I’ve been hearing some pretty scary things about the local Lib Dems in the Newark parliamentary constituency. For some months now there have been rumours of splits and factions locally with the historic power base in Southwell doing everything they can to silence supporters in Newark.
Now it emerges that the Lib Dem candidate, Pauline Jenkins, was forced on the local party who weren’t allowed to nominate anyone to stand against her, let alone hold an election. If these rumours are true (and I have no reason to doubt them) it demonstrates yet another triumph for the Southwell Lib Dem Mafia over there supposed colleagues in Newark as Pauline Jenkins is definitely part of the Southwell crowd.
What can the Newark Lib Dems do to fight back? Last week they elected a new chairman in Declan Logue who is also chairman of Farndon Parish Council. I hope that Mr Logue has the stomach for a fight because it looks as if he will need to be strong if he is going to return some element of democracy to the Lib Dems in this constituency!
So it appears that the rumour I heard is true and a story has now appeared in the Newark Advertiser at http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/template/temp0.asp?id=611df4b7-e755-102b-ac79-977377fc8cc5. Remember that you read about it here first!!!
I like to give credit where it’s due and it’s good to see that Patrick Mercer has taken a positive step to help the villagers by writing to Post Office Ltd expressing his concerns. Mr Mercer’s positive action makes the stance of County Councillor Sue Saddington all the more disappointing. Instead of engaging in positive action Mrs Saddington has instead chosen to try to score party political points by attempting to pin the blame on the Government. She has also made the “helpful” suggestion that her constituents start a petition to protest about the closure which she will kindly present to the next Nottinghamshire County Council meeting on October 23rd.
My suggestion to Mrs Saddington is that she expends some of her own energy and helps to get the campaign off the ground. After all there are County Council elections next year and, after such an ineffectual term of office, she might need all the votes she can get!
I hear a rumour that Farndon Post Office on Main Street is to close completely from 1st December 2008!
This is not one of the Post Office’s planned closures as it was decided that Farndon Post Office should remain open. Instead it appears that the owners of the Farndon Post Office & Stores have made this decision on commercial grounds alone. Their decision to close the Post Office completely comes hard on the heels of their previous decision to open only in the morning.
I have no doubt that the owners have good reasons for making this decision but it doesn’t change the fact that a village the size of Farndon needs and deserves a full Post Office service; one that opens all day at least four days a week.
I urge the residents of Farndon to contact their local council representatives (see http://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/pp/gold/viewGold.asp?ID=2810 for full details of Parish, District and County Councillors) and get them to act immediately to stop this closure. If you don’t act now you may lose your Post Office for ever!
