit" With Lib Dem Councillor As Promoter

 

Liberal Democrats Robbing Public Money

One of our Official emblems

UPDATE (22/9/22) 

The Weston Mercury has reported the further delay to SEE Monster, on top of the other delays and huge expense to the taxpayer. We revealed the cost, which could go higher.

We gave those figures to the Weston Mercury, as they said they wanted to do a story on our investigation.

Today, we have asked the Mercury's reporter Charlie Williams why they have not quoted our figures, which were evidenced and sourced.

Somerset Independents is holding Somerset's councillors and MPs to account, in the public interest. It seems that we also need to hold the media outlets to account too.

You may be interested to know that the Weston Mercury is making its editor, Paul Jones, redundant. The source for this information is himself, via his own Twitter account.

The Festival of Brexit has also made its way into recent Private Eye lampoons.

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Somerset Independents puts residents first. We investigated and published the cost of Weston-super-Mare's "SEE Monster" arts project. Councillors at North Somerset Council did not want residents to know. 

The Chair of the Council's Scrutiny committee - a Liberal Democrat councillor - failed to find out the cost and had complained about the project to the Weston Mercury reporter Charlie Williams who has published his comments:

However, some councillors have become restless with the organiser's 'lack of communication and unwillingness to come clean'. 

Senior town and district councillor and chair of North Somerset's scrutiny panel, John Crockford-Hawley, said: "I'm not one of the councillors directly involved in the See Monster project, so I wouldn't wish to speculate about reasons for the obvious delay in bringing remaining platform stages to the Tropicana. 

While I have no substantive reason for doubting See Monster's eventual arrival in the latter part of this summer, nor do I doubt its potential benefit to Weston, I do believe the recent minimalist approach to communication by New Substance has somewhat undermined public confidence, and led to a degree of sceptical social media chatter.

I look forward to improved public information and the project's eventual success."

Now Somerset Independents have had it confirmed by "The House" magazine that SEE Monster is funded by the "Festival of Brexit". 

 

Brexit

 

They name SEE Monster as part of a "Carnival of Brexit" in an article sub-titled "How The Government's £120m 'Festival Of Brexit' Went Rogue".

We asked questions to another Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Canniford, who is a member of the Cabinet on the Council and is a ward colleague of the Chair of Scrutiny. But Cllr Canniford seems unaware of his ward colleague's criticisms, and has been chief promoter of SEE Monster.

This is duplicity that is typical of Liberal Democrats. Even ward colleagues who are in the same ward and in the same party contradict each other in public to suit themselves. 

We asked Cllr Crockford-Hawley - how can a Liberal Democrat scrutinise another Liberal Democrat in the Cabinet? He failed to give an answer although he confirmed that he does speak to Cllr Canniford.

Unlike his ward colleague and Lib Dem Party colleague, Councillor Canniford has openly hyped up the project and has been unapologetic about it. 

We asked Cllr Canniford some questions. He (kind of) attempted to answer our questions but has admitted that council staff and council time are being used and that it costs council money. Cllr Canniford has claimed that the costs are being paid for by the project. We are making more enquiries.

When challenged by us, Councillor Canniford also stated in public that he "would not apologise" for promoting Weston with SEE Monster.

Now it has been revealed that the millions for SEE Monster have come from a "Festival of Brexit".

So is it OK to take Festival of Brexit money to hype up a delayed and expensive arts project, but to oppose Brexit as a Liberal Democrat, as mentioned in "The House" article?

It seems more than a little hypocritical to us. This is why we use the above and below graphic to describe the Liberal Democrats. They hate it, which is why we know that it works.

Duplicity to Get Public Money

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

VICTORY! Another Green Fields Campaign Won in North Somerset - But What Happens Next?

 

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"I am pleased that we helped to defeat it and to stand up for local residents, because that is what Somerset Independents was formed to do."

The Butts Batch development in Wrington by Strongvox has been defeated. The planning inspector G.D. Jones has dismissed the appeal after North Somerset Council had rejected the planning application.

Somerset Independents puts residents first. We stood up for residents of Wrington against a poor development. Our Leader Andrew Pope objected to the application and encouraged others to do so.

We worked with campaigners in Wrington and provided advice to the Keep Wrington as Wrington campaign.

We also held the local Independent North Somerset Councillor Steve Hogg to account, when he repeatedly refused to formally object to the application. We urged him to be stronger in his opposition and in fairness, he was.

But what happens next?

Andrew Pope says:

 

Andrew Pope
Leader of Somerset Independents

 

"This was the wrong development in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am pleased that we helped to defeat it and to stand up for local residents, because that is what Somerset Independents was formed to do.

However, it is just a matter of time before another application comes forward and it will start all over again.

Whether it will be Strongvox or another applicant, we will see.

So while the battle for Butts Batch has been won for now, it will be the site of another battle if the future application is not acceptable to local residents.

Whether us volunteers at Somerset Independents will campaign against it, and who we will work with or not work with, remains to be seen."

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

We Asked Mayday Saxonvale Some Questions - Here Are Their Answers

 

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Following the mess at Saxonvale, Frome getting even messier, we asked Mayday Saxonvale some questions. Here are their answers. Residents can make up their own minds as to whether they answered our questions and what they think of the answers.

Questions from Somerset Independents To Mayday Saxonvale

We asked you Mayday Saxonvale on multiple occasions how it would be tenable for two applications, given that Mendip had approved one scheme before you submitted Mayday. Mayday Saxonvale never provided an answer. 

We listened to residents and businesses and objected to the Acorn proposals, with our Leader Andrew Pope speaking at the Planning Board. But the fact remained that Mendip approved it. 

There is already legal action as we reported on a long time ago. This was confirmed by legal at the Mendip Asset Management Group (AMG) meeting yesterday. 

So is Mayday now going to cost the taxpayer even more money in legal costs? 

What will you do when Mendip is scrapped and the New Council comes into force?

Are you just giving people false hope now? 

Have you tried to get Mendip and Acorn to stop their scheme? If you did, why weren't you successful?

Mayday Saxonvale's Answers

 

"Approving the signing of the S106, MDC will contravene planning law on two main counts.

Firstly, now that the Mayday recommendation is a matter of material consideration, Acorn’s application should now go back to the Planning Board meaning no consent should be signed until that is done.

Secondly, the ownership of Saxonvale is passing across to Somerset so in the S106, the enforcer and the enforcee are the same person. There is no provision in the text of the S106 for this. We will update with more information on the legal position in due course.

However, as we stated above for the first time, the council set out its position on the comparison of the two schemes. They confirmed the Acorn scheme will be re-evaluated and MDC are not bound to proceed. They confirmed they have the mechanisms to consider other options, such as Mayday Saxonvale, and proceed with them if they wish.

Mendip Council leaders have made choices and we will be holding them to account."

 

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Somerset Independents are a residents group that puts residents first. We stand up for residents.

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

Saxonvale, Frome - The Lib Dems' Mess at Mendip Gets Even Messier - Brownfield Last, Frome's Green Fields First

 

Dodgy Council, Dodgy Councillors

One of our Official emblems

 

"Two big developments at the same site? Ridiculous...This mess is going to drag on and on, way past when Mendip District Council will cease to exist in 2023. It will be a mess inherited by the New Somerset Council, via the courts. The legal bill will cost the taxpayer a lot of money." Andrew Pope, Leader of Somerset Independents

Somerset Independents puts residents first. We have stood up for local residents and businesses in the face of Mendip District Council's mess at Saxonvale, Frome.

Our Leader Andrew Pope spoke at the Planning Board against the Acorn proposal that was so reviled. We listened to residents and acted for them.

But as reported by us, the dodgy Planning Board approved the Acorn proposal. Mendip District Council also owns the land. This is a clear conflict of interest, which Mendip claims to have managed. 

Sadly, Mendip cannot be believed, because they have not managed conflicts of interest elsewhere, including councillors voting through a planning application on land owned by a fellow councillor - and claiming that they didn't know him!

This was the "Sandys Hill Lane" development on the outskirts of Frome, near the McDonald's and Sainsbury's complex. Land involved in that application is owned by Councillor Philip Ham. 

 

Councillor Philip Ham
(Photo: Mendip District Council)

Our investigation was reported in Private Eye and remains one of the most popular articles on this website.

Mendip has dodgy councillors and is a dodgy council. We've proved it time and time again. We tried to get them to reform their ways. Our campaigns have succeeded, including at Easthill, Frome and in reform of the Planning Board. But Mendip had already made a mess at Saxonvale, a brownfield site, dithering and delaying while approving development on the green fields around Frome.

Brownfield land has come last at Saxonvale, but greenfield development in Frome has preceded it, including at Sandys Hill Lane. It's tragic. It's wrong.

So when we heard that an alternative proposal was being proposed for Saxonvale, we were curious about it.

We asked Mayday Saxonvale on more than one occasion how they proposed to manage having two planning applications being approved for the same site. They did not answer. But that situation has now occurred. It happened at the Mendip Planning Board last week.

And to make matters worse, this week, the Asset Management Group approved the signing of the Section 106 Agreement for the Acorn development, further sealing the fate of the Saxonvale site, which remember, Mendip owns.

At the Asset Management Group (AMG) meeting this week, the legal adviser Lesley Dolan stated, when asked by "opposition" (hardly!) Councillor Tom Killen (Conservative) that there was no reason why they could not agree to allow the S106 agreement to be signed.  

 

No councillor voted at that meeting against signing the Agreement between Mendip and Acorn. The head financial officer, Richard Bates, also said there was no alternative but to do so.

 

The AMG resolved to sign the S106 with Acorn, but councillors claim that everything is hunky dory. IT ISN'T. Actions speak louder than words. It took the Lib Dems at Mendip years to get to this point and Mendip dithered and delayed.

Tory Councillor Tom Killen said at the AMG meeting that he was "proud" that the Council had bought the land when he was Deputy Leader of Mendip. That's some claim, given that it has generated zero revenue since Mendip bought it. We discovered this during our investigations of the Mendip accounts and our objections to their governance in managing public money.

 

 

What is a Section 106 (S106) Agreement?

It is an agreement between the planning authority (Mendip District Council in this case) and the applicant / developer (in this case Acorn). It places obligations on the developer. 

It is usually the last part of planning permission before the final go-ahead is given as permission. So when the Planning Board gave permission to the Acorn proposal a long time ago now (Somerset Independents opposed it and our Leader Andrew Pope spoke against at the Planning Board), it was subject to this S106 agreement being agreed. 

So technically there is an opportunity to stop the development, but Mendip District Council have shown no sign of stopping it.

What Happens Now?

At the AMG, the legal adviser mentioned that there was legal action - a Judicial Review relating to the demolition at the Saxonvale site. 

Also at the AMG, the THREAT (not realised yet) was made via Councillor John Clark that if they agreed to sign the S106 there would be a Judicial Review. In reality, it was not clear what Cllr Clark was threatening as he did not seem to understand what he was threatening (such is the way with Green councillors). We believe this Judicial Review is threatened by Mayday Saxonvale.

So if that were to occur, there would be at least two pieces of legal action, putting even more delays in the way of actual development going ahead. Saxonvale remains a derelict site.

Andrew Pope, Leader of Somerset Independents, says:

 

Andrew Pope

 

"How can you have two developments at the same site? Mendip District Council that own the land on behalf of Somerset residents, are playing everyone for fools!

 

This mess is going to drag on and on, way past when Mendip District Council will cease to exist in 2023. 

 

It will be a mess inherited by the New Somerset Council - the unitary authority that nobody wanted other than the Tories and the Lib Dems who have benefited from it - via the courts. 

 

The legal bill will cost the taxpayer a lot of money and it will be Somerset residents who will pay. It's just wrong and a terrible mess created by the Lib Dems."

 

We asked Mayday Saxonvale to respond to the situation and have received an answer from them, which we have published. Residents can make up their own minds as to whether they have answered our questions or not.

Who Are Somerset Independents?

We are a campaign group formed by residents to stand up for residents across the County of Somerset - North, South, East and West.

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

Yes, Another Strike - This Time it's the Posties at Royal Mail

 

CWU picket line at Bridgwater Royal Mail

One of our Official emblems

 

Somerset Independents puts residents first. Residents and workers are feeling the pinch. It seems like everybody is going on strike, and inflation is very high. The two things often go together, in a wage-price spiral of inflation. 

Meanwhile, the Tory Government is doing nothing to help and is replacing its "Leader" with another hopeless joke.

So we report on another strike. This time it's the workers at Royal Mail, a.k.a. the Posties.

So your mail might not be delivered on some days. But it will be delivered eventually.

Somerset Independents does not often repeat press releases in full. However, on this occasion we will and we will offer Royal Mail the right of reply. It's up to Somerset residents to decide on the merits of the industrial action. Darren Granter, who is CWU Rep at Bridgwater, told us:

"I would like to apologise to all those living in the Taunton/TA 5,6 and 7 postcode areas for the disruption of their mail service during this strike action.

The Royal Mail postmen and women throughout the country-115,000 of us-were left with no choice but to take industrial action following the recent attacks on their pay and working conditions by Royal Mail.

Earlier this year, Royal Mail announced a £758 million pound profit, but then imposed a 2% pay increase without any agreement with the CWU.

However, £400 million pounds was given to shareholders in addition to large bonuses to senior management.

Royal Mail seem to have forgotten that this huge profit was enhanced by the postmen and postwomen working throughout the pandemic, as 'key workers', often putting their own families and loved ones at risk.

Later start times impacting on deliveries, annualised hours and reduced sick pay are just a few of the changes Royal Mail are looking to impose.

Sickeningly, it was announced this week that Royal Mail are offering £1,000 to £1,500 to their managers as a 'thank you' bonus, in addition to their normal pay, for attending work during our strike days."

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

REVEALED: We Uncover The £4.29 MILLION Cost of Weston's Repeatedly Delayed "SEE Monster" Arts Project

 

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"Unboxed, the project in control of See Monster and funded by the government, said its exact costs will be made available to the public once the project has been completed." Charlie Williams, Weston Mercury, 24th August 2022

UPDATE (31/8/22): The House magazine has written an article about the "Carnival of Brexit - How The Government's £120m 'Festival Of Brexit' Went Rogue" and names SEE Monster as part of it. We have published a new article on this here showing the duplicity and hypocrisy of Liberal Democrat councillors taking Festival of Brexit money having openly criticised and opposed Brexit.

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Somerset Independents puts residents first. When Weston-super-Mare residents expressed their concerns about the SEE Monster project, its costs and delays, we listened. And we acted.

Local media outlets including the Weston Mercury, quoted residents who were worried about how much the delayed SEE Monster arts project was costing and why it was delayed. Residents were also worried that the project would make Weston a "laughing stock".

Residents say that other things in Weston needed fixing, including the roads and the buses but also many other things. Those are the right priorities, not an arts project, they said.

Yet Lib Dem councillors such as Mark Canniford and officers at North Somerset Council are spending council money hyping up "SEE Monster", despite:

• repeated delays
• "arts" being the wrong priorities and 
• the massive cost, which we now reveal.
  

We now reveal that after an investigation by our Leader Andrew Pope, that we know how much SEE Monster is costing... so far.

£4.29 million

... and counting.

This is based on evidence that we have seen of invoices by New Substance - who are running the project - to the funders. Funding is ultimately coming from the taxpayer and the citizens of our country. Somerset Independents stands up for taxpayers, for residents and citizens.

These invoices have been paid by the funders who are Festival 2022 Limited, a.k.a. Unboxed.

The total amount spent on "SEE Monster" may be more than this £4.29 million now. 

We have offered New Substance the right of reply, and the opportunity to correct these figures, or to give us the total budget, but have had no response at the time of publishing.

We have also asked North Somerset Council a set of questions about SEE Monster, and await answers. This includes questions on how much council money had been spent on this project.

Who Are Somerset Independents?

We were formed by residents to stand up for residents.

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

NIMBYs, YIMBYs and Image Laundering: The Life of a Passionate Somerset and Bristol Wildlife Campaigner

Yanley, North Somerset

 

"I couldn’t believe the council and developers were trying to tell us they could enhance the ecology of a nationally rare habitat by building over it...ecologists need to be truly independent...you wouldn’t eat at a restaurant that hired their own food safety inspector so why should we accept less for our irreplaceable environment?"

Western Slopes

Somerset Independents puts residents first. Our Constitution also commits us to protect Somerset's wildlife, ecosystems and countryside.

North Somerset is being invaded by the urban sprawl of Bristol. England's "green and pleasant land" (words from our unofficial national anthem Jerusalem) is being built upon. 

You may have heard of "NIMBYs" (Not In My Backyard) which is a frequently-used attack by developers and some councillors on local people who oppose their developments. 

For example, this accusation has been thrown at the Keep Wrington as Wrington campaign in North Somerset, which Somerset Independents advised in its early stages. "NIMBYs" was also thrown at the Easthill campaign in Frome, East Somerset - another campaign that we advised and won (see photo above approved for use by campaigners).

Easthill, Frome
Saved With Our Help

But have you heard of "YIMBYs"?

And did you know that conservation organisations are allowing developers to launder their images by doing "partnerships"?

Andrew Pope interviewed Danica Priest, originally from Virginia in the United States of America and now living in South Bristol.  

Andrew Pope

 

Like Somerset Independents and our supporters, Danica is campaigning against developers, councils, so-called "independent" ecologists and conservation organisations who - against their better judgement - allow both to launder their image. Here is what Danica told Andrew.

 

Danica Priest

 

Andrew: Why did you get involved in campaigning?

Danica: "It started with the Western Slopes/Novers Hill and snowballed when I realised how bad the planning system is, especially compared to Virginia where I grew up. The lack of regulations for environmental issues like erosion control, sewage dumping and endangered species protection is insane.

 

Yanley, North Somerset

 

"I couldn’t believe the council and developers were trying to tell us they could enhance the ecology of a nationally rare habitat by building over it. My dad worked in the housing industry for over 40 years so I grew up around construction sites and that just felt like pure gaslighting to me."

Q: What do you want to achieve personally in your campaigns?

A: "I’m hoping the wildlife habitats under threat of development will be protected permanently and all removed or kept out of the local plan. Especially The Western Slopes/Novers Hill (private and public sections), Yew Tree Farm, Brislington Meadows, Ashton Vale, Marksbury Road, Yanley/Woodsprings greenbelt land and the south Bristol greenbelt.

 

Ashton Vale

 

Danica: "I’d also love to see greater protections for wildlife and priority habitats and a requirement for truly independent ecologists for surveys. I always say you wouldn’t eat at a restaurant that hired their own food safety inspector so why should we accept less for our irreplaceable environment?

Planning wise I want to abolish the loop holes that allow developers to get out of their affordable housing requirements and other promises to contribute to the local community. It’s disgusting that Developers have more safety nets for their profits than vulnerable families have for their children.

I also want to end the unrealistic housing targets and delivery tests which are the root of all these issues. People have been misled to think higher targets = more houses built = lower prices = end of housing crisis. That’s not reality though. People forget developers are not charities and they will build when and where it’s most profitable for them. The current system results in less density, fewer green spaces, less farmland, less wildlife, fewer council homes and higher prices. Everyone loses except for developers, investors and landowners."

Q: Who and which organisations or councillors do you believe are your allies in what you want to achieve?

A: "Bristol Tree Forum definitely deserve a medal for all the hard work they do. Manor Woods Valley group and Crox Bottom have been fantastic allies along with other green spaces and friends of groups.

We’ve also been lucky to have some supportive councillors from all parties fighting in our corner.

Richard Eddy, Ed Plowden, Tony Dyer, Tim Rippington (all Bristol City Council) and Ash Cartman (Executive Member, North Somerset Council) have all gone above and beyond to help."

Q: Who and which organisations or councillors do you believe are your enemies against what you want to achieve?

A: "Most of the property industry organisations and neoliberal think tanks are against us which is to be expected since we are a threat to the broken system they make billions from.

YIMBYs (Yes In My Back Yard) are the most vile of those, especially on Twitter. There are a few awful yimby councillors in London. Luckily most that ran didn’t win their elections which tells you a lot about public opinion.

I’m sure the Bristol City Council Planning department heads are not my biggest fans either. I hope we can be friends someday though, I don’t like having enemies."

Q: Who may be fair-weather friends?

A: "I hate to say it but many of the wildlife charities have partnered with big developers so we can’t trust them anymore. Avon Wildlife Trust have been supportive of the slopes so I appreciate that it might have nothing to do with various local branches but I’ve definitely lost respect for the national Wildlife Trust and The Bumblebee Conservation Trust for supporting Redrow, who want to build over Yew Tree Farm and RSPB for partnering with Barratt Homes."

Q: Who may be hidden enemies (e.g. infiltrators)?

A: I’m not aware of any yet. I don’t think an infiltrator would be too successful since we don’t really have many secrets.

Q: Do you think that you need to get elected representation on councils to achieve your objectives, or is this just one way of achieving what you want?

A: "We can’t achieve much without the support of the Councillors on the planning committee so it’s essential we have supportive elected representatives."

Q: How long are you personally prepared to give to achieving your campaign objectives?

A: "Forever. I’ll never give up. This is my life now."

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future. 

We exist to protect Somerset's wildlife, our ecosystems and countryside.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.