Anna Waite: Druggies, drunks and single mums driving upmarket shops out of Southend’

5:00pm Tuesday 28th February 2012 in News

Anna Waite Anna Waite

SOUTHEND’S shops are dying because the High Street is surrounded by single mothers, alcoholics, drug addicts and benefit claimants who cannot afford to spend enough money.

That is the view of Anna Waite, a former leader of Southend Council and chairman of the Rochford and Southend East Conservatives Association.

She spoke out as she urged the current Tory council leadership to take action to stop Southend slipping even further behind Lakeside, Bluewater and other major shopping centres.

Mrs Waite, whose family own Tomassi’s restaurant in the High Street, said the poor economic situation of many people living nearby was a fact and should not be a taboo subject for councillors.

She said: “All around the town centre are runwdown properties, bedsits and hostels.

“Single mums in bedsits, drug and alcohol addicts, the homeless and those on multiple benefits do not have cash to spend in shops.Therefore, when a store looks at Southend, it does not come unless it is a pound shop or something similar.

“I am not saying these people should be moved on or taken away from the town centre, far from it. I am saying we need to do something to redress the balance.”

Mrs Waite said the High Street was hampered by the number of bedsits and cheap homes around the town centre, which attracted discount pound stores rather than big brand shops.

She argued that building new apartments and houses on central sites, such as the northern side of Queen’s Road or the Queensway tower blocks, could change that.

She said: “Southend is on London’s doorstep.

“We have a great opportunity not to be a dumping ground, but to be somewhere where commuters want to live.

“We can do that by building attractive homes. It is time for us to stop thinking negatively about Southend and make some real changes.”

Comments (201)

5:05pm Tue 28 Feb 12

APR says...

No doubt she will come in for a lot of stick for saying this, but she is probably correct.
No doubt she will come in for a lot of stick for saying this, but she is probably correct. APR

5:38pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Elephantman2 says...

No she is not correct, but she is an absolute disgrace for making such sweeping comments about the population of Southend.

She is typical of the amateur local politician who draw on all possible negative stereotypes to pander to the bigotry of some of the local population.

She should be drummed out of Rochford never mind Southend.

It's time people looked around at the good things that are happening in the area instead of focusing on the bad.

It's not the challenged and vulnerable who are driving shops out of Southend; it is internet shopping and out of town shopping centres.

Oh and the state of the economy of course!
No she is not correct, but she is an absolute disgrace for making such sweeping comments about the population of Southend. She is typical of the amateur local politician who draw on all possible negative stereotypes to pander to the bigotry of some of the local population. She should be drummed out of Rochford never mind Southend. It's time people looked around at the good things that are happening in the area instead of focusing on the bad. It's not the challenged and vulnerable who are driving shops out of Southend; it is internet shopping and out of town shopping centres. Oh and the state of the economy of course! Elephantman2

5:43pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Alice in Her Own Land :P says...

She stopped short of mentioning the immigrants in the town - slag off the victims of circumstance such as the single mum - no-one chooses to be one of those - I certainly didn't - the homeless - there will be more of them when more jobs go and homes are repossessed. (I do agree about the alcoholics and junkies, however). There are many reasons for big stores not to come. Blaming the locals who are there because the housing is crap enough for them, isn't going to help anyone. I doubt that people living in the town high rise blocks, for instance, live there out of choice.
She stopped short of mentioning the immigrants in the town - slag off the victims of circumstance such as the single mum - no-one chooses to be one of those - I certainly didn't - the homeless - there will be more of them when more jobs go and homes are repossessed. (I do agree about the alcoholics and junkies, however). There are many reasons for big stores not to come. Blaming the locals who are there because the housing is crap enough for them, isn't going to help anyone. I doubt that people living in the town high rise blocks, for instance, live there out of choice. Alice in Her Own Land :P

5:46pm Tue 28 Feb 12

boyracer_20yrs old says...

Well everyone should know that big town centres like Southend and Basildon have their problems, but for god sake, does it actually really matter. I know it could be a bit distressing for an old or vunerable person walking past a group of drugged up or drunks, but lets face it, every town centre in the UK has this problem. Since 2012, most of the echo stories have just been about bad things. Why cant everyone just cheer the F up!
Well everyone should know that big town centres like Southend and Basildon have their problems, but for god sake, does it actually really matter. I know it could be a bit distressing for an old or vunerable person walking past a group of drugged up or drunks, but lets face it, every town centre in the UK has this problem. Since 2012, most of the echo stories have just been about bad things. Why cant everyone just cheer the F up! boyracer_20yrs old

5:51pm Tue 28 Feb 12

sash bore buoy says...

Elephantman2 wrote:
No she is not correct, but she is an absolute disgrace for making such sweeping comments about the population of Southend.

She is typical of the amateur local politician who draw on all possible negative stereotypes to pander to the bigotry of some of the local population.

She should be drummed out of Rochford never mind Southend.

It's time people looked around at the good things that are happening in the area instead of focusing on the bad.

It's not the challenged and vulnerable who are driving shops out of Southend; it is internet shopping and out of town shopping centres.

Oh and the state of the economy of course!
i found your white cane in the high street. It has the initials EM2 on it
[quote][p][bold]Elephantman2[/bold] wrote: No she is not correct, but she is an absolute disgrace for making such sweeping comments about the population of Southend. She is typical of the amateur local politician who draw on all possible negative stereotypes to pander to the bigotry of some of the local population. She should be drummed out of Rochford never mind Southend. It's time people looked around at the good things that are happening in the area instead of focusing on the bad. It's not the challenged and vulnerable who are driving shops out of Southend; it is internet shopping and out of town shopping centres. Oh and the state of the economy of course![/p][/quote]i found your white cane in the high street. It has the initials EM2 on it sash bore buoy

5:52pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Bosniavet says...

Maybe the desire for Southend to be "upmarket" as expressed here should have been considered before they set up the "university" in the centre of town........
Maybe the desire for Southend to be "upmarket" as expressed here should have been considered before they set up the "university" in the centre of town........ Bosniavet

5:58pm Tue 28 Feb 12

kg3091 says...

Perhaps if Anna Waite doesn't like the way the town is she could have done more to improve the every day lives of Southend residents when she was an elected member of the council and then maybe just maybe she wouldn't have lost the last election...
Perhaps if Anna Waite doesn't like the way the town is she could have done more to improve the every day lives of Southend residents when she was an elected member of the council and then maybe just maybe she wouldn't have lost the last election... kg3091

6:06pm Tue 28 Feb 12

APR says...

I know a lot of people are anti Anna Waite, whatever she says.

Southend High Street is not a nice place to shop though, and through no fault of the council.
I know a lot of people are anti Anna Waite, whatever she says. Southend High Street is not a nice place to shop though, and through no fault of the council. APR

6:26pm Tue 28 Feb 12

V_is_back says...

I see, so it's the people who live in Southend's fault the High Street is dying… nothing at all to do with years of the Conservative cabinet charging extortionate business rates then.
I see, so it's the people who live in Southend's fault the High Street is dying… nothing at all to do with years of the Conservative cabinet charging extortionate business rates then. V_is_back

6:29pm Tue 28 Feb 12

JuliaM says...

APR wrote:
No doubt she will come in for a lot of stick for saying this, but she is probably correct.
I know! This is probably the only sensible thing the woman has ever said in her life!
[quote][p][bold]APR[/bold] wrote: No doubt she will come in for a lot of stick for saying this, but she is probably correct.[/p][/quote]I know! This is probably the only sensible thing the woman has ever said in her life! JuliaM

6:31pm Tue 28 Feb 12

JuliaM says...

Bosniavet wrote:
Maybe the desire for Southend to be "upmarket" as expressed here should have been considered before they set up the "university" in the centre of town........
Oh, quite! The change in Southend since that ghastly edifice went up has been noticeable...
[quote][p][bold]Bosniavet[/bold] wrote: Maybe the desire for Southend to be "upmarket" as expressed here should have been considered before they set up the "university" in the centre of town........[/p][/quote]Oh, quite! The change in Southend since that ghastly edifice went up has been noticeable... JuliaM

6:48pm Tue 28 Feb 12

doasilikey says...

I take it the sort of 'upmarket' shops that Ms.Waite would like to see would be:

A conservative ladies' frock shop.
Top-end estate agency.
Michelin starred restaurant.
Plastic surgeon.
Fine wine retailer.
A branch of Rothschild's Asset Management.
Gender reassignment consultancy.
A branch of the Rick Stein Seafood restaurant group.

...mmm, I wonder how long this comment will last - my earlier one was removed in under an hour- for no good reason that I can think of other than offending the sensibilities of a jumped-up local Tory.
I take it the sort of 'upmarket' shops that Ms.Waite would like to see would be: A conservative ladies' frock shop. Top-end estate agency. Michelin starred restaurant. Plastic surgeon. Fine wine retailer. A branch of Rothschild's Asset Management. Gender reassignment consultancy. A branch of the Rick Stein Seafood restaurant group. ...mmm, I wonder how long this comment will last - my earlier one was removed in under an hour- for no good reason that I can think of other than offending the sensibilities of a jumped-up local Tory. doasilikey

6:53pm Tue 28 Feb 12

katch22 says...

“Single mums in bedsits, drug and alcohol addicts, the homeless and those on multiple benefits do not have cash to spend in shops.

“I am not saying these people should be moved on or taken away from the town centre, far from it. I am saying we need to do something to redress the balance.”

Yes redress the balance! Perhaps giving people a weekly allowance they can actually live on might encourage them to spend in this terrible woman's restaurant and shops other than £ shops.

The fact this woman can shop at more expensive shops seems to allow her to come out with these crass comments. Who the heck would vote this woman in if not those of her own 'kind'
“Single mums in bedsits, drug and alcohol addicts, the homeless and those on multiple benefits do not have cash to spend in shops. “I am not saying these people should be moved on or taken away from the town centre, far from it. I am saying we need to do something to redress the balance.” Yes redress the balance! Perhaps giving people a weekly allowance they can actually live on might encourage them to spend in this terrible woman's restaurant and shops other than £ shops. The fact this woman can shop at more expensive shops seems to allow her to come out with these crass comments. Who the heck would vote this woman in if not those of her own 'kind' katch22

6:55pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Nebs says...

JuliaM wrote:
Bosniavet wrote:
Maybe the desire for Southend to be "upmarket" as expressed here should have been considered before they set up the "university" in the centre of town........
Oh, quite! The change in Southend since that ghastly edifice went up has been noticeable...
Which party granted planning permission to convert big old houses into flats and bedsits? Why not stop giving permission for a zillion flats everywhere, and make all developments have a mix of houses, flats and bungalows.
[quote][p][bold]JuliaM[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Bosniavet[/bold] wrote: Maybe the desire for Southend to be "upmarket" as expressed here should have been considered before they set up the "university" in the centre of town........[/p][/quote]Oh, quite! The change in Southend since that ghastly edifice went up has been noticeable...[/p][/quote]Which party granted planning permission to convert big old houses into flats and bedsits? Why not stop giving permission for a zillion flats everywhere, and make all developments have a mix of houses, flats and bungalows. Nebs

7:01pm Tue 28 Feb 12

j-w says...

"Yes redress the balance! Perhaps giving people a weekly allowance they can actually live on might encourage them to spend in this terrible woman's restaurant and shops other than £ shops."

No you see this is the problem, don't "give" them more money, get them to earn it!
"Yes redress the balance! Perhaps giving people a weekly allowance they can actually live on might encourage them to spend in this terrible woman's restaurant and shops other than £ shops." No you see this is the problem, don't "give" them more money, get them to earn it! j-w

7:02pm Tue 28 Feb 12

monkey69 says...

you think southend is bad try basildon
you think southend is bad try basildon monkey69

7:04pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Cockle says...

APR wrote:
I know a lot of people are anti Anna Waite, whatever she says.

Southend High Street is not a nice place to shop though, and through no fault of the council.
I'm not anti Anna Waite regardless, there is an element of truth to what she says, however, she was a leading light in the Council which has over seen this demise.
As APR says Southend High Street is not a pleasant place to shop but where I disagree is that this is no fault of the Council. SBC has over many years slowly but surely created what we now see; a drab, soulless, High St with a shopping centre at one end and another at the other; a town which discourages the very people AW says she wants to attract, the ones with disposable income, by charging ridiculous parking fees and employing wardens who ticket you for stopping to take breath. The people she claims discourage people from coming to town, she is right, do reside in a ring around the town centre but these people on benefits or low incomes do not tend to be able to make a great deal of choice about where they live, they live where the affordable accomodation is or where they are put by the housing authorities; who makes the planning decisions about where these neighbourhoods are? SBC!
So, I'm afraid, a large amount of the blame, not all, can be laid at the door of SBC, a leading member of which, for some years, was Anna Waite.

If Anna gets her way I have one major question, just where does she propose the members of the uber class move to to make way for her preferred clientele of wealthy commuters? A convenient ghetto somewhere?
Has she also thought that if she attracts these wealthy commuters into the town to live what this does to the local economy? The town's economy is already distorted enough by the number of commuters we already have. House prices will be artificially inflated, even more than they are already. There is already a major gap between wages brought into the town by commuters as opposed to those earned by people working in the town. Wages paid in Southend are some of the lowest in South East England, an increase in the number of wealthy overnighting and weekending residents will just distort this even more and create even more division. Perhaps we should set up checkpoints around the town centre and ask for proof of a minimum level of disposable income before allowing anyone in.

Sadly I think that anything to try and save the High Street, in general, is doomed; in the last quarter trade in the High Street declined by over 15% while trade online increased by something like 20%, the horse has bolted, no point in trying to close the stable door now, that should have benn done 10-15 years ago.
[quote][p][bold]APR[/bold] wrote: I know a lot of people are anti Anna Waite, whatever she says. Southend High Street is not a nice place to shop though, and through no fault of the council.[/p][/quote]I'm not anti Anna Waite regardless, there is an element of truth to what she says, however, she was a leading light in the Council which has over seen this demise. As APR says Southend High Street is not a pleasant place to shop but where I disagree is that this is no fault of the Council. SBC has over many years slowly but surely created what we now see; a drab, soulless, High St with a shopping centre at one end and another at the other; a town which discourages the very people AW says she wants to attract, the ones with disposable income, by charging ridiculous parking fees and employing wardens who ticket you for stopping to take breath. The people she claims discourage people from coming to town, she is right, do reside in a ring around the town centre but these people on benefits or low incomes do not tend to be able to make a great deal of choice about where they live, they live where the affordable accomodation is or where they are put by the housing authorities; who makes the planning decisions about where these neighbourhoods are? SBC! So, I'm afraid, a large amount of the blame, not all, can be laid at the door of SBC, a leading member of which, for some years, was Anna Waite. If Anna gets her way I have one major question, just where does she propose the members of the uber class move to to make way for her preferred clientele of wealthy commuters? A convenient ghetto somewhere? Has she also thought that if she attracts these wealthy commuters into the town to live what this does to the local economy? The town's economy is already distorted enough by the number of commuters we already have. House prices will be artificially inflated, even more than they are already. There is already a major gap between wages brought into the town by commuters as opposed to those earned by people working in the town. Wages paid in Southend are some of the lowest in South East England, an increase in the number of wealthy overnighting and weekending residents will just distort this even more and create even more division. Perhaps we should set up checkpoints around the town centre and ask for proof of a minimum level of disposable income before allowing anyone in. Sadly I think that anything to try and save the High Street, in general, is doomed; in the last quarter trade in the High Street declined by over 15% while trade online increased by something like 20%, the horse has bolted, no point in trying to close the stable door now, that should have benn done 10-15 years ago. Cockle

7:08pm Tue 28 Feb 12

doasilikey says...

She said: “Southend is on London’s doorstep."

What she didn't say was that having been on the doorstep, visitors would be required to disinfect their footwear before crossing the threshold. It was not always that way.
She said: “Southend is on London’s doorstep." What she didn't say was that having been on the doorstep, visitors would be required to disinfect their footwear before crossing the threshold. It was not always that way. doasilikey

7:13pm Tue 28 Feb 12

katch22 says...

j-w wrote:
"Yes redress the balance! Perhaps giving people a weekly allowance they can actually live on might encourage them to spend in this terrible woman's restaurant and shops other than £ shops."

No you see this is the problem, don't "give" them more money, get them to earn it!
How? By climbing up and cleaning chimneys?

Domestics living in grand houses?

There's a shortage of jobs and it will become worse. What then?
[quote][p][bold]j-w[/bold] wrote: "Yes redress the balance! Perhaps giving people a weekly allowance they can actually live on might encourage them to spend in this terrible woman's restaurant and shops other than £ shops." No you see this is the problem, don't "give" them more money, get them to earn it![/p][/quote]How? By climbing up and cleaning chimneys? Domestics living in grand houses? There's a shortage of jobs and it will become worse. What then? katch22

7:17pm Tue 28 Feb 12

V_is_back says...

I like living in a town with a large poor population, it means there's less crime. There's more crime in upper class areas, because the 'upper classes' are more likely to lie, cheat, and break the law.
I like living in a town with a large poor population, it means there's less crime. There's more crime in upper class areas, because the 'upper classes' are more likely to lie, cheat, and break the law. V_is_back

7:19pm Tue 28 Feb 12

j-w says...

don't have kids you can't afford would be a start, dont start spending money on drugs or alcohol you can't afford.

Don't expect to be given a living, earn it. these problems have not just started recently, this problems have been around for ages even at the height of the boom.
don't have kids you can't afford would be a start, dont start spending money on drugs or alcohol you can't afford. Don't expect to be given a living, earn it. these problems have not just started recently, this problems have been around for ages even at the height of the boom. j-w

7:23pm Tue 28 Feb 12

mr_happy says...

It is dying because of the high parking fees and the fact that it smells and looks like an ashtray. People push and shove, and the noise form the hundreds of students shouting is enough to drive anyone away.
It is dying because of the high parking fees and the fact that it smells and looks like an ashtray. People push and shove, and the noise form the hundreds of students shouting is enough to drive anyone away. mr_happy

7:25pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Hannah Foster says...

Southend is a bit of a depressing hole these days. I wouldn't dream of going there for pleasure but I think that Anna Waite is completely out of order for blaming and vilifying people that probably have no choice but to shop there. As someone quite rightly pointed out most mothers don't set out to be single, most drug addicts don't set out to be drug addicts and I'm pretty sure that no one sets out to be poor and live in the diabolical accommodation provided by money grabbing private landlords who only thrive because of a woeful lack of decent quality social housing. Sadly good people end up in horrible circumstances. Anna Waite should climb down from her ivory tower and use her energy to seek to improve housing and social support for the unfortunate people she degrades in her article. The reason that anyone with a car goes to the out of town shopping centres is because they can park for nothing. If Southend council didn't rob it's residents and visitors blind they might find that more people with money to spend came into the town and stayed for longer than the bare minimum time. I personally loathe the likes of Bluewater but they will still win my vote because I can park for free. Even then I don't go more than a couple of times a year. The old fashioned high street is dying a death because of money grabbing councils and not the people who have no choice but to make do with them.
Southend is a bit of a depressing hole these days. I wouldn't dream of going there for pleasure but I think that Anna Waite is completely out of order for blaming and vilifying people that probably have no choice but to shop there. As someone quite rightly pointed out most mothers don't set out to be single, most drug addicts don't set out to be drug addicts and I'm pretty sure that no one sets out to be poor and live in the diabolical accommodation provided by money grabbing private landlords who only thrive because of a woeful lack of decent quality social housing. Sadly good people end up in horrible circumstances. Anna Waite should climb down from her ivory tower and use her energy to seek to improve housing and social support for the unfortunate people she degrades in her article. The reason that anyone with a car goes to the out of town shopping centres is because they can park for nothing. If Southend council didn't rob it's residents and visitors blind they might find that more people with money to spend came into the town and stayed for longer than the bare minimum time. I personally loathe the likes of Bluewater but they will still win my vote because I can park for free. Even then I don't go more than a couple of times a year. The old fashioned high street is dying a death because of money grabbing councils and not the people who have no choice but to make do with them. Hannah Foster

7:27pm Tue 28 Feb 12

sash bore buoy says...

V_is_back wrote:
I like living in a town with a large poor population, it means there's less crime. There's more crime in upper class areas, because the 'upper classes' are more likely to lie, cheat, and break the law.
hark. i hear little miss chiponhershoulder.
[quote][p][bold]V_is_back[/bold] wrote: I like living in a town with a large poor population, it means there's less crime. There's more crime in upper class areas, because the 'upper classes' are more likely to lie, cheat, and break the law.[/p][/quote]hark. i hear little miss chiponhershoulder. sash bore buoy

7:33pm Tue 28 Feb 12

V_is_back says...

No fast food on my shoulders sonny:

http://www.telegraph
.co.uk/science/scien
ce-news/9109391/Uppe
r-classes-more-likel
y-to-lie-and-cheat.h
tml
No fast food on my shoulders sonny: http://www.telegraph .co.uk/science/scien ce-news/9109391/Uppe r-classes-more-likel y-to-lie-and-cheat.h tml V_is_back

7:54pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Test Tickle says...

Anna Waite = FAIL

She should try selling Ice cream for a living.
Anna Waite = FAIL She should try selling Ice cream for a living. Test Tickle

7:58pm Tue 28 Feb 12

sash bore buoy says...

V_is_back wrote:
No fast food on my shoulders sonny:

http://www.telegraph

.co.uk/science/scien

ce-news/9109391/Uppe

r-classes-more-likel

y-to-lie-and-cheat.h

tml
no barrels were left unscraped for this story vinegar lady
[quote][p][bold]V_is_back[/bold] wrote: No fast food on my shoulders sonny: http://www.telegraph .co.uk/science/scien ce-news/9109391/Uppe r-classes-more-likel y-to-lie-and-cheat.h tml[/p][/quote]no barrels were left unscraped for this story vinegar lady sash bore buoy

8:19pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Bosniavet says...

Test Tickle wrote:
Anna Waite = FAIL She should try selling Ice cream for a living.
I thought she did - in Tomassi's!
[quote][p][bold]Test Tickle[/bold] wrote: Anna Waite = FAIL She should try selling Ice cream for a living.[/p][/quote]I thought she did - in Tomassi's! Bosniavet

8:23pm Tue 28 Feb 12

jolllyboy says...

If Anna Waite does not like Southend as it is now then she should take some of the blame as it was under her flag that the town started to go downhill. the University was a mistake as students do not spend enough in the town. Whereever there is a University you get a lot of pokey accommodation - cheaper than that ugly building built for them here. You haven't seen anything yet - will there be room for us in the new library when it is filled with these students ? it will be lost to us, already they do not know the meaning of speaking quietly in the library. Still the cake and chip shops should do well from them.
If Anna Waite does not like Southend as it is now then she should take some of the blame as it was under her flag that the town started to go downhill. the University was a mistake as students do not spend enough in the town. Whereever there is a University you get a lot of pokey accommodation - cheaper than that ugly building built for them here. You haven't seen anything yet - will there be room for us in the new library when it is filled with these students ? it will be lost to us, already they do not know the meaning of speaking quietly in the library. Still the cake and chip shops should do well from them. jolllyboy

8:27pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Brunning999 says...

The SWP normal commenters will again throw their normal garbage at anything other left left wing propaganda, which is great because it shows they are either rattled or are embarrassed because the truth refers to most of them.
The SWP normal commenters will again throw their normal garbage at anything other left left wing propaganda, which is great because it shows they are either rattled or are embarrassed because the truth refers to most of them. Brunning999

8:40pm Tue 28 Feb 12

V_is_back says...

Brunning999 wrote:
The SWP normal commenters will again throw their normal garbage at anything other left left wing propaganda, which is great because it shows they are either rattled or are embarrassed because the truth refers to most of them.
It is Southend's Conservative cabinet that has overseen the explosion of flats and bedsits in the town.
[quote][p][bold]Brunning999[/bold] wrote: The SWP normal commenters will again throw their normal garbage at anything other left left wing propaganda, which is great because it shows they are either rattled or are embarrassed because the truth refers to most of them.[/p][/quote]It is Southend's Conservative cabinet that has overseen the explosion of flats and bedsits in the town. V_is_back

8:48pm Tue 28 Feb 12

leeharveyosmond says...

I've no idea if there's any truth in what Anna Waite is supposed to have said, because I can't remember when I last had an opportunity to see for myself by bothering to go shopping on Southend High Street. Given the choice of struggling in to the town centre by car and trying to park, or struggling in to the town centre on the bus, or driving to Lakeside or Bluewater (or Westfield, or Surrey Quays, or Cite Europe at Coquelles, or ...) and making use of the provided car parks free and for nothing, I'm sure you can imagine what I'd choose.

Anna Waite has spotted that fancy shops aren't opening in Southend. I've noticed that shops are closing, and shops are opening (not necessarily the same businesses) in the shopping malls elsewhere. Why is that? Can it be to do with the rents? Or the business rates? What as a shop proprietor do you get for your rent and rates in this town anyway?

Anybody else noticed how many shops in this town have plate glass windows that are cracked? That's not attempts at burglary; that's being done for fun and malice. Anybody remember the last article in this paper about somebody being detained for attempting to break a shop window? Wouldn't you rather open your shop somewhere that the local vermin still feared the police, or at least the mall's private security staff?
I've no idea if there's any truth in what Anna Waite is supposed to have said, because I can't remember when I last had an opportunity to see for myself by bothering to go shopping on Southend High Street. Given the choice of struggling in to the town centre by car and trying to park, or struggling in to the town centre on the bus, or driving to Lakeside or Bluewater (or Westfield, or Surrey Quays, or Cite Europe at Coquelles, or ...) and making use of the provided car parks free and for nothing, I'm sure you can imagine what I'd choose. Anna Waite has spotted that fancy shops aren't opening in Southend. I've noticed that shops are closing, and shops are opening (not necessarily the same businesses) in the shopping malls elsewhere. Why is that? Can it be to do with the rents? Or the business rates? What as a shop proprietor do you get for your rent and rates in this town anyway? Anybody else noticed how many shops in this town have plate glass windows that are cracked? That's not attempts at burglary; that's being done for fun and malice. Anybody remember the last article in this paper about somebody being detained for attempting to break a shop window? Wouldn't you rather open your shop somewhere that the local vermin still feared the police, or at least the mall's private security staff? leeharveyosmond

8:52pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Brunning999 says...

Are you suggesting the Council should not allow low price accommodation to be provided ?

And are you suggesting that low price accommodation occupants are all drunks, druggies and benefit scroungers?

Sorry I do not understand the point you are making.
Are you suggesting the Council should not allow low price accommodation to be provided ? And are you suggesting that low price accommodation occupants are all drunks, druggies and benefit scroungers? Sorry I do not understand the point you are making. Brunning999

9:05pm Tue 28 Feb 12

stevefarrow says...

It says below the comments box here "Do not post anything that is false". Presumably this rule does not apply to the Echo's headline writers... Before jumping to any conclusions about what Anna is reported to have said, why not take the time to read her website (http://www.seasiden
ews.net) and see exactly what she did say - the headline of this article is just an appalling misquote of one sentence, doubtless singled out by the Echo to provoke this sort of reaction. Nowhere does Anna say that these people are "driving upmarket shops out of Southend", she simply makes the point that businesses (shops) looking to locate in a particular area look at the target market to ascertain feasibility, the main point being that those with less money to spend are less likely to spend it in a more expensive shop. You may not agree with all her ideas or sentiments, but at least see the comments in their proper context before jumping to conclusions.
It says below the comments box here "Do not post anything that is false". Presumably this rule does not apply to the Echo's headline writers... Before jumping to any conclusions about what Anna is reported to have said, why not take the time to read her website (http://www.seasiden ews.net) and see exactly what she did say - the headline of this article is just an appalling misquote of one sentence, doubtless singled out by the Echo to provoke this sort of reaction. Nowhere does Anna say that these people are "driving upmarket shops out of Southend", she simply makes the point that businesses (shops) looking to locate in a particular area look at the target market to ascertain feasibility, the main point being that those with less money to spend are less likely to spend it in a more expensive shop. You may not agree with all her ideas or sentiments, but at least see the comments in their proper context before jumping to conclusions. stevefarrow

9:13pm Tue 28 Feb 12

jayman says...

is she using the chip on her shoulders to grind an axe or what!!!

is this the same Anna Waite who wanted more housing towers of doom and depravity? the same Anna Waite who systematically re-modelled the town into some weird concrete slabbed landscape?

or the same Anna Waite who resides in a commanding property in the leafy countryside of Barling and who wouldn't have a single clue about what life is like for a single mum sitting in a cold flat listening to the electric meter bleep because she hasn't got the money to top it up?

welcome to the Tory dream people.. They say they are all for social mobility while at the same time, closing factories, community facilities and reducing state support for the most vulnerable in our society.. or the big society as its now called.

yes labour got us into this mess
but the Tories embark on austerity with such social vitriol while announcing cuts and closures whilst looking down the barrel of a news camera with the faint hint of a smile!!

the Tory parties Latin motto should be 'hic pro se'
is she using the chip on her shoulders to grind an axe or what!!! is this the same Anna Waite who wanted more housing towers of doom and depravity? the same Anna Waite who systematically re-modelled the town into some weird concrete slabbed landscape? or the same Anna Waite who resides in a commanding property in the leafy countryside of Barling and who wouldn't have a single clue about what life is like for a single mum sitting in a cold flat listening to the electric meter bleep because she hasn't got the money to top it up? welcome to the Tory dream people.. They say they are all for social mobility while at the same time, closing factories, community facilities and reducing state support for the most vulnerable in our society.. or the big society as its now called. yes labour got us into this mess but the Tories embark on austerity with such social vitriol while announcing cuts and closures whilst looking down the barrel of a news camera with the faint hint of a smile!! the Tory parties Latin motto should be 'hic pro se' jayman

9:30pm Tue 28 Feb 12

jayman says...

stevefarrow wrote:
It says below the comments box here "Do not post anything that is false". Presumably this rule does not apply to the Echo's headline writers... Before jumping to any conclusions about what Anna is reported to have said, why not take the time to read her website (http://www.seasiden

ews.net) and see exactly what she did say - the headline of this article is just an appalling misquote of one sentence, doubtless singled out by the Echo to provoke this sort of reaction. Nowhere does Anna say that these people are "driving upmarket shops out of Southend", she simply makes the point that businesses (shops) looking to locate in a particular area look at the target market to ascertain feasibility, the main point being that those with less money to spend are less likely to spend it in a more expensive shop. You may not agree with all her ideas or sentiments, but at least see the comments in their proper context before jumping to conclusions.
ive just taken the time to read her mission statement.

some of misses waite's statements are mere common sense.

but her infrastructural and development ideas would double Southend councils current debt level of approx £210,000,000.00. the council are not skint due to central government cuts. The Tories, oh! i mean, (we) are skint due to absurd local capital spending projects, consultants fees, poor risk management and poor financial responsibility of the public purse caused in my opinion by aggressive personalities within the council over the past several years who push there own agenda .
[quote][p][bold]stevefarrow[/bold] wrote: It says below the comments box here "Do not post anything that is false". Presumably this rule does not apply to the Echo's headline writers... Before jumping to any conclusions about what Anna is reported to have said, why not take the time to read her website (http://www.seasiden ews.net) and see exactly what she did say - the headline of this article is just an appalling misquote of one sentence, doubtless singled out by the Echo to provoke this sort of reaction. Nowhere does Anna say that these people are "driving upmarket shops out of Southend", she simply makes the point that businesses (shops) looking to locate in a particular area look at the target market to ascertain feasibility, the main point being that those with less money to spend are less likely to spend it in a more expensive shop. You may not agree with all her ideas or sentiments, but at least see the comments in their proper context before jumping to conclusions.[/p][/quote]ive just taken the time to read her mission statement. some of misses waite's statements are mere common sense. but her infrastructural and development ideas would double Southend councils current debt level of approx £210,000,000.00. the council are not skint due to central government cuts. The Tories, oh! i mean, (we) are skint due to absurd local capital spending projects, consultants fees, poor risk management and poor financial responsibility of the public purse caused in my opinion by aggressive personalities within the council over the past several years who push there own agenda . jayman

9:36pm Tue 28 Feb 12

gangsta len says...

I would say parking charges are a huge issue. Rayleigh is free we tend to go there. SBC should definitely make the parking free. I know they like fleecing people but they need to get behind the high street and encourage people to go there. Also the patterned brickwork on the pavements is in an apalling state now. Well done council for getting that done to such a high standard.
I would say parking charges are a huge issue. Rayleigh is free we tend to go there. SBC should definitely make the parking free. I know they like fleecing people but they need to get behind the high street and encourage people to go there. Also the patterned brickwork on the pavements is in an apalling state now. Well done council for getting that done to such a high standard. gangsta len

9:44pm Tue 28 Feb 12

paulzone says...

Crime is another issue driving folk away...
Crime is another issue driving folk away... paulzone

9:45pm Tue 28 Feb 12

katch22 says...

j-w wrote:
don't have kids you can't afford would be a start, dont start spending money on drugs or alcohol you can't afford.

Don't expect to be given a living, earn it. these problems have not just started recently, this problems have been around for ages even at the height of the boom.
So the poor shouldn't have children? Who then would run the 'mines' The middle and upper class are too selfish to provide cannon fodder!

Do all poor smoke drink and abuse drugs?

How do you earn a living if there is no jobs? you didn't reply to that before.

The boom has gone and i wouldn't be so smug my friend, time changes circumstances!
[quote][p][bold]j-w[/bold] wrote: don't have kids you can't afford would be a start, dont start spending money on drugs or alcohol you can't afford. Don't expect to be given a living, earn it. these problems have not just started recently, this problems have been around for ages even at the height of the boom.[/p][/quote]So the poor shouldn't have children? Who then would run the 'mines' The middle and upper class are too selfish to provide cannon fodder! Do all poor smoke drink and abuse drugs? How do you earn a living if there is no jobs? you didn't reply to that before. The boom has gone and i wouldn't be so smug my friend, time changes circumstances! katch22

10:16pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Castlethorpe says...

I cannot believe Anna Waite is still attempting to get her thoughts aired in the media. She was booted out of Victoria Ward and last year out of St. Lukes ward because she did not listen to the residents of the town. Similar to most of the Tory Council members, she is only responsing to the failures of the past decisions the cabinet conrolled Council made. The failed policies and the debt run up is indefensible. let's move on with a new and vibrant Council that listens to the residents and does not run up enormous debts that the residents will have to pay back. The Independents, for me, offer new solutions and a chance for Southend to become famous, for all the right reasons. As for the "sheds" proposed for Southend Pier and the unnecessary "Museum" at a cost of £50 million (approx) who is kidding who? And The Gateway and Cuckoo Corner expensive developments ....do not work!
I cannot believe Anna Waite is still attempting to get her thoughts aired in the media. She was booted out of Victoria Ward and last year out of St. Lukes ward because she did not listen to the residents of the town. Similar to most of the Tory Council members, she is only responsing to the failures of the past decisions the cabinet conrolled Council made. The failed policies and the debt run up is indefensible. let's move on with a new and vibrant Council that listens to the residents and does not run up enormous debts that the residents will have to pay back. The Independents, for me, offer new solutions and a chance for Southend to become famous, for all the right reasons. As for the "sheds" proposed for Southend Pier and the unnecessary "Museum" at a cost of £50 million (approx) who is kidding who? And The Gateway and Cuckoo Corner expensive developments ....do not work! Castlethorpe

10:20pm Tue 28 Feb 12

gangsta len says...

quick grab some tents meet you outside Tomassis!
quick grab some tents meet you outside Tomassis! gangsta len

10:21pm Tue 28 Feb 12

EssexBoy1968 says...

jolllyboy wrote:
If Anna Waite does not like Southend as it is now then she should take some of the blame as it was under her flag that the town started to go downhill. the University was a mistake as students do not spend enough in the town. Whereever there is a University you get a lot of pokey accommodation - cheaper than that ugly building built for them here. You haven't seen anything yet - will there be room for us in the new library when it is filled with these students ? it will be lost to us, already they do not know the meaning of speaking quietly in the library. Still the cake and chip shops should do well from them.
Very true, & those who have thought about it already know the locals will be made as unwelcome as possible in the new library. If the current building in Victoria Avenue is so bad & unsuitable for books, why are they suggesting it is used to display the art collection held by the council?
The new library is not needed by the locals, we already have a good one.....
[quote][p][bold]jolllyboy[/bold] wrote: If Anna Waite does not like Southend as it is now then she should take some of the blame as it was under her flag that the town started to go downhill. the University was a mistake as students do not spend enough in the town. Whereever there is a University you get a lot of pokey accommodation - cheaper than that ugly building built for them here. You haven't seen anything yet - will there be room for us in the new library when it is filled with these students ? it will be lost to us, already they do not know the meaning of speaking quietly in the library. Still the cake and chip shops should do well from them.[/p][/quote]Very true, & those who have thought about it already know the locals will be made as unwelcome as possible in the new library. If the current building in Victoria Avenue is so bad & unsuitable for books, why are they suggesting it is used to display the art collection held by the council? The new library is not needed by the locals, we already have a good one..... EssexBoy1968

10:30pm Tue 28 Feb 12

perini says...

Or could it be down to the fact that Southend Town Centre is a drab concrete jungle - Oh Anna remember the patio from hell, a total lack of greenery, expensive parking, high rents, ugly university buildings, and a nightmare to drive in - surprise, surprise - all are a result of your meddling in things you knew nothing about - crawl back into your hovel and hopefully don't emerge again!
Or could it be down to the fact that Southend Town Centre is a drab concrete jungle - Oh Anna remember the patio from hell, a total lack of greenery, expensive parking, high rents, ugly university buildings, and a nightmare to drive in - surprise, surprise - all are a result of your meddling in things you knew nothing about - crawl back into your hovel and hopefully don't emerge again! perini

10:40pm Tue 28 Feb 12

EssexBoy1968 says...

Castlethorpe wrote:
I cannot believe Anna Waite is still attempting to get her thoughts aired in the media. She was booted out of Victoria Ward and last year out of St. Lukes ward because she did not listen to the residents of the town. Similar to most of the Tory Council members, she is only responsing to the failures of the past decisions the cabinet conrolled Council made. The failed policies and the debt run up is indefensible. let's move on with a new and vibrant Council that listens to the residents and does not run up enormous debts that the residents will have to pay back. The Independents, for me, offer new solutions and a chance for Southend to become famous, for all the right reasons. As for the "sheds" proposed for Southend Pier and the unnecessary "Museum" at a cost of £50 million (approx) who is kidding who? And The Gateway and Cuckoo Corner expensive developments ....do not work!
My understanding is that "the unnecessary "Museum" at a cost of £50 million " is required to enable the Saxon artefacts found near Priory Park to be displayed here, not kept in the Museum of London. The 2 traffic junctions you mention were, according to what we are told, paid for by grants that would have gone elsewhere if not claimed by SBC (don't get the idea I think they are good or needed, I am just explaining that the SBC debt was not caused by this).
Like you, I feel we need a council that actually pays attention to the views of locals, & believe at AW is making a bid for re-election, which is not good news. If she wishes to be a elected representative, why doesn't she stand for the council ward covering Barling where she lives?
[quote][p][bold]Castlethorpe[/bold] wrote: I cannot believe Anna Waite is still attempting to get her thoughts aired in the media. She was booted out of Victoria Ward and last year out of St. Lukes ward because she did not listen to the residents of the town. Similar to most of the Tory Council members, she is only responsing to the failures of the past decisions the cabinet conrolled Council made. The failed policies and the debt run up is indefensible. let's move on with a new and vibrant Council that listens to the residents and does not run up enormous debts that the residents will have to pay back. The Independents, for me, offer new solutions and a chance for Southend to become famous, for all the right reasons. As for the "sheds" proposed for Southend Pier and the unnecessary "Museum" at a cost of £50 million (approx) who is kidding who? And The Gateway and Cuckoo Corner expensive developments ....do not work![/p][/quote]My understanding is that "the unnecessary "Museum" at a cost of £50 million " is required to enable the Saxon artefacts found near Priory Park to be displayed here, not kept in the Museum of London. The 2 traffic junctions you mention were, according to what we are told, paid for by grants that would have gone elsewhere if not claimed by SBC (don't get the idea I think they are good or needed, I am just explaining that the SBC debt was not caused by this). Like you, I feel we need a council that actually pays attention to the views of locals, & believe at AW is making a bid for re-election, which is not good news. If she wishes to be a elected representative, why doesn't she stand for the council ward covering Barling where she lives? EssexBoy1968

10:45pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Soouthchurch59 says...

Snotty Beach! (Sic)
Snotty Beach! (Sic) Soouthchurch59

10:58pm Tue 28 Feb 12

southendreb says...

The present parking regime ,yes it is driving people out of the town.Moving the swimming pool out of the town.
Making the town inaccessable for a year with their better southend Roadworks chaos. Yes the shoddy high street. now we got this stupid library instead of a car park. Many things being done to wind us up. I dont like to say it but yes you must have been the most hated person in the Town.
Anyway as you dont live here now its only just an opinion.
Are the cabinet still winding us up . just guess wich person on here is a member of that cabinet.?
The present parking regime ,yes it is driving people out of the town.Moving the swimming pool out of the town. Making the town inaccessable for a year with their better southend Roadworks chaos. Yes the shoddy high street. now we got this stupid library instead of a car park. Many things being done to wind us up. I dont like to say it but yes you must have been the most hated person in the Town. Anyway as you dont live here now its only just an opinion. Are the cabinet still winding us up . just guess wich person on here is a member of that cabinet.? southendreb

10:58pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Diannah says...

The days of the butcher, the baker and candlestick maker disappeared when supermarkets started selling it all.
The days of the butcher, the baker and candlestick maker disappeared when supermarkets started selling it all. Diannah

11:03pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Shrimper1 says...

Must admit that when I'm "persuaded" to go shopping with my wife down Southend High Street, I often hear East European accents. How times have changed!
Must admit that when I'm "persuaded" to go shopping with my wife down Southend High Street, I often hear East European accents. How times have changed! Shrimper1

11:03pm Tue 28 Feb 12

1nails says...

Come on.!!! For once she is right. Face up to it. The high street area is a s*ith*le. Full of druggies, drunkards, trouble makers of one sort or another. With no police to rectify this we are, "stumped". Get rid of all the foreigners that should'nt be here. (illegals), I mean. but most of all. We need more police on the beat around the area. Or. Bring some of our troops home, Let them police the area, under a "no tolerance" deal.
Come on.!!! For once she is right. Face up to it. The high street area is a s*ith*le. Full of druggies, drunkards, trouble makers of one sort or another. With no police to rectify this we are, "stumped". Get rid of all the foreigners that should'nt be here. (illegals), I mean. but most of all. We need more police on the beat around the area. Or. Bring some of our troops home, Let them police the area, under a "no tolerance" deal. 1nails

11:11pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Castlethorpe says...

Esssex Boy is correct. My son is an English Teacher and reckons the Victoria Avenue Library is one of the best in the Country........but..
....they have planned and are building the new one and I believe they are considering demolishing the existing one to be able to build more high rise flats which make the developers...loads of money! the Library is an iconic 60,s building and should remain and will accommodate the Beecroft Art Gallery collection, quite nicely and inexpensively!
Esssex Boy is correct. My son is an English Teacher and reckons the Victoria Avenue Library is one of the best in the Country........but.. ....they have planned and are building the new one and I believe they are considering demolishing the existing one to be able to build more high rise flats which make the developers...loads of money! the Library is an iconic 60,s building and should remain and will accommodate the Beecroft Art Gallery collection, quite nicely and inexpensively! Castlethorpe

12:03am Wed 29 Feb 12

Jane D says...

Driving "upmarket"
shops out of Southend? Eh? What would those be then? Realistically it is the outrageous parking charges which put people off. And maybe the fact you get gassed by fag smoke when you walk up the High Street. Oh and the beggars and the eastern Europeans marauding around...
Driving "upmarket" shops out of Southend? Eh? What would those be then? Realistically it is the outrageous parking charges which put people off. And maybe the fact you get gassed by fag smoke when you walk up the High Street. Oh and the beggars and the eastern Europeans marauding around... Jane D

12:03am Wed 29 Feb 12

Steve H says...

Forget the town centre, the jewel in Southends crown, the seafront, is fast becoming a no go area. Full of drunks and gangs, the area is becoming quite intimidating, last time we were there as a family for an evening out we witnessed Eastern European gangs squaring up. This was at 6pm in the evening, in the City Beach area.
Forget the town centre, the jewel in Southends crown, the seafront, is fast becoming a no go area. Full of drunks and gangs, the area is becoming quite intimidating, last time we were there as a family for an evening out we witnessed Eastern European gangs squaring up. This was at 6pm in the evening, in the City Beach area. Steve H

12:28am Wed 29 Feb 12

soul man says...

lets not hear or see any comments that canvey is bad after this story
lets not hear or see any comments that canvey is bad after this story soul man

1:04am Wed 29 Feb 12

Andycal 172D says...

Anna Waite - helped screw up the seafront, helped screw up Victoria Circus, made it almost impossible to park at a reasonable cost, designed and redesigned the High Street - digging it up, resurfacing it and digging it up again. Now, which part of that helped and encouraged trade in Town. It's noticeable the only part not engineered and re-engineered was in front of her sodding family's restaurant!!!
Anna Waite - helped screw up the seafront, helped screw up Victoria Circus, made it almost impossible to park at a reasonable cost, designed and redesigned the High Street - digging it up, resurfacing it and digging it up again. Now, which part of that helped and encouraged trade in Town. It's noticeable the only part not engineered and re-engineered was in front of her sodding family's restaurant!!! Andycal 172D

1:19am Wed 29 Feb 12

spike99 says...

Another comment from Mrs Waite. When will she take the hint, and just belt up?
I feel sorry for the people who cannot afford to heat and eat, whatever their circumstances, but to blame Southend High Street on them borders on the ridiculous.
I very rarely shop in Southend now, the business rates are putting pressure on stores that are already struggling, the parking, as previously mentioned by others is so excessive as to drive people away (forgive the pun!), wardens seem to be everywhere, dishing out tickets for the smallest infringements, and the price is prohibitive. I can park in Basildon for two hours for 90 p! plenty of time to get what I want and then come home, and if I want to go anywhere for different shops, there are Coach and Train connections to Lakeside and Westfield.
Our wonderful Council also ruined York Road Market, messed up Victoria Circus - Marbles anyone? and presumably had a hand in the twin horrors of the University Greenhouse, and the Lego Brick, as they are known in our area. As for all the cheap housing - would not the Council have to have approved them to start with?
I read she proposes or wants to fiddle with the Bins (!) paving, Lighting and Seats in the Town - sorry dear, but spending more money isn't going to get people back to Southend.
Do something sensible, reduce or freeze Business rates - reduce parking fees, stop digging the two main arteries into town up (A13/A127) - that might get some people back, but I fear the damage is done....
Another comment from Mrs Waite. When will she take the hint, and just belt up? I feel sorry for the people who cannot afford to heat and eat, whatever their circumstances, but to blame Southend High Street on them borders on the ridiculous. I very rarely shop in Southend now, the business rates are putting pressure on stores that are already struggling, the parking, as previously mentioned by others is so excessive as to drive people away (forgive the pun!), wardens seem to be everywhere, dishing out tickets for the smallest infringements, and the price is prohibitive. I can park in Basildon for two hours for 90 p! plenty of time to get what I want and then come home, and if I want to go anywhere for different shops, there are Coach and Train connections to Lakeside and Westfield. Our wonderful Council also ruined York Road Market, messed up Victoria Circus - Marbles anyone? and presumably had a hand in the twin horrors of the University Greenhouse, and the Lego Brick, as they are known in our area. As for all the cheap housing - would not the Council have to have approved them to start with? I read she proposes or wants to fiddle with the Bins (!) paving, Lighting and Seats in the Town - sorry dear, but spending more money isn't going to get people back to Southend. Do something sensible, reduce or freeze Business rates - reduce parking fees, stop digging the two main arteries into town up (A13/A127) - that might get some people back, but I fear the damage is done.... spike99

2:25am Wed 29 Feb 12

heartbeat says...

Never thought I'd agree with anything she said but I have to agree that the ratio in Southend High Street of scumbags, oiks, lowlife and poverty-stricken is way too high to entice me there apart from when I have no choice. Parking fees being abolished would change things - many of my friends and acquaintances still have plenty of dosh but prefer to drive their 4x4s to Lakeside and park free to shop, despite the cost of fuel to get there as the Southend High Street experience is too unpleasant. Whenever I do end up there I feel I am in Wayne and Waynetta land which is not something I choose to do for pleasure! I get so fed up with the anti-social behaviour, people scowling, spitting on pavements and non-stop swearing. If parking was free in and around Southend that would change things without any doubt whatsoever and the whole profile of the High Street would shift as wealthier Southend/Thorpe Bay/Leigh residents chose to nip 10 mins up the road to shop rather than driving to Lakeside. At the moment civilised people with normal social skills who smile, hold doors open for others, dont barge past etc. etc. are so woefully in the minority in Southend High Street

Cleaner pavements is another HUGE issue in Southend too...who on EARTH pays fortunes to sit and drink coffee etc. outside those High Street cafes surrounded by fag ends, wrappers, chewing gum etc.???? I'd be afraid of catching something at most of the cafes up the High Street if I stopped for too long! More greenery would help, anything to soften the harshness of all the ugly concrete. I remember when we had a nice little bit of grass and picnic benches opposite where WH Smith's is - used to be lovely to sit and eat lunch there in the summer, and a meeting place for people. All gone - just too simple for Southend Councillors who want to see their names in lights with BIG projects, not nice little grassy areas and picnic benches! Why cant they just stop and look at what local people actually NEED rather than building stupid cafes with arty-**** roofs which are off the beaten track or whatever.
Never thought I'd agree with anything she said but I have to agree that the ratio in Southend High Street of scumbags, oiks, lowlife and poverty-stricken is way too high to entice me there apart from when I have no choice. Parking fees being abolished would change things - many of my friends and acquaintances still have plenty of dosh but prefer to drive their 4x4s to Lakeside and park free to shop, despite the cost of fuel to get there as the Southend High Street experience is too unpleasant. Whenever I do end up there I feel I am in Wayne and Waynetta land which is not something I choose to do for pleasure! I get so fed up with the anti-social behaviour, people scowling, spitting on pavements and non-stop swearing. If parking was free in and around Southend that would change things without any doubt whatsoever and the whole profile of the High Street would shift as wealthier Southend/Thorpe Bay/Leigh residents chose to nip 10 mins up the road to shop rather than driving to Lakeside. At the moment civilised people with normal social skills who smile, hold doors open for others, dont barge past etc. etc. are so woefully in the minority in Southend High Street Cleaner pavements is another HUGE issue in Southend too...who on EARTH pays fortunes to sit and drink coffee etc. outside those High Street cafes surrounded by fag ends, wrappers, chewing gum etc.???? I'd be afraid of catching something at most of the cafes up the High Street if I stopped for too long! More greenery would help, anything to soften the harshness of all the ugly concrete. I remember when we had a nice little bit of grass and picnic benches opposite where WH Smith's is - used to be lovely to sit and eat lunch there in the summer, and a meeting place for people. All gone - just too simple for Southend Councillors who want to see their names in lights with BIG projects, not nice little grassy areas and picnic benches! Why cant they just stop and look at what local people actually NEED rather than building stupid cafes with arty-**** roofs which are off the beaten track or whatever. heartbeat

6:22am Wed 29 Feb 12

SARFENDMAN says...

It's been on the decline for decades. It hasn't helped that out of town retail parks and developments around the town that offer free parking have sucked out potential customers. It's not going to get better with Fossetts Farm and Sainsbury's at Roots Hall and that with a massive Tescos coming next to Victoria Station. The High Street area attracts a different mixed cliental today and needs help if it is to survive. It does not need negative inputs from the likes of Anna Waite who enjoys getting herself publicity for own selfish ends. Allowed to continue in it's present state the patient's life expectancy is terminal.
It's been on the decline for decades. It hasn't helped that out of town retail parks and developments around the town that offer free parking have sucked out potential customers. It's not going to get better with Fossetts Farm and Sainsbury's at Roots Hall and that with a massive Tescos coming next to Victoria Station. The High Street area attracts a different mixed cliental today and needs help if it is to survive. It does not need negative inputs from the likes of Anna Waite who enjoys getting herself publicity for own selfish ends. Allowed to continue in it's present state the patient's life expectancy is terminal. SARFENDMAN

6:45am Wed 29 Feb 12

Brunning999 says...

Andycal 172D wrote:
Anna Waite - helped screw up the seafront, helped screw up Victoria Circus, made it almost impossible to park at a reasonable cost, designed and redesigned the High Street - digging it up, resurfacing it and digging it up again. Now, which part of that helped and encouraged trade in Town. It's noticeable the only part not engineered and re-engineered was in front of her sodding family's restaurant!!!
Move on mate, it is easy to blame someone, however is doing nothing and spending more on benefit scroungers the answer ?

Fact is the seafront is an area which looks 100% better than it did.

Victoria Circus is now moving faster than it ever did.

Priory Park Junction actually does work faster than it did before.

Progress Road is better now than it has been for years.

The airport is delivering despite what all the SWP anti capitalist anarchists said.

The real truth as to why Southend High Street is failing is complex, even Lakeside and Bluewater have suffered reductions in sales the multi story car parks in Lakeside are no longer used on a daily basis.

Southend High Street attracts people that are loud, aggressive and intimidating which includes foreign gangsters, druggies and drunks plus loads of students.

Southend has the potential to attract 1000000's of people from London which cause problems with locals who are not all keen on wearing 'kiss me quick hats'

However blaming Anna Waite who is basically speaking the truth is something that politically motivated by the 'diehard' always voted Labour supporters seem to do.
[quote][p][bold]Andycal 172D[/bold] wrote: Anna Waite - helped screw up the seafront, helped screw up Victoria Circus, made it almost impossible to park at a reasonable cost, designed and redesigned the High Street - digging it up, resurfacing it and digging it up again. Now, which part of that helped and encouraged trade in Town. It's noticeable the only part not engineered and re-engineered was in front of her sodding family's restaurant!!![/p][/quote]Move on mate, it is easy to blame someone, however is doing nothing and spending more on benefit scroungers the answer ? Fact is the seafront is an area which looks 100% better than it did. Victoria Circus is now moving faster than it ever did. Priory Park Junction actually does work faster than it did before. Progress Road is better now than it has been for years. The airport is delivering despite what all the SWP anti capitalist anarchists said. The real truth as to why Southend High Street is failing is complex, even Lakeside and Bluewater have suffered reductions in sales the multi story car parks in Lakeside are no longer used on a daily basis. Southend High Street attracts people that are loud, aggressive and intimidating which includes foreign gangsters, druggies and drunks plus loads of students. Southend has the potential to attract 1000000's of people from London which cause problems with locals who are not all keen on wearing 'kiss me quick hats' However blaming Anna Waite who is basically speaking the truth is something that politically motivated by the 'diehard' always voted Labour supporters seem to do. Brunning999

6:48am Wed 29 Feb 12

Brunning999 says...

Left Wing anarchists can never actually say clearly what they would do to improve life, they find it easier to just create violence and anarchy.

If they did say what they really believed in everyone would know that communism has failed.
Left Wing anarchists can never actually say clearly what they would do to improve life, they find it easier to just create violence and anarchy. If they did say what they really believed in everyone would know that communism has failed. Brunning999

6:52am Wed 29 Feb 12

Brunning999 says...

soul man wrote:
lets not hear or see any comments that canvey is bad after this story
Canvey is not a place to compare with anywhere only Atlantis.
[quote][p][bold]soul man[/bold] wrote: lets not hear or see any comments that canvey is bad after this story[/p][/quote]Canvey is not a place to compare with anywhere only Atlantis. Brunning999

7:06am Wed 29 Feb 12

notinwestcliffanymore says...

ANNE WAITE IS RIGHT (shocker) but the question is who allowed the conversion of houses into bedsits, the council have allowed parts of the town to become slum like getto s and are now reaping the rewards. A comparible town with a different feel would be chelmsford rather than basildon.
ANNE WAITE IS RIGHT (shocker) but the question is who allowed the conversion of houses into bedsits, the council have allowed parts of the town to become slum like getto s and are now reaping the rewards. A comparible town with a different feel would be chelmsford rather than basildon. notinwestcliffanymore

7:54am Wed 29 Feb 12

slightly-miffed says...

I dont like the Woman but I have to say she is right. Also to the person who says these people do not have the money to spend in town the majority all have their accomodation and tax paid so probably have more free cash than most home owners or private renters who go to work and earn the honest way. One resident near to me has 5 children, a brand new flat screen, fridge freezer, video games and has just had their home redecorated at the tax payers expense!!!! Well said Anna Waite.
I dont like the Woman but I have to say she is right. Also to the person who says these people do not have the money to spend in town the majority all have their accomodation and tax paid so probably have more free cash than most home owners or private renters who go to work and earn the honest way. One resident near to me has 5 children, a brand new flat screen, fridge freezer, video games and has just had their home redecorated at the tax payers expense!!!! Well said Anna Waite. slightly-miffed

7:59am Wed 29 Feb 12

JuliaM says...

Nebs wrote:
JuliaM wrote:
Bosniavet wrote: Maybe the desire for Southend to be "upmarket" as expressed here should have been considered before they set up the "university" in the centre of town........
Oh, quite! The change in Southend since that ghastly edifice went up has been noticeable...
Which party granted planning permission to convert big old houses into flats and bedsits? Why not stop giving permission for a zillion flats everywhere, and make all developments have a mix of houses, flats and bungalows.
Yup, NO party comes out of it unscathed, frankly...
[quote][p][bold]Nebs[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]JuliaM[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Bosniavet[/bold] wrote: Maybe the desire for Southend to be "upmarket" as expressed here should have been considered before they set up the "university" in the centre of town........[/p][/quote]Oh, quite! The change in Southend since that ghastly edifice went up has been noticeable...[/p][/quote]Which party granted planning permission to convert big old houses into flats and bedsits? Why not stop giving permission for a zillion flats everywhere, and make all developments have a mix of houses, flats and bungalows.[/p][/quote]Yup, NO party comes out of it unscathed, frankly... JuliaM

8:13am Wed 29 Feb 12

Heavenwilkins says...

Mrs Waite is wrong only in saying "Southend" instead of "most UK towns" - the horse has bolted - the stable door cannot be closed now and the UK will never return to the stable, controllable population size and, comparatively, law abiding country I knew in the 1950's. Who to blame? Blessed if I know - perhaps the 1960's "Hippy" culture and the slow deterioration of standards of self respect and self reliance - but the growth in population does not help - solely because the numbers have outgrown our resources - housing - medical care and employment.
Mrs Waite is wrong only in saying "Southend" instead of "most UK towns" - the horse has bolted - the stable door cannot be closed now and the UK will never return to the stable, controllable population size and, comparatively, law abiding country I knew in the 1950's. Who to blame? Blessed if I know - perhaps the 1960's "Hippy" culture and the slow deterioration of standards of self respect and self reliance - but the growth in population does not help - solely because the numbers have outgrown our resources - housing - medical care and employment. Heavenwilkins

8:20am Wed 29 Feb 12

Sir Peter Pantsless the 3rd says...

B U T A N N A, I T ' S Y O U R F A U L T ! ! !
B U T A N N A, I T ' S Y O U R F A U L T ! ! ! Sir Peter Pantsless the 3rd

8:47am Wed 29 Feb 12

j-w says...

Brunning999,

Some good posts which i agree with.
Brunning999, Some good posts which i agree with. j-w

8:55am Wed 29 Feb 12

Eastwood Biker says...

Add in extortionate car parking fees to the equation.
Add in extortionate car parking fees to the equation. Eastwood Biker

9:04am Wed 29 Feb 12

fatedsnowfox says...

There's a lot of hyperbole in these comments, but this is my 2p worth: Up until January I lived off Sutton Road. In four years I saw the area decline from somewhere I felt safe going out at night in, walking through the high street to home to being a virtual prisoner in my own home. I didn't even feel safe walking to Queensway during the day. Why? The smackheads in the highrises. Sutton Rd has never been great, but now it feels like a no-go zone and it's down to the people that Anna has listed (Not the single mums, no beef with them). I moved to Birmingham (Yes, Brum!) for a sense of safety.
There's a lot of hyperbole in these comments, but this is my 2p worth: Up until January I lived off Sutton Road. In four years I saw the area decline from somewhere I felt safe going out at night in, walking through the high street to home to being a virtual prisoner in my own home. I didn't even feel safe walking to Queensway during the day. Why? The smackheads in the highrises. Sutton Rd has never been great, but now it feels like a no-go zone and it's down to the people that Anna has listed (Not the single mums, no beef with them). I moved to Birmingham (Yes, Brum!) for a sense of safety. fatedsnowfox

9:18am Wed 29 Feb 12

Carla_Jane says...

This women is a disgrace to southend!! i live right near town and i work 2 jobs and my partner has a fulltime job and yes we may live in what people would call a 'ruff area' but i personally dont see that its that bad..yes at night it may be a bit daunting walking about on my own....it makes me angry with what shes said...not everyone that lives near town is a druggie or single mum....i work my arse off to afford to live in our little flat....and dont really have much spare cash to shop at 'topshop' and upmarket places like that...so how dare she say its just 'druggies etc' no LOVE.....times are tuff at the moment were all struggling...were not all fortunate to be in a top notch job!!! step into my shoes for a while darling and then see if you say the same!! nice to know your own people can talk about others like that aye!!
This women is a disgrace to southend!! i live right near town and i work 2 jobs and my partner has a fulltime job and yes we may live in what people would call a 'ruff area' but i personally dont see that its that bad..yes at night it may be a bit daunting walking about on my own....it makes me angry with what shes said...not everyone that lives near town is a druggie or single mum....i work my arse off to afford to live in our little flat....and dont really have much spare cash to shop at 'topshop' and upmarket places like that...so how dare she say its just 'druggies etc' no LOVE.....times are tuff at the moment were all struggling...were not all fortunate to be in a top notch job!!! step into my shoes for a while darling and then see if you say the same!! nice to know your own people can talk about others like that aye!! Carla_Jane

9:22am Wed 29 Feb 12

Roy_Baty says...

Southendreb wrote: "now we got this stupid library instead of a car park".

That's going in my collection of top ten quotes from Teh Stoopid.
Southendreb wrote: "now we got this stupid library instead of a car park". That's going in my collection of top ten quotes from Teh Stoopid. Roy_Baty

9:27am Wed 29 Feb 12

j-w says...

Carla, she is not saying everyone is a single mum, druggie drunk or homeless, just that there are a lot of them.
I grew up in Sutton Road (opposite what is now Mecca) in the 70's. Southend was great nice family homes and it was a nice area to grow up in. We were only 7-10 and would go off (without mum or dad) to saturday morning pictures or over to southchurch park, or down the seafront. Then the mid to late eighties arrived and those houses were all converted to flats and the rest is history. We had moved by then so escaped the decline.
Carla, she is not saying everyone is a single mum, druggie drunk or homeless, just that there are a lot of them. I grew up in Sutton Road (opposite what is now Mecca) in the 70's. Southend was great nice family homes and it was a nice area to grow up in. We were only 7-10 and would go off (without mum or dad) to saturday morning pictures or over to southchurch park, or down the seafront. Then the mid to late eighties arrived and those houses were all converted to flats and the rest is history. We had moved by then so escaped the decline. j-w

9:33am Wed 29 Feb 12

andy:) says...

APR wrote:
I know a lot of people are anti Anna Waite, whatever she says.

Southend High Street is not a nice place to shop though, and through no fault of the council.
But the council CAN have a huge influence on it,. they choose not too..so its a bit late for Anna waite to start bleating on now, she had years and years to suggest changes. Lets not forghet the counmcil are responsible for all sorts of **** ups, pieces of 'art' that are expensive and dont work, revamp of pier hill with naff lifts and unusable shops, failure to sort out the cliffs land slide, messing about with York Road market, ever increasing parking charges which drive away shopper, etc, etc
[quote][p][bold]APR[/bold] wrote: I know a lot of people are anti Anna Waite, whatever she says. Southend High Street is not a nice place to shop though, and through no fault of the council.[/p][/quote]But the council CAN have a huge influence on it,. they choose not too..so its a bit late for Anna waite to start bleating on now, she had years and years to suggest changes. Lets not forghet the counmcil are responsible for all sorts of **** ups, pieces of 'art' that are expensive and dont work, revamp of pier hill with naff lifts and unusable shops, failure to sort out the cliffs land slide, messing about with York Road market, ever increasing parking charges which drive away shopper, etc, etc andy:)

9:36am Wed 29 Feb 12

andy:) says...

APR wrote:
I know a lot of people are anti Anna Waite, whatever she says.

Southend High Street is not a nice place to shop though, and through no fault of the council.
But the council CAN have a huge influence on it,. they choose not too..so its a bit late for Anna waite to start bleating on now, she had years and years to suggest changes. Lets not forghet the counmcil are responsible for all sorts of **** ups, pieces of 'art' that are expensive and dont work, revamp of pier hill with naff lifts and unusable shops, failure to sort out the cliffs land slide, messing about with York Road market, ever increasing parking charges which drive away shopper, etc, etc
[quote][p][bold]APR[/bold] wrote: I know a lot of people are anti Anna Waite, whatever she says. Southend High Street is not a nice place to shop though, and through no fault of the council.[/p][/quote]But the council CAN have a huge influence on it,. they choose not too..so its a bit late for Anna waite to start bleating on now, she had years and years to suggest changes. Lets not forghet the counmcil are responsible for all sorts of **** ups, pieces of 'art' that are expensive and dont work, revamp of pier hill with naff lifts and unusable shops, failure to sort out the cliffs land slide, messing about with York Road market, ever increasing parking charges which drive away shopper, etc, etc andy:)

9:37am Wed 29 Feb 12

j-w says...

I have just read the blog and it is very different to what this story is saying. It is far more positive about Southend than this article paints. The Echo should be ashamed at such misrepresentation. It does include a small line about the town centre being surrounded by low income families and those less fortunate than us but the rest is mainly about how to regenerate Southend with some very good points. I suggest everyone should read it before commenting. The Echo have turned a blog titled "Lets celebrate Southend on Sea Its a great place to be" to
"Anna Waite: Druggies, drunks and single mums driving upmarket shops out of Southend"

http://seasidenews.w
ordpress.com/2012/02
/24/lets-celebrate-s
outhend-on-sea-its-a
-great-place-to-be/
I have just read the blog and it is very different to what this story is saying. It is far more positive about Southend than this article paints. The Echo should be ashamed at such misrepresentation. It does include a small line about the town centre being surrounded by low income families and those less fortunate than us but the rest is mainly about how to regenerate Southend with some very good points. I suggest everyone should read it before commenting. The Echo have turned a blog titled "Lets celebrate Southend on Sea Its a great place to be" to "Anna Waite: Druggies, drunks and single mums driving upmarket shops out of Southend" http://seasidenews.w ordpress.com/2012/02 /24/lets-celebrate-s outhend-on-sea-its-a -great-place-to-be/ j-w

9:46am Wed 29 Feb 12

sash bore buoy says...

southendreb wrote:
The present parking regime ,yes it is driving people out of the town.Moving the swimming pool out of the town.
Making the town inaccessable for a year with their better southend Roadworks chaos. Yes the shoddy high street. now we got this stupid library instead of a car park. Many things being done to wind us up. I dont like to say it but yes you must have been the most hated person in the Town.
Anyway as you dont live here now its only just an opinion.
Are the cabinet still winding us up . just guess wich person on here is a member of that cabinet.?
don't talk in code reb. g'is a clue?
[quote][p][bold]southendreb[/bold] wrote: The present parking regime ,yes it is driving people out of the town.Moving the swimming pool out of the town. Making the town inaccessable for a year with their better southend Roadworks chaos. Yes the shoddy high street. now we got this stupid library instead of a car park. Many things being done to wind us up. I dont like to say it but yes you must have been the most hated person in the Town. Anyway as you dont live here now its only just an opinion. Are the cabinet still winding us up . just guess wich person on here is a member of that cabinet.?[/p][/quote]don't talk in code reb. g'is a clue? sash bore buoy

10:08am Wed 29 Feb 12

Nick BURTON says...

Hold On Minute FFS this is FAMILY FREINDLY SOUTHEND
the town in the top ten places of " best place to live"

Could it be that all the hype was false ?
Hold On Minute FFS this is FAMILY FREINDLY SOUTHEND the town in the top ten places of " best place to live" Could it be that all the hype was false ? Nick BURTON

10:32am Wed 29 Feb 12

maxell says...

doasilikey wrote:
I take it the sort of 'upmarket' shops that Ms.Waite would like to see would be:

A conservative ladies' frock shop.
Top-end estate agency.
Michelin starred restaurant.
Plastic surgeon.
Fine wine retailer.
A branch of Rothschild's Asset Management.
Gender reassignment consultancy.
A branch of the Rick Stein Seafood restaurant group.

...mmm, I wonder how long this comment will last - my earlier one was removed in under an hour- for no good reason that I can think of other than offending the sensibilities of a jumped-up local Tory.
Mine too was removed I thought this was a section for free speach why anna needs protection from issues that she provokes escape me. I dont know why she needs to be so consistantly provacative. If she wants support then do what you beleive not what you are told to beleive, Listern with both ears what people are saying take it on board and act accordinly, she could easily change all this negative attiudes into posative , the enegy she wastes on being negative make me think there is some sort of mental issue here, attention seeking naughty child illness anna you need help
[quote][p][bold]doasilikey[/bold] wrote: I take it the sort of 'upmarket' shops that Ms.Waite would like to see would be: A conservative ladies' frock shop. Top-end estate agency. Michelin starred restaurant. Plastic surgeon. Fine wine retailer. A branch of Rothschild's Asset Management. Gender reassignment consultancy. A branch of the Rick Stein Seafood restaurant group. ...mmm, I wonder how long this comment will last - my earlier one was removed in under an hour- for no good reason that I can think of other than offending the sensibilities of a jumped-up local Tory.[/p][/quote]Mine too was removed I thought this was a section for free speach why anna needs protection from issues that she provokes escape me. I dont know why she needs to be so consistantly provacative. If she wants support then do what you beleive not what you are told to beleive, Listern with both ears what people are saying take it on board and act accordinly, she could easily change all this negative attiudes into posative , the enegy she wastes on being negative make me think there is some sort of mental issue here, attention seeking naughty child illness anna you need help maxell

10:38am Wed 29 Feb 12

katch22 says...

Shrimper1 wrote:
Must admit that when I'm "persuaded" to go shopping with my wife down Southend High Street, I often hear East European accents. How times have changed!
So!
[quote][p][bold]Shrimper1[/bold] wrote: Must admit that when I'm "persuaded" to go shopping with my wife down Southend High Street, I often hear East European accents. How times have changed![/p][/quote]So! katch22

10:40am Wed 29 Feb 12

Julian Ware-Lane says...

http://warelane.word
press.com/2012/02/28
/tidy-the-town-centr
e-by-all-means-but-l
ets-have-a-good-soci
ety-not-a-cleansed-o
ne/
http://warelane.word press.com/2012/02/28 /tidy-the-town-centr e-by-all-means-but-l ets-have-a-good-soci ety-not-a-cleansed-o ne/ Julian Ware-Lane

10:42am Wed 29 Feb 12

katch22 says...

Brunning999 wrote:
Left Wing anarchists can never actually say clearly what they would do to improve life, they find it easier to just create violence and anarchy.

If they did say what they really believed in everyone would know that communism has failed.
Hidden fascism isn't any better!
[quote][p][bold]Brunning999[/bold] wrote: Left Wing anarchists can never actually say clearly what they would do to improve life, they find it easier to just create violence and anarchy. If they did say what they really believed in everyone would know that communism has failed.[/p][/quote]Hidden fascism isn't any better! katch22

10:42am Wed 29 Feb 12

Sarahumoftwo says...

This has made me really angry.....lots of places are taking a beating due to the recent economic crisis. Yes ok so people on benefits can't afford to spend money in shops, but neither can some families who do work and earn their own money!!
Also, how can the remark 'too many single mums in the area' be proved? The comment made by a gentleman in the echo today on the situation has angered me, as i am not a single mum, but often pop into southend to browse the shops or buy birthday presents etc, so does this mean that just because im seen on my own with my toddler, that im a single mum? Makes me so angry that people can make judgements.
This has made me really angry.....lots of places are taking a beating due to the recent economic crisis. Yes ok so people on benefits can't afford to spend money in shops, but neither can some families who do work and earn their own money!! Also, how can the remark 'too many single mums in the area' be proved? The comment made by a gentleman in the echo today on the situation has angered me, as i am not a single mum, but often pop into southend to browse the shops or buy birthday presents etc, so does this mean that just because im seen on my own with my toddler, that im a single mum? Makes me so angry that people can make judgements. Sarahumoftwo

10:46am Wed 29 Feb 12

katch22 says...

Carla_Jane wrote:
This women is a disgrace to southend!! i live right near town and i work 2 jobs and my partner has a fulltime job and yes we may live in what people would call a 'ruff area' but i personally dont see that its that bad..yes at night it may be a bit daunting walking about on my own....it makes me angry with what shes said...not everyone that lives near town is a druggie or single mum....i work my arse off to afford to live in our little flat....and dont really have much spare cash to shop at 'topshop' and upmarket places like that...so how dare she say its just 'druggies etc' no LOVE.....times are tuff at the moment were all struggling...were not all fortunate to be in a top notch job!!! step into my shoes for a while darling and then see if you say the same!! nice to know your own people can talk about others like that aye!!
Sock it to her sister, This is the type of reaction needed to her insensitive and crass statements. These politicians cause the problems, get the reaction (voted out) then offer a solution (voted back in) thereby getting back onto the gravy train at regular intervals. Welcome to British politics.
[quote][p][bold]Carla_Jane[/bold] wrote: This women is a disgrace to southend!! i live right near town and i work 2 jobs and my partner has a fulltime job and yes we may live in what people would call a 'ruff area' but i personally dont see that its that bad..yes at night it may be a bit daunting walking about on my own....it makes me angry with what shes said...not everyone that lives near town is a druggie or single mum....i work my arse off to afford to live in our little flat....and dont really have much spare cash to shop at 'topshop' and upmarket places like that...so how dare she say its just 'druggies etc' no LOVE.....times are tuff at the moment were all struggling...were not all fortunate to be in a top notch job!!! step into my shoes for a while darling and then see if you say the same!! nice to know your own people can talk about others like that aye!![/p][/quote]Sock it to her sister, This is the type of reaction needed to her insensitive and crass statements. These politicians cause the problems, get the reaction (voted out) then offer a solution (voted back in) thereby getting back onto the gravy train at regular intervals. Welcome to British politics. katch22

11:18am Wed 29 Feb 12

southendreb says...

sash bore buoy wrote:
southendreb wrote: The present parking regime ,yes it is driving people out of the town.Moving the swimming pool out of the town. Making the town inaccessable for a year with their better southend Roadworks chaos. Yes the shoddy high street. now we got this stupid library instead of a car park. Many things being done to wind us up. I dont like to say it but yes you must have been the most hated person in the Town. Anyway as you dont live here now its only just an opinion. Are the cabinet still winding us up . just guess wich person on here is a member of that cabinet.?
don't talk in code reb. g'is a clue?
I am not going to get into a childish squabble with you. Also was unware i spoke in code. You are an intelligent and well educated man so it would be good to put your views over in an appropriare manner.
[quote][p][bold]sash bore buoy[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]southendreb[/bold] wrote: The present parking regime ,yes it is driving people out of the town.Moving the swimming pool out of the town. Making the town inaccessable for a year with their better southend Roadworks chaos. Yes the shoddy high street. now we got this stupid library instead of a car park. Many things being done to wind us up. I dont like to say it but yes you must have been the most hated person in the Town. Anyway as you dont live here now its only just an opinion. Are the cabinet still winding us up . just guess wich person on here is a member of that cabinet.?[/p][/quote]don't talk in code reb. g'is a clue?[/p][/quote]I am not going to get into a childish squabble with you. Also was unware i spoke in code. You are an intelligent and well educated man so it would be good to put your views over in an appropriare manner. southendreb

11:28am Wed 29 Feb 12

J-Monroe says...

So former councillor Anna Waite thinks that 'druggies and single mothers are killing the high street' and 'southends shops are dying because the High Street is surrounded by single mothers...'

It would be great to be married with two incomes and a nice family business. But I'm not. Instead i gave my well paid job up in order to be a better parent to my child. I'm not in the best financial state, but my pennies go back into the town centre as it's where i live! Generalisations like Ms Waites show that we are all tarred with an ugly brush by silver-spooners who have no idea what it is like to live a day in my shoes.

New lighting, pavements and bins will not bring people to the town centre. Might I suggest free parking on weekends, like the large shopping centres do? More shoppers = more shops, as the old business rule of supply and demand goes.

When General Haig's incompetence and Neville Chamberlain's dithering appeasement created two whole generations of single mothers, I don't recall seeing in my history books any signs in shop windows stating that single mothers weren't welcome.

As for building houses, as Thoreau said: 'What is the use of a house when you haven't a tolerable society to build it on?'
So former councillor Anna Waite thinks that 'druggies and single mothers are killing the high street' and 'southends shops are dying because the High Street is surrounded by single mothers...' It would be great to be married with two incomes and a nice family business. But I'm not. Instead i gave my well paid job up in order to be a better parent to my child. I'm not in the best financial state, but my pennies go back into the town centre as it's where i live! Generalisations like Ms Waites show that we are all tarred with an ugly brush by silver-spooners who have no idea what it is like to live a day in my shoes. New lighting, pavements and bins will not bring people to the town centre. Might I suggest free parking on weekends, like the large shopping centres do? More shoppers = more shops, as the old business rule of supply and demand goes. When General Haig's incompetence and Neville Chamberlain's dithering appeasement created two whole generations of single mothers, I don't recall seeing in my history books any signs in shop windows stating that single mothers weren't welcome. As for building houses, as Thoreau said: 'What is the use of a house when you haven't a tolerable society to build it on?' J-Monroe

11:58am Wed 29 Feb 12

Roy_Baty says...

It's about time these crass and out of touch Conservative politicians realised one simple thing:

People can't spend what they don't have. Energy bills, rent bills, food bills, etc. all come a long, long way before shopping for luxuries.
It's about time these crass and out of touch Conservative politicians realised one simple thing: People can't spend what they don't have. Energy bills, rent bills, food bills, etc. all come a long, long way before shopping for luxuries. Roy_Baty

12:55pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Brunning999 says...

katch22 wrote:
Brunning999 wrote:
Left Wing anarchists can never actually say clearly what they would do to improve life, they find it easier to just create violence and anarchy.

If they did say what they really believed in everyone would know that communism has failed.
Hidden fascism isn't any better!
Socialist diehards always assume that because you oppose their anarchistic form of socialism you must be completely the opposite and be a fascist.

Will katch take your head out of the Polit bureaux and look around at the world where freedom is great and opportunity to be a rich capitalist is available to everyone that is fit and able.
[quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Brunning999[/bold] wrote: Left Wing anarchists can never actually say clearly what they would do to improve life, they find it easier to just create violence and anarchy. If they did say what they really believed in everyone would know that communism has failed.[/p][/quote]Hidden fascism isn't any better![/p][/quote]Socialist diehards always assume that because you oppose their anarchistic form of socialism you must be completely the opposite and be a fascist. Will katch take your head out of the Polit bureaux and look around at the world where freedom is great and opportunity to be a rich capitalist is available to everyone that is fit and able. Brunning999

1:15pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Ivanna Goodhump says...

She's correct on one point - the High street and surrounding areas are full of scum suckers, benefit scroungers, immigrants, chavs, feral youths, loutish students etc and any shop with any hope of appealing to other income brackets won't look twice at Southend.
~
The issue is why this has come about, and the blame lies with successive Councils.... and in particular Anna Waite herself.
~
It has been made more expensive to park, virtually impossible to get in and out of Southend due to the patio from hell and other traffic "solutions".
~
The Council has also agreed that the new Sainsbury, Tesco and that Fossets Farm retail park etc can be built - all of which will take more money and people elsewhere.
~
The planning approvals for HMO's is down to the Council as is where they house the feral, the immigrants and the chav problem families and the failure to enforce behavioural clauses in the tenancy agreements leads to more issues.
~
The failure of the Council to force Essex Police to deal with drug dealers, petty criminals , louts and thugs is another point preferring that they persecute parkers and motorists.
~
The list is endless.
~
The Council could easily sort this out. Free parking for the first 3 hours, rip up Victoria Circus, revoke Tesco and Sainsbury planning permission would be a start. Then devise a town plan that realises that easy vehicular access/parking is the key to economic/retail growth not idealised cycle paths, town gateways and rail travel.
She's correct on one point - the High street and surrounding areas are full of scum suckers, benefit scroungers, immigrants, chavs, feral youths, loutish students etc and any shop with any hope of appealing to other income brackets won't look twice at Southend. ~ The issue is why this has come about, and the blame lies with successive Councils.... and in particular Anna Waite herself. ~ It has been made more expensive to park, virtually impossible to get in and out of Southend due to the patio from hell and other traffic "solutions". ~ The Council has also agreed that the new Sainsbury, Tesco and that Fossets Farm retail park etc can be built - all of which will take more money and people elsewhere. ~ The planning approvals for HMO's is down to the Council as is where they house the feral, the immigrants and the chav problem families and the failure to enforce behavioural clauses in the tenancy agreements leads to more issues. ~ The failure of the Council to force Essex Police to deal with drug dealers, petty criminals , louts and thugs is another point preferring that they persecute parkers and motorists. ~ The list is endless. ~ The Council could easily sort this out. Free parking for the first 3 hours, rip up Victoria Circus, revoke Tesco and Sainsbury planning permission would be a start. Then devise a town plan that realises that easy vehicular access/parking is the key to economic/retail growth not idealised cycle paths, town gateways and rail travel. Ivanna Goodhump

1:39pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Roy_Baty says...

"The failure of the Council to force Essex Police to deal with drug dealers, petty criminals , louts and thugs is another point preferring that they persecute parkers and motorists."

Crime is crime, whether it involves drugs or illegal parking. I view all who do those things with equal disdain.
"The failure of the Council to force Essex Police to deal with drug dealers, petty criminals , louts and thugs is another point preferring that they persecute parkers and motorists." Crime is crime, whether it involves drugs or illegal parking. I view all who do those things with equal disdain. Roy_Baty

2:10pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Alekhine says...

Yes, but rather a coincidence that the Police are super-effiecient on the revenue generating crimes and no so efficient on the others. Maybe they should look at reallocating their resources.
Yes, but rather a coincidence that the Police are super-effiecient on the revenue generating crimes and no so efficient on the others. Maybe they should look at reallocating their resources. Alekhine

2:17pm Wed 29 Feb 12

cockneybird1973 says...

High parking costs, large out of town 'malls', high rents and low interest in shopping outdoors when you can do it at your desk = the downfall of a high street. To all these people who slate Southend, do me a favour? Go and live near Romford, Whitechapel or perhaps Hounslow, as I have, then come back and cherish what you have. I would also point out that 'perception of crime' in this area and many others is in fact higher than the actual crime rate itself. Check with ONS and other relevant websites and you will see for yourself that we are very lucky down here. It's not perfect but it's home.
High parking costs, large out of town 'malls', high rents and low interest in shopping outdoors when you can do it at your desk = the downfall of a high street. To all these people who slate Southend, do me a favour? Go and live near Romford, Whitechapel or perhaps Hounslow, as I have, then come back and cherish what you have. I would also point out that 'perception of crime' in this area and many others is in fact higher than the actual crime rate itself. Check with ONS and other relevant websites and you will see for yourself that we are very lucky down here. It's not perfect but it's home. cockneybird1973

2:24pm Wed 29 Feb 12

hanmee says...

I think Southend is worse than Romford! It's not great either but there are less of the druggies and drunks, more just kids misbehaving
I think Southend is worse than Romford! It's not great either but there are less of the druggies and drunks, more just kids misbehaving hanmee

2:49pm Wed 29 Feb 12

samsos says...

Judging by the comments on here very few people have actually bothered to read Anna’s blog. If you did you would see that the first suggestion she makes is to reduce parking charges, she was in fact one of the only councillors who objected to increasing the charges, she also objected to introducing the spy car but it was brought in by her predecessor. Her article is also overridingly positive about s'end. Blaming her for all that’s wrong in s’end is ridiculous the rot started to set in over 20 yrs ago and in fact in recent yrs various improvements to the town have been made.
Judging by the comments on here very few people have actually bothered to read Anna’s blog. If you did you would see that the first suggestion she makes is to reduce parking charges, she was in fact one of the only councillors who objected to increasing the charges, she also objected to introducing the spy car but it was brought in by her predecessor. Her article is also overridingly positive about s'end. Blaming her for all that’s wrong in s’end is ridiculous the rot started to set in over 20 yrs ago and in fact in recent yrs various improvements to the town have been made. samsos

3:18pm Wed 29 Feb 12

notinwestcliffanymore says...

Roy_Baty wrote:
It's about time these crass and out of touch Conservative politicians realised one simple thing: People can't spend what they don't have. Energy bills, rent bills, food bills, etc. all come a long, long way before shopping for luxuries.
well due to hard work i have still got, the deteration of southend has long been happening. you cannot walk into the town from any direction apart from the seafront and not be overwelmed at what a sh4t hole it is. southend might be ok for bits and bobs but for anything decent go to lakeside
[quote][p][bold]Roy_Baty[/bold] wrote: It's about time these crass and out of touch Conservative politicians realised one simple thing: People can't spend what they don't have. Energy bills, rent bills, food bills, etc. all come a long, long way before shopping for luxuries.[/p][/quote]well due to hard work i have still got, the deteration of southend has long been happening. you cannot walk into the town from any direction apart from the seafront and not be overwelmed at what a sh4t hole it is. southend might be ok for bits and bobs but for anything decent go to lakeside notinwestcliffanymore

3:22pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Mr Chips says...

Alekhine wrote:
Yes, but rather a coincidence that the Police are super-effiecient on the revenue generating crimes and no so efficient on the others. Maybe they should look at reallocating their resources.
Completely agree Alekhine - it's a bit of an aside from the story but the police and the private companies that the council has hired should be to the region's benefit and protection rather than to make money.
[quote][p][bold]Alekhine[/bold] wrote: Yes, but rather a coincidence that the Police are super-effiecient on the revenue generating crimes and no so efficient on the others. Maybe they should look at reallocating their resources.[/p][/quote]Completely agree Alekhine - it's a bit of an aside from the story but the police and the private companies that the council has hired should be to the region's benefit and protection rather than to make money. Mr Chips

3:30pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Mr Chips says...

cockneybird1973 wrote:
High parking costs, large out of town 'malls', high rents and low interest in shopping outdoors when you can do it at your desk = the downfall of a high street. To all these people who slate Southend, do me a favour? Go and live near Romford, Whitechapel or perhaps Hounslow, as I have, then come back and cherish what you have. I would also point out that 'perception of crime' in this area and many others is in fact higher than the actual crime rate itself. Check with ONS and other relevant websites and you will see for yourself that we are very lucky down here. It's not perfect but it's home.
Hello Cockneybird1973; I agree that there are worse areas in the UK that you can live, however I don't think that you should count yourself lucky that your town's standard of living isn't as bad as other areas - let's not coin a saying 'the grass is always browner' as this could see a spiral of decline.
[quote][p][bold]cockneybird1973[/bold] wrote: High parking costs, large out of town 'malls', high rents and low interest in shopping outdoors when you can do it at your desk = the downfall of a high street. To all these people who slate Southend, do me a favour? Go and live near Romford, Whitechapel or perhaps Hounslow, as I have, then come back and cherish what you have. I would also point out that 'perception of crime' in this area and many others is in fact higher than the actual crime rate itself. Check with ONS and other relevant websites and you will see for yourself that we are very lucky down here. It's not perfect but it's home.[/p][/quote]Hello Cockneybird1973; I agree that there are worse areas in the UK that you can live, however I don't think that you should count yourself lucky that your town's standard of living isn't as bad as other areas - let's not coin a saying 'the grass is always browner' as this could see a spiral of decline. Mr Chips

4:06pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Andycal 172D says...

EssexBoy1968 wrote:
Castlethorpe wrote:
I cannot believe Anna Waite is still attempting to get her thoughts aired in the media. She was booted out of Victoria Ward and last year out of St. Lukes ward because she did not listen to the residents of the town. Similar to most of the Tory Council members, she is only responsing to the failures of the past decisions the cabinet conrolled Council made. The failed policies and the debt run up is indefensible. let's move on with a new and vibrant Council that listens to the residents and does not run up enormous debts that the residents will have to pay back. The Independents, for me, offer new solutions and a chance for Southend to become famous, for all the right reasons. As for the "sheds" proposed for Southend Pier and the unnecessary "Museum" at a cost of £50 million (approx) who is kidding who? And The Gateway and Cuckoo Corner expensive developments ....do not work!
My understanding is that "the unnecessary "Museum" at a cost of £50 million " is required to enable the Saxon artefacts found near Priory Park to be displayed here, not kept in the Museum of London. The 2 traffic junctions you mention were, according to what we are told, paid for by grants that would have gone elsewhere if not claimed by SBC (don't get the idea I think they are good or needed, I am just explaining that the SBC debt was not caused by this).
Like you, I feel we need a council that actually pays attention to the views of locals, & believe at AW is making a bid for re-election, which is not good news. If she wishes to be a elected representative, why doesn't she stand for the council ward covering Barling where she lives?
Sorry but this was Southend Council Debt - it was matched funding - half government funding half council. So it was an increase in debt to no purpose.
[quote][p][bold]EssexBoy1968[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Castlethorpe[/bold] wrote: I cannot believe Anna Waite is still attempting to get her thoughts aired in the media. She was booted out of Victoria Ward and last year out of St. Lukes ward because she did not listen to the residents of the town. Similar to most of the Tory Council members, she is only responsing to the failures of the past decisions the cabinet conrolled Council made. The failed policies and the debt run up is indefensible. let's move on with a new and vibrant Council that listens to the residents and does not run up enormous debts that the residents will have to pay back. The Independents, for me, offer new solutions and a chance for Southend to become famous, for all the right reasons. As for the "sheds" proposed for Southend Pier and the unnecessary "Museum" at a cost of £50 million (approx) who is kidding who? And The Gateway and Cuckoo Corner expensive developments ....do not work![/p][/quote]My understanding is that "the unnecessary "Museum" at a cost of £50 million " is required to enable the Saxon artefacts found near Priory Park to be displayed here, not kept in the Museum of London. The 2 traffic junctions you mention were, according to what we are told, paid for by grants that would have gone elsewhere if not claimed by SBC (don't get the idea I think they are good or needed, I am just explaining that the SBC debt was not caused by this). Like you, I feel we need a council that actually pays attention to the views of locals, & believe at AW is making a bid for re-election, which is not good news. If she wishes to be a elected representative, why doesn't she stand for the council ward covering Barling where she lives?[/p][/quote]Sorry but this was Southend Council Debt - it was matched funding - half government funding half council. So it was an increase in debt to no purpose. Andycal 172D

4:13pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Andycal 172D says...

Brunning999 wrote:
Andycal 172D wrote:
Anna Waite - helped screw up the seafront, helped screw up Victoria Circus, made it almost impossible to park at a reasonable cost, designed and redesigned the High Street - digging it up, resurfacing it and digging it up again. Now, which part of that helped and encouraged trade in Town. It's noticeable the only part not engineered and re-engineered was in front of her sodding family's restaurant!!!
Move on mate, it is easy to blame someone, however is doing nothing and spending more on benefit scroungers the answer ?

Fact is the seafront is an area which looks 100% better than it did.

Victoria Circus is now moving faster than it ever did.

Priory Park Junction actually does work faster than it did before.

Progress Road is better now than it has been for years.

The airport is delivering despite what all the SWP anti capitalist anarchists said.

The real truth as to why Southend High Street is failing is complex, even Lakeside and Bluewater have suffered reductions in sales the multi story car parks in Lakeside are no longer used on a daily basis.

Southend High Street attracts people that are loud, aggressive and intimidating which includes foreign gangsters, druggies and drunks plus loads of students.

Southend has the potential to attract 1000000's of people from London which cause problems with locals who are not all keen on wearing 'kiss me quick hats'

However blaming Anna Waite who is basically speaking the truth is something that politically motivated by the 'diehard' always voted Labour supporters seem to do.
So what is it you actually want?

You appear to criticise those "not from round here" at he same time as wanting in tourists from that London place. Strangely enough they won't be from round here either and they won't be just a bunch of beer swilling, jellied eel munching chav cockerknees either.

Will you get it into your head that Anna Waite has done nothing but speak with a forked tongue in this town and the local electorate are wise to her. If she wants to stand somewhere, let her go and try and get elected in Barling where she actually lives because then she can't foul up our Town anymore.
[quote][p][bold]Brunning999[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Andycal 172D[/bold] wrote: Anna Waite - helped screw up the seafront, helped screw up Victoria Circus, made it almost impossible to park at a reasonable cost, designed and redesigned the High Street - digging it up, resurfacing it and digging it up again. Now, which part of that helped and encouraged trade in Town. It's noticeable the only part not engineered and re-engineered was in front of her sodding family's restaurant!!![/p][/quote]Move on mate, it is easy to blame someone, however is doing nothing and spending more on benefit scroungers the answer ? Fact is the seafront is an area which looks 100% better than it did. Victoria Circus is now moving faster than it ever did. Priory Park Junction actually does work faster than it did before. Progress Road is better now than it has been for years. The airport is delivering despite what all the SWP anti capitalist anarchists said. The real truth as to why Southend High Street is failing is complex, even Lakeside and Bluewater have suffered reductions in sales the multi story car parks in Lakeside are no longer used on a daily basis. Southend High Street attracts people that are loud, aggressive and intimidating which includes foreign gangsters, druggies and drunks plus loads of students. Southend has the potential to attract 1000000's of people from London which cause problems with locals who are not all keen on wearing 'kiss me quick hats' However blaming Anna Waite who is basically speaking the truth is something that politically motivated by the 'diehard' always voted Labour supporters seem to do.[/p][/quote]So what is it you actually want? You appear to criticise those "not from round here" at he same time as wanting in tourists from that London place. Strangely enough they won't be from round here either and they won't be just a bunch of beer swilling, jellied eel munching chav cockerknees either. Will you get it into your head that Anna Waite has done nothing but speak with a forked tongue in this town and the local electorate are wise to her. If she wants to stand somewhere, let her go and try and get elected in Barling where she actually lives because then she can't foul up our Town anymore. Andycal 172D

4:31pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Brunning999 says...

Andycal 172D wrote:
Brunning999 wrote:
Andycal 172D wrote:
Anna Waite - helped screw up the seafront, helped screw up Victoria Circus, made it almost impossible to park at a reasonable cost, designed and redesigned the High Street - digging it up, resurfacing it and digging it up again. Now, which part of that helped and encouraged trade in Town. It's noticeable the only part not engineered and re-engineered was in front of her sodding family's restaurant!!!Move on mate, it is easy to blame someone, however is doing nothing and spending more on benefit scroungers the answer ?

Fact is the seafront is an area which looks 100% better than it did.

Victoria Circus is now moving faster than it ever did.

Priory Park Junction actually does work faster than it did before.

Progress Road is better now than it has been for years.

The airport is delivering despite what all the SWP anti capitalist anarchists said.

The real truth as to why Southend High Street is failing is complex, even Lakeside and Bluewater have suffered reductions in sales the multi story car parks in Lakeside are no longer used on a daily basis.

Southend High Street attracts people that are loud, aggressive and intimidating which includes foreign gangsters, druggies and drunks plus loads of students.

Southend has the potential to attractI bet one thing she has done more for this town than you and I put together that is without any doubts whatsoever.
[quote][p][bold]Andycal 172D[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Brunning999[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Andycal 172D[/bold] wrote: Anna Waite - helped screw up the seafront, helped screw up Victoria Circus, made it almost impossible to park at a reasonable cost, designed and redesigned the High Street - digging it up, resurfacing it and digging it up again. Now, which part of that helped and encouraged trade in Town. It's noticeable the only part not engineered and re-engineered was in front of her sodding family's restaurant!!![/p][/quote]Move on mate, it is easy to blame someone, however is doing nothing and spending more on benefit scroungers the answer ? Fact is the seafront is an area which looks 100% better than it did. Victoria Circus is now moving faster than it ever did. Priory Park Junction actually does work faster than it did before. Progress Road is better now than it has been for years. The airport is delivering despite what all the SWP anti capitalist anarchists said. The real truth as to why Southend High Street is failing is complex, even Lakeside and Bluewater have suffered reductions in sales the multi story car parks in Lakeside are no longer used on a daily basis. Southend High Street attracts people that are loud, aggressive and intimidating which includes foreign gangsters, druggies and drunks plus loads of students. Southend has the potential to attractI bet one thing she has done more for this town than you and I put together that is without any doubts whatsoever. Brunning999

4:39pm Wed 29 Feb 12

samsos says...

Andycal 172D wrote:
Brunning999 wrote:
Andycal 172D wrote:
Anna Waite - helped screw up the seafront, helped screw up Victoria Circus, made it almost impossible to park at a reasonable cost, designed and redesigned the High Street - digging it up, resurfacing it and digging it up again. Now, which part of that helped and encouraged trade in Town. It's noticeable the only part not engineered and re-engineered was in front of her sodding family's restaurant!!!
Move on mate, it is easy to blame someone, however is doing nothing and spending more on benefit scroungers the answer ?

Fact is the seafront is an area which looks 100% better than it did.

Victoria Circus is now moving faster than it ever did.

Priory Park Junction actually does work faster than it did before.

Progress Road is better now than it has been for years.

The airport is delivering despite what all the SWP anti capitalist anarchists said.

The real truth as to why Southend High Street is failing is complex, even Lakeside and Bluewater have suffered reductions in sales the multi story car parks in Lakeside are no longer used on a daily basis.

Southend High Street attracts people that are loud, aggressive and intimidating which includes foreign gangsters, druggies and drunks plus loads of students.

Southend has the potential to attract 1000000's of people from London which cause problems with locals who are not all keen on wearing 'kiss me quick hats'

However blaming Anna Waite who is basically speaking the truth is something that politically motivated by the 'diehard' always voted Labour supporters seem to do.
So what is it you actually want?

You appear to criticise those "not from round here" at he same time as wanting in tourists from that London place. Strangely enough they won't be from round here either and they won't be just a bunch of beer swilling, jellied eel munching chav cockerknees either.

Will you get it into your head that Anna Waite has done nothing but speak with a forked tongue in this town and the local electorate are wise to her. If she wants to stand somewhere, let her go and try and get elected in Barling where she actually lives because then she can't foul up our Town anymore.
Brunning999 makes some good points, there are many socialist thinking people in the town that do everything they can to knock anna waite. You say she speaks with a forked tongue which implies that she lies or is hypocritical, yet she overwhelmingly speaks up s'end and if you are accusing her of lying then back this up with some facts. You say she has made it impossible to park at reasonable cost this is unsubstantiated nonsense, I repeat again that she was one of the only councilors to object to increasing parking charges. The truth is the seafront is looking better than it has for a very longtime, victoria circus, priory park and progress rd have been proven to flow much faster (and look much better than they did), she has planted far more trees than have been taken out, new jobs have been created with the uni and airport etc etc etc. I admit the high streets not perfect but do you not remember how grotty it was 10 to 15 yrs ago before she got it resurfaced, leaving as it was would not have encouraged people to come to the town and shops would have suffered. Now something needs to be done to address the imbalance of housing around the town center, which is overwhelmingly social, I just doubt any of the current councilors will have the backbone to do this.
[quote][p][bold]Andycal 172D[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Brunning999[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Andycal 172D[/bold] wrote: Anna Waite - helped screw up the seafront, helped screw up Victoria Circus, made it almost impossible to park at a reasonable cost, designed and redesigned the High Street - digging it up, resurfacing it and digging it up again. Now, which part of that helped and encouraged trade in Town. It's noticeable the only part not engineered and re-engineered was in front of her sodding family's restaurant!!![/p][/quote]Move on mate, it is easy to blame someone, however is doing nothing and spending more on benefit scroungers the answer ? Fact is the seafront is an area which looks 100% better than it did. Victoria Circus is now moving faster than it ever did. Priory Park Junction actually does work faster than it did before. Progress Road is better now than it has been for years. The airport is delivering despite what all the SWP anti capitalist anarchists said. The real truth as to why Southend High Street is failing is complex, even Lakeside and Bluewater have suffered reductions in sales the multi story car parks in Lakeside are no longer used on a daily basis. Southend High Street attracts people that are loud, aggressive and intimidating which includes foreign gangsters, druggies and drunks plus loads of students. Southend has the potential to attract 1000000's of people from London which cause problems with locals who are not all keen on wearing 'kiss me quick hats' However blaming Anna Waite who is basically speaking the truth is something that politically motivated by the 'diehard' always voted Labour supporters seem to do.[/p][/quote]So what is it you actually want? You appear to criticise those "not from round here" at he same time as wanting in tourists from that London place. Strangely enough they won't be from round here either and they won't be just a bunch of beer swilling, jellied eel munching chav cockerknees either. Will you get it into your head that Anna Waite has done nothing but speak with a forked tongue in this town and the local electorate are wise to her. If she wants to stand somewhere, let her go and try and get elected in Barling where she actually lives because then she can't foul up our Town anymore.[/p][/quote]Brunning999 makes some good points, there are many socialist thinking people in the town that do everything they can to knock anna waite. You say she speaks with a forked tongue which implies that she lies or is hypocritical, yet she overwhelmingly speaks up s'end and if you are accusing her of lying then back this up with some facts. You say she has made it impossible to park at reasonable cost this is unsubstantiated nonsense, I repeat again that she was one of the only councilors to object to increasing parking charges. The truth is the seafront is looking better than it has for a very longtime, victoria circus, priory park and progress rd have been proven to flow much faster (and look much better than they did), she has planted far more trees than have been taken out, new jobs have been created with the uni and airport etc etc etc. I admit the high streets not perfect but do you not remember how grotty it was 10 to 15 yrs ago before she got it resurfaced, leaving as it was would not have encouraged people to come to the town and shops would have suffered. Now something needs to be done to address the imbalance of housing around the town center, which is overwhelmingly social, I just doubt any of the current councilors will have the backbone to do this. samsos

5:31pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Roy_Baty says...

Alekhine wrote:
Yes, but rather a coincidence that the Police are super-effiecient on the revenue generating crimes and no so efficient on the others. Maybe they should look at reallocating their resources.
The police don't deal with illegal parking in Southend. That is down to APCOA.
[quote][p][bold]Alekhine[/bold] wrote: Yes, but rather a coincidence that the Police are super-effiecient on the revenue generating crimes and no so efficient on the others. Maybe they should look at reallocating their resources.[/p][/quote]The police don't deal with illegal parking in Southend. That is down to APCOA. Roy_Baty

6:08pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Alekhine says...

Roy_Baty wrote:
Alekhine wrote: Yes, but rather a coincidence that the Police are super-effiecient on the revenue generating crimes and no so efficient on the others. Maybe they should look at reallocating their resources.
The police don't deal with illegal parking in Southend. That is down to APCOA.
OK so i used Police as a loose term.
.
But then who gives the APCOA licence to operate in Southend, is it the council? How many times have councillors complained about poor transport facilities killing business in Southend?
.
Stands to reason people will not come to Southend if they can't park without being ripped off. The council can't have its cake and eat it.
[quote][p][bold]Roy_Baty[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Alekhine[/bold] wrote: Yes, but rather a coincidence that the Police are super-effiecient on the revenue generating crimes and no so efficient on the others. Maybe they should look at reallocating their resources.[/p][/quote]The police don't deal with illegal parking in Southend. That is down to APCOA.[/p][/quote]OK so i used Police as a loose term. . But then who gives the APCOA licence to operate in Southend, is it the council? How many times have councillors complained about poor transport facilities killing business in Southend? . Stands to reason people will not come to Southend if they can't park without being ripped off. The council can't have its cake and eat it. Alekhine

7:09pm Wed 29 Feb 12

A.Winnie says...

This woman needs putting out to grass by her party, was she not the one who wasted lots of money on a set of gates at the park and said she would lie cheat and tell people anything to keep power.
The best response i have seen came from the Southend English Democrats on FB it was spot on lol.
This woman needs putting out to grass by her party, was she not the one who wasted lots of money on a set of gates at the park and said she would lie cheat and tell people anything to keep power. The best response i have seen came from the Southend English Democrats on FB it was spot on lol. A.Winnie

9:13pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Andycal 172D says...

One day this Council will work out that the people with the disposable income in the Town are the same ones that want to park their cars and drive on sensible roads to get there to spend their money.

Until they stop making Southend so car unfriendly, people will choose to shop elsewhere. After all Leigh doesn't seem to have this problem or Lakeside or Bluewater or... need I go on?
One day this Council will work out that the people with the disposable income in the Town are the same ones that want to park their cars and drive on sensible roads to get there to spend their money. Until they stop making Southend so car unfriendly, people will choose to shop elsewhere. After all Leigh doesn't seem to have this problem or Lakeside or Bluewater or... need I go on? Andycal 172D

9:39pm Wed 29 Feb 12

jayman says...

samsos wrote:
Andycal 172D wrote:
Brunning999 wrote:
Andycal 172D wrote:
Anna Waite - helped screw up the seafront, helped screw up Victoria Circus, made it almost impossible to park at a reasonable cost, designed and redesigned the High Street - digging it up, resurfacing it and digging it up again. Now, which part of that helped and encouraged trade in Town. It's noticeable the only part not engineered and re-engineered was in front of her sodding family's restaurant!!!
Move on mate, it is easy to blame someone, however is doing nothing and spending more on benefit scroungers the answer ?

Fact is the seafront is an area which looks 100% better than it did.

Victoria Circus is now moving faster than it ever did.

Priory Park Junction actually does work faster than it did before.

Progress Road is better now than it has been for years.

The airport is delivering despite what all the SWP anti capitalist anarchists said.

The real truth as to why Southend High Street is failing is complex, even Lakeside and Bluewater have suffered reductions in sales the multi story car parks in Lakeside are no longer used on a daily basis.

Southend High Street attracts people that are loud, aggressive and intimidating which includes foreign gangsters, druggies and drunks plus loads of students.

Southend has the potential to attract 1000000's of people from London which cause problems with locals who are not all keen on wearing 'kiss me quick hats'

However blaming Anna Waite who is basically speaking the truth is something that politically motivated by the 'diehard' always voted Labour supporters seem to do.
So what is it you actually want?

You appear to criticise those "not from round here" at he same time as wanting in tourists from that London place. Strangely enough they won't be from round here either and they won't be just a bunch of beer swilling, jellied eel munching chav cockerknees either.

Will you get it into your head that Anna Waite has done nothing but speak with a forked tongue in this town and the local electorate are wise to her. If she wants to stand somewhere, let her go and try and get elected in Barling where she actually lives because then she can't foul up our Town anymore.
Brunning999 makes some good points, there are many socialist thinking people in the town that do everything they can to knock anna waite. You say she speaks with a forked tongue which implies that she lies or is hypocritical, yet she overwhelmingly speaks up s'end and if you are accusing her of lying then back this up with some facts. You say she has made it impossible to park at reasonable cost this is unsubstantiated nonsense, I repeat again that she was one of the only councilors to object to increasing parking charges. The truth is the seafront is looking better than it has for a very longtime, victoria circus, priory park and progress rd have been proven to flow much faster (and look much better than they did), she has planted far more trees than have been taken out, new jobs have been created with the uni and airport etc etc etc. I admit the high streets not perfect but do you not remember how grotty it was 10 to 15 yrs ago before she got it resurfaced, leaving as it was would not have encouraged people to come to the town and shops would have suffered. Now something needs to be done to address the imbalance of housing around the town center, which is overwhelmingly social, I just doubt any of the current councilors will have the backbone to do this.
Anna Waite, responsible for regenerating the sea front and doing up the high street and a few junctions around the town.. LOL

okay.

THE HIGH STREET

early progress made (concrete slab seating installed along the high street) the concrete began to fall apart due to people having the audacity to actually sit on them and not stand back and admire there artistic elegance. They where removed due to sharp chips on the edges.

the shrub boxes that used to be along the high street where removed without any replacement.

York road Historic indoor market. demolished by order and intent of Southend Tory cabinet. no consideration given for refurbishment or restoration. No reference or mention given by the council about it historic importance and potential to be a small trader centre.

the general street scene along the high street is bleak. the white concrete displays the dust, dirt and litter. the sun reflects off of it at mid day blinding anyone who walks along it and the design on the high street doesn't match any of the buildings yet the buildings that make up the high street are a cobbling of run down Victorian, Edwardian and 1970's drab.

THE SEA FRONT

aesthetically it looks like a load of things have been installed from the pricey pages of a town planners catalogue. Only there is nothing that detracts from the boggling confusion of what's actually meant to be going on down there. ailing palm trees next to a road with no pavement that runs parallel to a traumatised and shocked, kiss me quick industry that represents some of the only surviving English seaside culture that remains without being heartlessly cleansed to suit a false futuristic image..

JUNCTIONS AND ROADS

as previously critically mentioned so many times in the pages of the echo..

now do go off, and do whatever it is that ousted councillors do when they are no longer able to hash up towns the people actually live in..
[quote][p][bold]samsos[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Andycal 172D[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Brunning999[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Andycal 172D[/bold] wrote: Anna Waite - helped screw up the seafront, helped screw up Victoria Circus, made it almost impossible to park at a reasonable cost, designed and redesigned the High Street - digging it up, resurfacing it and digging it up again. Now, which part of that helped and encouraged trade in Town. It's noticeable the only part not engineered and re-engineered was in front of her sodding family's restaurant!!![/p][/quote]Move on mate, it is easy to blame someone, however is doing nothing and spending more on benefit scroungers the answer ? Fact is the seafront is an area which looks 100% better than it did. Victoria Circus is now moving faster than it ever did. Priory Park Junction actually does work faster than it did before. Progress Road is better now than it has been for years. The airport is delivering despite what all the SWP anti capitalist anarchists said. The real truth as to why Southend High Street is failing is complex, even Lakeside and Bluewater have suffered reductions in sales the multi story car parks in Lakeside are no longer used on a daily basis. Southend High Street attracts people that are loud, aggressive and intimidating which includes foreign gangsters, druggies and drunks plus loads of students. Southend has the potential to attract 1000000's of people from London which cause problems with locals who are not all keen on wearing 'kiss me quick hats' However blaming Anna Waite who is basically speaking the truth is something that politically motivated by the 'diehard' always voted Labour supporters seem to do.[/p][/quote]So what is it you actually want? You appear to criticise those "not from round here" at he same time as wanting in tourists from that London place. Strangely enough they won't be from round here either and they won't be just a bunch of beer swilling, jellied eel munching chav cockerknees either. Will you get it into your head that Anna Waite has done nothing but speak with a forked tongue in this town and the local electorate are wise to her. If she wants to stand somewhere, let her go and try and get elected in Barling where she actually lives because then she can't foul up our Town anymore.[/p][/quote]Brunning999 makes some good points, there are many socialist thinking people in the town that do everything they can to knock anna waite. You say she speaks with a forked tongue which implies that she lies or is hypocritical, yet she overwhelmingly speaks up s'end and if you are accusing her of lying then back this up with some facts. You say she has made it impossible to park at reasonable cost this is unsubstantiated nonsense, I repeat again that she was one of the only councilors to object to increasing parking charges. The truth is the seafront is looking better than it has for a very longtime, victoria circus, priory park and progress rd have been proven to flow much faster (and look much better than they did), she has planted far more trees than have been taken out, new jobs have been created with the uni and airport etc etc etc. I admit the high streets not perfect but do you not remember how grotty it was 10 to 15 yrs ago before she got it resurfaced, leaving as it was would not have encouraged people to come to the town and shops would have suffered. Now something needs to be done to address the imbalance of housing around the town center, which is overwhelmingly social, I just doubt any of the current councilors will have the backbone to do this.[/p][/quote]Anna Waite, responsible for regenerating the sea front and doing up the high street and a few junctions around the town.. LOL okay. THE HIGH STREET early progress made (concrete slab seating installed along the high street) the concrete began to fall apart due to people having the audacity to actually sit on them and not stand back and admire there artistic elegance. They where removed due to sharp chips on the edges. the shrub boxes that used to be along the high street where removed without any replacement. York road Historic indoor market. demolished by order and intent of Southend Tory cabinet. no consideration given for refurbishment or restoration. No reference or mention given by the council about it historic importance and potential to be a small trader centre. the general street scene along the high street is bleak. the white concrete displays the dust, dirt and litter. the sun reflects off of it at mid day blinding anyone who walks along it and the design on the high street doesn't match any of the buildings yet the buildings that make up the high street are a cobbling of run down Victorian, Edwardian and 1970's drab. THE SEA FRONT aesthetically it looks like a load of things have been installed from the pricey pages of a town planners catalogue. Only there is nothing that detracts from the boggling confusion of what's actually meant to be going on down there. ailing palm trees next to a road with no pavement that runs parallel to a traumatised and shocked, kiss me quick industry that represents some of the only surviving English seaside culture that remains without being heartlessly cleansed to suit a false futuristic image.. JUNCTIONS AND ROADS as previously critically mentioned so many times in the pages of the echo.. now do go off, and do whatever it is that ousted councillors do when they are no longer able to hash up towns the people actually live in.. jayman

10:00pm Wed 29 Feb 12

katch22 says...

Brunning999 wrote:
katch22 wrote:
Brunning999 wrote:
Left Wing anarchists can never actually say clearly what they would do to improve life, they find it easier to just create violence and anarchy.

If they did say what they really believed in everyone would know that communism has failed.
Hidden fascism isn't any better!
Socialist diehards always assume that because you oppose their anarchistic form of socialism you must be completely the opposite and be a fascist.

Will katch take your head out of the Polit bureaux and look around at the world where freedom is great and opportunity to be a rich capitalist is available to everyone that is fit and able.
You mean like the 'american dream' anyone can become president? LOL.

Polit bureaux? I never shop in trendy clothes shops.
[quote][p][bold]Brunning999[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Brunning999[/bold] wrote: Left Wing anarchists can never actually say clearly what they would do to improve life, they find it easier to just create violence and anarchy. If they did say what they really believed in everyone would know that communism has failed.[/p][/quote]Hidden fascism isn't any better![/p][/quote]Socialist diehards always assume that because you oppose their anarchistic form of socialism you must be completely the opposite and be a fascist. Will katch take your head out of the Polit bureaux and look around at the world where freedom is great and opportunity to be a rich capitalist is available to everyone that is fit and able.[/p][/quote]You mean like the 'american dream' anyone can become president? LOL. Polit bureaux? I never shop in trendy clothes shops. katch22

10:17pm Wed 29 Feb 12

paulzone says...

doasilikey wrote:
I take it the sort of 'upmarket' shops that Ms.Waite would like to see would be:

A conservative ladies' frock shop.
Top-end estate agency.
Michelin starred restaurant.
Plastic surgeon.
Fine wine retailer.
A branch of Rothschild's Asset Management.
Gender reassignment consultancy.
A branch of the Rick Stein Seafood restaurant group.

...mmm, I wonder how long this comment will last - my earlier one was removed in under an hour- for no good reason that I can think of other than offending the sensibilities of a jumped-up local Tory.
Dont forget Cuban Cigar shop not cheap Dominican Cigars
[quote][p][bold]doasilikey[/bold] wrote: I take it the sort of 'upmarket' shops that Ms.Waite would like to see would be: A conservative ladies' frock shop. Top-end estate agency. Michelin starred restaurant. Plastic surgeon. Fine wine retailer. A branch of Rothschild's Asset Management. Gender reassignment consultancy. A branch of the Rick Stein Seafood restaurant group. ...mmm, I wonder how long this comment will last - my earlier one was removed in under an hour- for no good reason that I can think of other than offending the sensibilities of a jumped-up local Tory.[/p][/quote]Dont forget Cuban Cigar shop not cheap Dominican Cigars paulzone

10:18pm Wed 29 Feb 12

paulzone says...

monkey69 wrote:
you think southend is bad try basildon
Try Laindon shopping centre
[quote][p][bold]monkey69[/bold] wrote: you think southend is bad try basildon[/p][/quote]Try Laindon shopping centre paulzone

10:19pm Wed 29 Feb 12

paulzone says...

monkey69 wrote:
you think southend is bad try basildon
Try Laindon shopping centre
[quote][p][bold]monkey69[/bold] wrote: you think southend is bad try basildon[/p][/quote]Try Laindon shopping centre paulzone

10:44pm Wed 29 Feb 12

Parsnip says...

Yet more proof Anna Waite is a joke.

Yeah, demolish loads of homes for a few shiny overpriced new ones - Regeneration = get rich quick for corrupt politicians
Yet more proof Anna Waite is a joke. Yeah, demolish loads of homes for a few shiny overpriced new ones - Regeneration = get rich quick for corrupt politicians Parsnip

12:27am Thu 1 Mar 12

btsdaniel says...

As much as i would LOVE to say Anne Waite is talking complete rubbish (as would be normal), unfortunately I don't think she is.

Sure, some of her comments (single mums?!) are typically thatcherite and the stereotyping only serve to single her out as the enemy to some but the fact of the matter is, stores don't want to come to Southend because there is no market or industry here for them at the moment.

As someone who has tried to open a store in the high st only to be told to move along as they were waiting on a 'name' to show an interest, It's hard not to blame the council and although it's clearly not the stance they should be taking, social factors obviously play a role too.

As a town we actually don't need more affordable housing, we need more family housing and estates to create communities and to integrate more. There is a feeling that (from a lot of people) these problems are because of immigration into the area but it could be a great thing if we had the infrastructure and facilities to create a wider community and let all these people flourish.
As much as i would LOVE to say Anne Waite is talking complete rubbish (as would be normal), unfortunately I don't think she is. Sure, some of her comments (single mums?!) are typically thatcherite and the stereotyping only serve to single her out as the enemy to some but the fact of the matter is, stores don't want to come to Southend because there is no market or industry here for them at the moment. As someone who has tried to open a store in the high st only to be told to move along as they were waiting on a 'name' to show an interest, It's hard not to blame the council and although it's clearly not the stance they should be taking, social factors obviously play a role too. As a town we actually don't need more affordable housing, we need more family housing and estates to create communities and to integrate more. There is a feeling that (from a lot of people) these problems are because of immigration into the area but it could be a great thing if we had the infrastructure and facilities to create a wider community and let all these people flourish. btsdaniel

12:28pm Thu 1 Mar 12

samsos says...

BtsDaniel I totally agree southend needs more family housing as well as starter homes for young working people but not more social housing. I'm not against social housing but I feel that s'end has reached saturation point. Better shops will not come unless there is a market for their goods and currently the market in s'end is at the bottom end of the scale only. Anna is not saying that we should drive out anyone currently living in southend just that we should encourage new working families to move in, but this will not happen whilst we are continuously building more and more social housing in the town center.
BtsDaniel I totally agree southend needs more family housing as well as starter homes for young working people but not more social housing. I'm not against social housing but I feel that s'end has reached saturation point. Better shops will not come unless there is a market for their goods and currently the market in s'end is at the bottom end of the scale only. Anna is not saying that we should drive out anyone currently living in southend just that we should encourage new working families to move in, but this will not happen whilst we are continuously building more and more social housing in the town center. samsos

2:50pm Thu 1 Mar 12

reggie25 says...

"The Department for Communities and Local Government's 2010 Indices of Multiple Deprivation data showed that Southend is one of Essex's most deprived areas. Out of 32,482 Lower Super Output Areas in England, area 014D in the Kursaal ward is 99th, area 015B in Milton ward is 108th, area 010A in Victoria ward is 542nd, and area 009D in Southchurch ward is 995th, as well as an additional 5 areas all within the top 10% most deprived areas in England (with the most deprived area having a rank of 1 and the least deprived a rank of 32,482). Victoria and Milton wards have the highest percentage of ethnic minority population. Southend has the highest percentage of residents receiving housing benefit (19%) and the third highest percentage of residents receiving council tax benefit in Essex."
"The Department for Communities and Local Government's 2010 Indices of Multiple Deprivation data showed that Southend is one of Essex's most deprived areas. Out of 32,482 Lower Super Output Areas in England, area 014D in the Kursaal ward is 99th, area 015B in Milton ward is 108th, area 010A in Victoria ward is 542nd, and area 009D in Southchurch ward is 995th, as well as an additional 5 areas all within the top 10% most deprived areas in England (with the most deprived area having a rank of 1 and the least deprived a rank of 32,482). [5] Victoria and Milton wards have the highest percentage of ethnic minority population. Southend has the highest percentage of residents receiving housing benefit (19%) and the third highest percentage of residents receiving council tax benefit in Essex." reggie25

6:36pm Thu 1 Mar 12

katch22 says...

doasilikey wrote:
katch22 wrote:
doasilikey wrote:
Andycal 172D wrote:
And as for Anna Waite - I would not urinate on her if she was on fire.
I might but only because I'm a humanitarian at heart and can feel good about myself safe in the knowledge that I'm infection free- just been tested!! Mind you, it would probably take a while to extinguish the fire.
" I'm a humanitarian at heart"

You are also very deluded!
Snatch, you have no idea.
Oh i do, i have read most of your posts on this forum and not just those to do with Travellers and DF, call it 'research'

By the way the user name is katch22! Try to learn that by saying it repeatedly to yourself in much the same way you learnt not to scald your tongue with "i must not slurp boiling hot soup" Im sure it isn't beyond you, just try!

God loves a humanitarian who tries.
[quote][p][bold]doasilikey[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]doasilikey[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Andycal 172D[/bold] wrote: And as for Anna Waite - I would not urinate on her if she was on fire.[/p][/quote]I might but only because I'm a humanitarian at heart and can feel good about myself safe in the knowledge that I'm infection free- just been tested!! Mind you, it would probably take a while to extinguish the fire.[/p][/quote]" I'm a humanitarian at heart" You are also very deluded![/p][/quote]Snatch, you have no idea.[/p][/quote]Oh i do, i have read most of your posts on this forum and not just those to do with Travellers and DF, call it 'research' By the way the user name is katch22! Try to learn that by saying it repeatedly to yourself in much the same way you learnt not to scald your tongue with "i must not slurp boiling hot soup" Im sure it isn't beyond you, just try! God loves a humanitarian who tries. katch22

6:59pm Thu 1 Mar 12

iwasapunk says...

I think it says more about the state of the country than just Southend.I know its a bit run down in places as it always has been. Seaside towns tend to be like this.We are one of the richest nations and our levels of poverty are a disgrace,dont just blame easy targets. Years of social inequality and squandered wealth are to blame.
I think it says more about the state of the country than just Southend.I know its a bit run down in places as it always has been. Seaside towns tend to be like this.We are one of the richest nations and our levels of poverty are a disgrace,dont just blame easy targets. Years of social inequality and squandered wealth are to blame. iwasapunk

7:05pm Thu 1 Mar 12

katch22 says...

iwasapunk wrote:
I think it says more about the state of the country than just Southend.I know its a bit run down in places as it always has been. Seaside towns tend to be like this.We are one of the richest nations and our levels of poverty are a disgrace,dont just blame easy targets. Years of social inequality and squandered wealth are to blame.
Well said.
[quote][p][bold]iwasapunk[/bold] wrote: I think it says more about the state of the country than just Southend.I know its a bit run down in places as it always has been. Seaside towns tend to be like this.We are one of the richest nations and our levels of poverty are a disgrace,dont just blame easy targets. Years of social inequality and squandered wealth are to blame.[/p][/quote]Well said. katch22

7:05pm Thu 1 Mar 12

johnny foreigner says...

iwasapunk wrote:
I think it says more about the state of the country than just Southend.I know its a bit run down in places as it always has been. Seaside towns tend to be like this.We are one of the richest nations and our levels of poverty are a disgrace,dont just blame easy targets. Years of social inequality and squandered wealth are to blame.
Simply and eloquently put. True too.
[quote][p][bold]iwasapunk[/bold] wrote: I think it says more about the state of the country than just Southend.I know its a bit run down in places as it always has been. Seaside towns tend to be like this.We are one of the richest nations and our levels of poverty are a disgrace,dont just blame easy targets. Years of social inequality and squandered wealth are to blame.[/p][/quote]Simply and eloquently put. True too. johnny foreigner

7:20pm Thu 1 Mar 12

Rudisrevenge says...

johnny foreigner wrote:
iwasapunk wrote:
I think it says more about the state of the country than just Southend.I know its a bit run down in places as it always has been. Seaside towns tend to be like this.We are one of the richest nations and our levels of poverty are a disgrace,dont just blame easy targets. Years of social inequality and squandered wealth are to blame.
Simply and eloquently put. True too.
@ iwasapunk
A point well made.
[quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]iwasapunk[/bold] wrote: I think it says more about the state of the country than just Southend.I know its a bit run down in places as it always has been. Seaside towns tend to be like this.We are one of the richest nations and our levels of poverty are a disgrace,dont just blame easy targets. Years of social inequality and squandered wealth are to blame.[/p][/quote]Simply and eloquently put. True too.[/p][/quote]@ iwasapunk A point well made. Rudisrevenge

8:34pm Thu 1 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

Well said from me too iwasapunk.

I suppose if Tomassi's suffers a severe decline in business they can't blame single mothers, alcoholics, drug addicts and benefit claimants for their unpopularity but rather Anna Waite, their very own family member.

Sound of AW shooting self in foot.
Well said from me too iwasapunk. I suppose if Tomassi's suffers a severe decline in business they can't blame single mothers, alcoholics, drug addicts and benefit claimants for their unpopularity but rather Anna Waite, their very own family member. Sound of AW shooting self in foot. John the resonator

10:00pm Thu 1 Mar 12

J-Monroe says...

You're joking? I walk past Tomassis every day and it's picturesque middle-class well-behaved brilliance.
It won't suffer a decline in business at all. Does anyone not remember PushchairGate of a few years back? Us single mothers go to Starbucks, where we're welcome!
You're joking? I walk past Tomassis every day and it's picturesque middle-class well-behaved brilliance. It won't suffer a decline in business at all. Does anyone not remember PushchairGate of a few years back? Us single mothers go to Starbucks, where we're welcome! J-Monroe

11:47pm Thu 1 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

J-Monroe wrote:
You're joking? I walk past Tomassis every day and it's picturesque middle-class well-behaved brilliance.
It won't suffer a decline in business at all. Does anyone not remember PushchairGate of a few years back? Us single mothers go to Starbucks, where we're welcome!
Well you could be right. In my case often entertaining the grandchildren I find Tomassi's not at all child-friendly, both snooty and unwilling to accommodate children's needs at all.

Didn't hear about 'puschcairGate' though, what was that about? I notice they are awkward about buggies and even asked us to leave it outside once. We refused.
[quote][p][bold]J-Monroe[/bold] wrote: You're joking? I walk past Tomassis every day and it's picturesque middle-class well-behaved brilliance. It won't suffer a decline in business at all. Does anyone not remember PushchairGate of a few years back? Us single mothers go to Starbucks, where we're welcome![/p][/quote]Well you could be right. In my case often entertaining the grandchildren I find Tomassi's not at all child-friendly, both snooty and unwilling to accommodate children's needs at all. Didn't hear about 'puschcairGate' though, what was that about? I notice they are awkward about buggies and even asked us to leave it outside once. We refused. John the resonator

8:17am Fri 2 Mar 12

J-Monroe says...

^Exactly that. There used to be a sign in the window saying that buggies weren't allowed (which made eating in there with a 1 year old very difficult, especially as i wasn't given a high chair for him!)
A Mum went to our very own Echo to complain. Now they're just awkward about it.
^Exactly that. There used to be a sign in the window saying that buggies weren't allowed (which made eating in there with a 1 year old very difficult, especially as i wasn't given a high chair for him!) A Mum went to our very own Echo to complain. Now they're just awkward about it. J-Monroe

10:07am Fri 2 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

J-Monroe wrote:
^Exactly that. There used to be a sign in the window saying that buggies weren't allowed (which made eating in there with a 1 year old very difficult, especially as i wasn't given a high chair for him!)
A Mum went to our very own Echo to complain. Now they're just awkward about it.
OK thanks, don't recall that one. Stuck up snobs.

The place isn't to my taste but makes me feel like making a special visit there some time when the grandchildren are hyper after being dragged around the shoeshops for a couple of hours.

Knickerbocker glories all around, mostly on the floors and tables.

;0)

Best wishes.
[quote][p][bold]J-Monroe[/bold] wrote: ^Exactly that. There used to be a sign in the window saying that buggies weren't allowed (which made eating in there with a 1 year old very difficult, especially as i wasn't given a high chair for him!) A Mum went to our very own Echo to complain. Now they're just awkward about it.[/p][/quote]OK thanks, don't recall that one. Stuck up snobs. The place isn't to my taste but makes me feel like making a special visit there some time when the grandchildren are hyper after being dragged around the shoeshops for a couple of hours. Knickerbocker glories all around, mostly on the floors and tables. ;0) Best wishes. John the resonator

10:34am Fri 2 Mar 12

Brunning999 says...

Yeh like Social equality worked in the USSR, China or North Korea.

The only ones with equality are the 'posh' educated party members.

The working clas can kiss there r's.
Yeh like Social equality worked in the USSR, China or North Korea. The only ones with equality are the 'posh' educated party members. The working clas can kiss there r's. Brunning999

12:14pm Fri 2 Mar 12

johnny foreigner says...

I think if I was an alcoholic single mum with a drug habit and claiming benefits I would turn my life around (not the single mum part, obviously) and devote my life to picketing Tomsarses ice cream emporium.

I wonder if AW's ever served a 99? My mind is boggled by such a thought, in fact I've just come over all nauseous.
I think if I was an alcoholic single mum with a drug habit and claiming benefits I would turn my life around (not the single mum part, obviously) and devote my life to picketing Tomsarses ice cream emporium. I wonder if AW's ever served a 99? My mind is boggled by such a thought, in fact I've just come over all nauseous. johnny foreigner

12:20pm Fri 2 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

johnny foreigner wrote:
I think if I was an alcoholic single mum with a drug habit and claiming benefits I would turn my life around (not the single mum part, obviously) and devote my life to picketing Tomsarses ice cream emporium.

I wonder if AW's ever served a 99? My mind is boggled by such a thought, in fact I've just come over all nauseous.
You do have a way of conjuring quite an image in the mind.

Trouble is it won't go away now.

Thanks!
[quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: I think if I was an alcoholic single mum with a drug habit and claiming benefits I would turn my life around (not the single mum part, obviously) and devote my life to picketing Tomsarses ice cream emporium. I wonder if AW's ever served a 99? My mind is boggled by such a thought, in fact I've just come over all nauseous.[/p][/quote]You do have a way of conjuring quite an image in the mind. Trouble is it won't go away now. Thanks! John the resonator

3:45pm Fri 2 Mar 12

katch22 says...

Brunning999 wrote:
Yeh like Social equality worked in the USSR, China or North Korea.

The only ones with equality are the 'posh' educated party members.

The working clas can kiss there r's.
No different to here then!
[quote][p][bold]Brunning999[/bold] wrote: Yeh like Social equality worked in the USSR, China or North Korea. The only ones with equality are the 'posh' educated party members. The working clas can kiss there r's.[/p][/quote]No different to here then! katch22

3:47pm Fri 2 Mar 12

Oneflewoverthecuckoosnest says...

Nothing good about Southend anymore. She's completely correct, it's a dump..just leave it there.
Nothing good about Southend anymore. She's completely correct, it's a dump..just leave it there. Oneflewoverthecuckoosnest

4:14pm Fri 2 Mar 12

EstuaryView says...

No, it's having to pay for parking that drives shoppers away.

They all prefer to go where there is free parking for at least a couple of hours.

I do too.

Oh, and by the way, she looks like a zombie in that photo.

What on earth happened to her?

Anybody bumping into her in the High Street would probably run a mile!

So she's still part of the problem.
No, it's having to pay for parking that drives shoppers away. They all prefer to go where there is free parking for at least a couple of hours. I do too. Oh, and by the way, she looks like a zombie in that photo. What on earth happened to her? Anybody bumping into her in the High Street would probably run a mile! So she's still part of the problem. EstuaryView

4:22pm Fri 2 Mar 12

libconned says...

The leader of Basildon Council must love this woman, she is the only person more crass and ignorant than him.

Bless.
The leader of Basildon Council must love this woman, she is the only person more crass and ignorant than him. Bless. libconned

6:22pm Fri 2 Mar 12

maddie14 says...

I noticed Anna Waite failed to mention that her own family business do not allow prams, pushchairs, or buggies in they're restaurant. I know this because when my wife and i went in there for coffee with our two year old in a buggie the manager / owner came rushing over and said sorry no prams allowed to which when we questioned it he was extremely rude and said 'We dont really want noisy children running around when people are trying to relax'. Well Mrs waite maybe get your own house in order before you cast aspersion on the rest of the town you snob
I noticed Anna Waite failed to mention that her own family business do not allow prams, pushchairs, or buggies in they're restaurant. I know this because when my wife and i went in there for coffee with our two year old in a buggie the manager / owner came rushing over and said sorry no prams allowed to which when we questioned it he was extremely rude and said 'We dont really want noisy children running around when people are trying to relax'. Well Mrs waite maybe get your own house in order before you cast aspersion on the rest of the town you snob maddie14

8:06pm Fri 2 Mar 12

bigboy57 says...

can we close this now, anna you are so boring and predictable, look you got me, stop it, mind you not bad for someone not in power anymore, still need people like you to open real issues see you got me? xxx
can we close this now, anna you are so boring and predictable, look you got me, stop it, mind you not bad for someone not in power anymore, still need people like you to open real issues see you got me? xxx bigboy57

8:06pm Fri 2 Mar 12

bigboy57 says...

can we close this now, anna you are so boring and predictable, look you got me, stop it, mind you not bad for someone not in power anymore, still need people like you to open real issues see you got me? xxx
can we close this now, anna you are so boring and predictable, look you got me, stop it, mind you not bad for someone not in power anymore, still need people like you to open real issues see you got me? xxx bigboy57

8:30pm Fri 2 Mar 12

mamapp says...

How dare she generalise like this. I am a single mum and one of the main reasons I DON'T shop at southend is the lack of childrens shops along the highstreet, the over-quota of shops directed towards older people and the lack of welcoming and healthy places to eat (its ok if you enjoy a burger and chips). not to mention the hideous and predictable blue lights they put up in the winter - no doubt also chosen by a tasteless and out of touch councillor.

If you ask my mother, she will tell you how unwelcoming and un-child-friendly tomassis was when I was young. For this reason I've never bothered to go in!
How dare she generalise like this. I am a single mum and one of the main reasons I DON'T shop at southend is the lack of childrens shops along the highstreet, the over-quota of shops directed towards older people and the lack of welcoming and healthy places to eat (its ok if you enjoy a burger and chips). not to mention the hideous and predictable blue lights they put up in the winter - no doubt also chosen by a tasteless and out of touch councillor. If you ask my mother, she will tell you how unwelcoming and un-child-friendly tomassis was when I was young. For this reason I've never bothered to go in! mamapp

8:49pm Fri 2 Mar 12

jaymie93 says...

Who the hell does she think she is. if she is not happy she can go somewhere more conveniant.ive never bothered to go in there . looks all too posh they all stick there noses up at you anyway.
Who the hell does she think she is. if she is not happy she can go somewhere more conveniant.ive never bothered to go in there . looks all too posh they all stick there noses up at you anyway. jaymie93

9:24pm Fri 2 Mar 12

Nebs says...

maddie14 wrote:
I noticed Anna Waite failed to mention that her own family business do not allow prams, pushchairs, or buggies in they're restaurant. I know this because when my wife and i went in there for coffee with our two year old in a buggie the manager / owner came rushing over and said sorry no prams allowed to which when we questioned it he was extremely rude and said 'We dont really want noisy children running around when people are trying to relax'. Well Mrs waite maybe get your own house in order before you cast aspersion on the rest of the town you snob
Get some like minded people, and all go there at the same time with your prams, and don't take no for an answer.
[quote][p][bold]maddie14[/bold] wrote: I noticed Anna Waite failed to mention that her own family business do not allow prams, pushchairs, or buggies in they're restaurant. I know this because when my wife and i went in there for coffee with our two year old in a buggie the manager / owner came rushing over and said sorry no prams allowed to which when we questioned it he was extremely rude and said 'We dont really want noisy children running around when people are trying to relax'. Well Mrs waite maybe get your own house in order before you cast aspersion on the rest of the town you snob[/p][/quote]Get some like minded people, and all go there at the same time with your prams, and don't take no for an answer. Nebs

10:52pm Fri 2 Mar 12

muffindamule says...

johnny foreigner wrote:
I think if I was an alcoholic single mum with a drug habit and claiming benefits I would turn my life around (not the single mum part, obviously) and devote my life to picketing Tomsarses ice cream emporium.

I wonder if AW's ever served a 99? My mind is boggled by such a thought, in fact I've just come over all nauseous.
The last time I had Annas 99 I came out in a nasty rash. An apparent allergy to chocolate bars.
[quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: I think if I was an alcoholic single mum with a drug habit and claiming benefits I would turn my life around (not the single mum part, obviously) and devote my life to picketing Tomsarses ice cream emporium. I wonder if AW's ever served a 99? My mind is boggled by such a thought, in fact I've just come over all nauseous.[/p][/quote]The last time I had Annas 99 I came out in a nasty rash. An apparent allergy to chocolate bars. muffindamule

11:26am Sat 3 Mar 12

essex pom says...

Am I suprised that Southend is going down the pan ...... No (albeit sad and do miss the Blues )... thats why I got out , could see it coming... gotta go coz 38 degrees here and need to get in my swimming pool and have a beer ..... and I'm a working class bloke that could just keep my head above water in Essex
Am I suprised that Southend is going down the pan ...... No (albeit sad and do miss the Blues )... thats why I got out , could see it coming... gotta go coz 38 degrees here and need to get in my swimming pool and have a beer ..... and I'm a working class bloke that could just keep my head above water in Essex essex pom

1:02pm Sat 3 Mar 12

snowbarney says...

At last someone brave enough to speak the truth. The only thing she didn't say is that it's mainly the East European gangs (scum let in by lily-livered Labour supporters) which are causing the problems.
At last someone brave enough to speak the truth. The only thing she didn't say is that it's mainly the East European gangs (scum let in by lily-livered Labour supporters) which are causing the problems. snowbarney

3:49pm Sat 3 Mar 12

watchfulk says...

J-Monroe wrote:
You're joking? I walk past Tomassis every day and it's picturesque middle-class well-behaved brilliance.
It won't suffer a decline in business at all. Does anyone not remember PushchairGate of a few years back? Us single mothers go to Starbucks, where we're welcome!
How reassuring for us tax payers that you are spending your benefits so wisely. Consider yourself fortunate that you live in a country where you are paid enough to sit in coffee shops that most working people have to think twice about whether they can afford to visit. Plus you have the cheek to brag about it. It is depressing to walk down the high street on one of my rare days off to see the cafes and burger bars filled with single mums and their numerous offspring taking a break from Jeremy Kyle at our expense. DISGUSTING have some pride
[quote][p][bold]J-Monroe[/bold] wrote: You're joking? I walk past Tomassis every day and it's picturesque middle-class well-behaved brilliance. It won't suffer a decline in business at all. Does anyone not remember PushchairGate of a few years back? Us single mothers go to Starbucks, where we're welcome![/p][/quote]How reassuring for us tax payers that you are spending your benefits so wisely. Consider yourself fortunate that you live in a country where you are paid enough to sit in coffee shops that most working people have to think twice about whether they can afford to visit. Plus you have the cheek to brag about it. It is depressing to walk down the high street on one of my rare days off to see the cafes and burger bars filled with single mums and their numerous offspring taking a break from Jeremy Kyle at our expense. DISGUSTING have some pride watchfulk

4:17pm Sat 3 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

snowbarney wrote:
At last someone brave enough to speak the truth. The only thing she didn't say is that it's mainly the East European gangs (scum let in by lily-livered Labour supporters) which are causing the problems.
Where exactly can one see these gangs people keep banging on about? I'm often in the High Street, sure you see eastern Europeans, not sure what you think distinguishes them as gang members.
[quote][p][bold]snowbarney[/bold] wrote: At last someone brave enough to speak the truth. The only thing she didn't say is that it's mainly the East European gangs (scum let in by lily-livered Labour supporters) which are causing the problems.[/p][/quote]Where exactly can one see these gangs people keep banging on about? I'm often in the High Street, sure you see eastern Europeans, not sure what you think distinguishes them as gang members. John the resonator

4:25pm Sat 3 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

watchfulk wrote:
J-Monroe wrote:
You're joking? I walk past Tomassis every day and it's picturesque middle-class well-behaved brilliance.
It won't suffer a decline in business at all. Does anyone not remember PushchairGate of a few years back? Us single mothers go to Starbucks, where we're welcome!
How reassuring for us tax payers that you are spending your benefits so wisely. Consider yourself fortunate that you live in a country where you are paid enough to sit in coffee shops that most working people have to think twice about whether they can afford to visit. Plus you have the cheek to brag about it. It is depressing to walk down the high street on one of my rare days off to see the cafes and burger bars filled with single mums and their numerous offspring taking a break from Jeremy Kyle at our expense. DISGUSTING have some pride
Do you only recognise stereotypes or are you prepared to entertain the possibility that many single parents work, not all 'working people' are honest or 'hard working' for that matter and most families do not have 'numerous offspring' nowadays.

Now if I wanted to jump to conclusions I might suggest you could be the one getting your opinions from a regular dose of Jeremy Kyle.
[quote][p][bold]watchfulk[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]J-Monroe[/bold] wrote: You're joking? I walk past Tomassis every day and it's picturesque middle-class well-behaved brilliance. It won't suffer a decline in business at all. Does anyone not remember PushchairGate of a few years back? Us single mothers go to Starbucks, where we're welcome![/p][/quote]How reassuring for us tax payers that you are spending your benefits so wisely. Consider yourself fortunate that you live in a country where you are paid enough to sit in coffee shops that most working people have to think twice about whether they can afford to visit. Plus you have the cheek to brag about it. It is depressing to walk down the high street on one of my rare days off to see the cafes and burger bars filled with single mums and their numerous offspring taking a break from Jeremy Kyle at our expense. DISGUSTING have some pride[/p][/quote]Do you only recognise stereotypes or are you prepared to entertain the possibility that many single parents work, not all 'working people' are honest or 'hard working' for that matter and most families do not have 'numerous offspring' nowadays. Now if I wanted to jump to conclusions I might suggest you could be the one getting your opinions from a regular dose of Jeremy Kyle. John the resonator

4:37pm Sat 3 Mar 12

watchfulk says...

I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.
I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars. watchfulk

4:46pm Sat 3 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

watchfulk wrote:
I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.
.......... is that the sound of pedals going backwards I hear?
[quote][p][bold]watchfulk[/bold] wrote: I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.[/p][/quote].......... is that the sound of pedals going backwards I hear? John the resonator

4:51pm Sat 3 Mar 12

watchfulk says...

John the resonator wrote:
watchfulk wrote:
I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.
.......... is that the sound of pedals going backwards I hear?
What do you mean in that I have changed my mind about being angered by tax payers money being spent by these single parents in coffee bars...no sorry.
I am sure when these benefits are calculated to provide a 'safety net' source of income for these people they include food, heating, clothing for their children and themselves. i don't think on that list they should or would include trips to a coffee bar or fast food restaurant. No back peddling I am afraid just an explanation that I do appreciate that not all single parents don't work or that all people out of work may not be parents. If it is any consolation I resent the tax paid in benefits being spent on drugs and drink too.
[quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]watchfulk[/bold] wrote: I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.[/p][/quote].......... is that the sound of pedals going backwards I hear?[/p][/quote]What do you mean in that I have changed my mind about being angered by tax payers money being spent by these single parents in coffee bars...no sorry. I am sure when these benefits are calculated to provide a 'safety net' source of income for these people they include food, heating, clothing for their children and themselves. i don't think on that list they should or would include trips to a coffee bar or fast food restaurant. No back peddling I am afraid just an explanation that I do appreciate that not all single parents don't work or that all people out of work may not be parents. If it is any consolation I resent the tax paid in benefits being spent on drugs and drink too. watchfulk

4:59pm Sat 3 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

watchfulk wrote:
John the resonator wrote:
watchfulk wrote:
I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.
.......... is that the sound of pedals going backwards I hear?
What do you mean in that I have changed my mind about being angered by tax payers money being spent by these single parents in coffee bars...no sorry.
I am sure when these benefits are calculated to provide a 'safety net' source of income for these people they include food, heating, clothing for their children and themselves. i don't think on that list they should or would include trips to a coffee bar or fast food restaurant. No back peddling I am afraid just an explanation that I do appreciate that not all single parents don't work or that all people out of work may not be parents. If it is any consolation I resent the tax paid in benefits being spent on drugs and drink too.
Is a visual check a reliable way of finding out if people are single parents or on benefits or do you go straight up to them and ask their relationship status, source of income, whether they take any drugs etc?
[quote][p][bold]watchfulk[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]watchfulk[/bold] wrote: I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.[/p][/quote].......... is that the sound of pedals going backwards I hear?[/p][/quote]What do you mean in that I have changed my mind about being angered by tax payers money being spent by these single parents in coffee bars...no sorry. I am sure when these benefits are calculated to provide a 'safety net' source of income for these people they include food, heating, clothing for their children and themselves. i don't think on that list they should or would include trips to a coffee bar or fast food restaurant. No back peddling I am afraid just an explanation that I do appreciate that not all single parents don't work or that all people out of work may not be parents. If it is any consolation I resent the tax paid in benefits being spent on drugs and drink too.[/p][/quote]Is a visual check a reliable way of finding out if people are single parents or on benefits or do you go straight up to them and ask their relationship status, source of income, whether they take any drugs etc? John the resonator

5:06pm Sat 3 Mar 12

watchfulk says...

Clearly not even worth argung with you John. Just out of curiosity are you a tax payer? I am surprised if you are. If so then perhaps you would care where your money goes. Actually I do think the rules for dishing out benefits should be firmer like the USA. More questions should be asked and before you pipe up again not by me walking past coffee shops.
Clearly not even worth argung with you John. Just out of curiosity are you a tax payer? I am surprised if you are. If so then perhaps you would care where your money goes. Actually I do think the rules for dishing out benefits should be firmer like the USA. More questions should be asked and before you pipe up again not by me walking past coffee shops. watchfulk

5:27pm Sat 3 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

watchfulk wrote:
Clearly not even worth argung with you John. Just out of curiosity are you a tax payer? I am surprised if you are. If so then perhaps you would care where your money goes. Actually I do think the rules for dishing out benefits should be firmer like the USA. More questions should be asked and before you pipe up again not by me walking past coffee shops.
Didn't know we were arguing, I was just curious as to what sources you relied upon for your information as your statements appeared rather sweeping and judgmental.

Why would you be surprised about me being a taxpayer? Looks to me if there is a conclusion there you'll jump to it. I was a tax payer for my entire adult life before retirement a couple of years ago. I'm not a fan of scroungers and have never been out of work. However I am as concerned that governments worldwide have spent out billions bailing out banks because of the greed of some of their people. We don't 'own' those banks in any real sense of the word. Meanwhile executives still expect bonuses over and above their substantial pay, even for mediocre performance or failure. And our own council shells out tens or hundreds of thousands to smartypants consultants to come up with daft schemes for our town which either come to nothing or fail. Well I'm sure they all look and speak nicely, they can afford to eat out and you won't see them on Jeremy Kyle but they are robbing us on a grand scale just the same.

Now about these single parents with their large families allegedly wasting our taxes on fast food and drugs ...............
[quote][p][bold]watchfulk[/bold] wrote: Clearly not even worth argung with you John. Just out of curiosity are you a tax payer? I am surprised if you are. If so then perhaps you would care where your money goes. Actually I do think the rules for dishing out benefits should be firmer like the USA. More questions should be asked and before you pipe up again not by me walking past coffee shops.[/p][/quote]Didn't know we were arguing, I was just curious as to what sources you relied upon for your information as your statements appeared rather sweeping and judgmental. Why would you be surprised about me being a taxpayer? Looks to me if there is a conclusion there you'll jump to it. I was a tax payer for my entire adult life before retirement a couple of years ago. I'm not a fan of scroungers and have never been out of work. However I am as concerned that governments worldwide have spent out billions bailing out banks because of the greed of some of their people. We don't 'own' those banks in any real sense of the word. Meanwhile executives still expect bonuses over and above their substantial pay, even for mediocre performance or failure. And our own council shells out tens or hundreds of thousands to smartypants consultants to come up with daft schemes for our town which either come to nothing or fail. Well I'm sure they all look and speak nicely, they can afford to eat out and you won't see them on Jeremy Kyle but they are robbing us on a grand scale just the same. Now about these single parents with their large families allegedly wasting our taxes on fast food and drugs ............... John the resonator

6:02pm Sat 3 Mar 12

johnny foreigner says...

I think I may have been a little unkind in thought towards AW in previous posts. I am now proud to be able to come clean and admit that she is a most fragrant lady of the Conservative persuasion and I would be honoured if she would allow me to spend a little of my housing benefit on a Tomsarses raspberry ripple- we could share!

A little MDMA would ease the way- might even do Anna a bit of good. I would happily leave my wife and young daughter at home - well that won't be hard since I haven't visited them for over two years now.

I suppose I should admit that it is Saturday evening and I've been on the Johnny Walker since breakfast time so my judgement might not be all it could be. She is however one fine lady and, Anna if a raspberry ripple doesn't appeal, how about a banana split?
I think I may have been a little unkind in thought towards AW in previous posts. I am now proud to be able to come clean and admit that she is a most fragrant lady of the Conservative persuasion and I would be honoured if she would allow me to spend a little of my housing benefit on a Tomsarses raspberry ripple- we could share! A little MDMA would ease the way- might even do Anna a bit of good. I would happily leave my wife and young daughter at home - well that won't be hard since I haven't visited them for over two years now. I suppose I should admit that it is Saturday evening and I've been on the Johnny Walker since breakfast time so my judgement might not be all it could be. She is however one fine lady and, Anna if a raspberry ripple doesn't appeal, how about a banana split? johnny foreigner

6:34pm Sat 3 Mar 12

katch22 says...

libconned wrote:
The leader of Basildon Council must love this woman, she is the only person more crass and ignorant than him.

Bless.
LOL, imagine their love child!
[quote][p][bold]libconned[/bold] wrote: The leader of Basildon Council must love this woman, she is the only person more crass and ignorant than him. Bless.[/p][/quote]LOL, imagine their love child! katch22

6:41pm Sat 3 Mar 12

katch22 says...

watchfulk wrote:
I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.
You post "do gooders" as if its a bad thing! Are people who do good a bad thing? Would you rather people who do bad?
[quote][p][bold]watchfulk[/bold] wrote: I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.[/p][/quote]You post "do gooders" as if its a bad thing! Are people who do good a bad thing? Would you rather people who do bad? katch22

6:50pm Sat 3 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

Yes katch22, it is a curious expression with which to criticise someone. I suppose the opposite is a 'do badder' or 'do evil-er.'

Very odd thinking.
Yes katch22, it is a curious expression with which to criticise someone. I suppose the opposite is a 'do badder' or 'do evil-er.' Very odd thinking. John the resonator

6:52pm Sat 3 Mar 12

johnny foreigner says...

katch22 wrote:
watchfulk wrote:
I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.
You post "do gooders" as if its a bad thing! Are people who do good a bad thing? Would you rather people who do bad?
A "Do-gooder" can be described as "A naive idealist who supports philanthropic or humanitarian causes or reforms".

So, unless you consider naivety to be a good thing ......
[quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]watchfulk[/bold] wrote: I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.[/p][/quote]You post "do gooders" as if its a bad thing! Are people who do good a bad thing? Would you rather people who do bad?[/p][/quote]A "Do-gooder" can be described as "A naive idealist who supports philanthropic or humanitarian causes or reforms". So, unless you consider naivety to be a good thing ...... johnny foreigner

7:07pm Sat 3 Mar 12

katch22 says...

johnny foreigner wrote:
katch22 wrote:
watchfulk wrote:
I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.
You post "do gooders" as if its a bad thing! Are people who do good a bad thing? Would you rather people who do bad?
A "Do-gooder" can be described as "A naive idealist who supports philanthropic or humanitarian causes or reforms".

So, unless you consider naivety to be a good thing ......
The operative word in your naive post is "can"
[quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]watchfulk[/bold] wrote: I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.[/p][/quote]You post "do gooders" as if its a bad thing! Are people who do good a bad thing? Would you rather people who do bad?[/p][/quote]A "Do-gooder" can be described as "A naive idealist who supports philanthropic or humanitarian causes or reforms". So, unless you consider naivety to be a good thing ......[/p][/quote]The operative word in your naive post is "can" katch22

7:11pm Sat 3 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

Yes I know what it means, I am questioning why a belief in social reform, humanitarian causes and so on has to be seen as naive.
Yes I know what it means, I am questioning why a belief in social reform, humanitarian causes and so on has to be seen as naive. John the resonator

7:13pm Sat 3 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

John the resonator wrote:
Yes I know what it means, I am questioning why a belief in social reform, humanitarian causes and so on has to be seen as naive.
... a response to JF, not K22.
[quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: Yes I know what it means, I am questioning why a belief in social reform, humanitarian causes and so on has to be seen as naive.[/p][/quote]... a response to JF, not K22. John the resonator

7:24pm Sat 3 Mar 12

katch22 says...

John the resonator wrote:
John the resonator wrote:
Yes I know what it means, I am questioning why a belief in social reform, humanitarian causes and so on has to be seen as naive.
... a response to JF, not K22.
Good question lets see what he comes up with
[quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: Yes I know what it means, I am questioning why a belief in social reform, humanitarian causes and so on has to be seen as naive.[/p][/quote]... a response to JF, not K22.[/p][/quote]Good question lets see what he comes up with katch22

7:36pm Sat 3 Mar 12

johnny foreigner says...

John the resonator wrote:
John the resonator wrote:
Yes I know what it means, I am questioning why a belief in social reform, humanitarian causes and so on has to be seen as naive.
... a response to JF, not K22.
It doesn’t.

There is however a difference between a belief in such causes born out of experience, knowledge and common sense and a belief in causes not worthy of consideration by those in possession of all the relevant facts.

A ten year-old may regard the killing of a rat as a bad thing whilst the scientist ‘executioner’ has a clear conscience as he knows that such killing is necessary to advance our knowledge to prevent and treat disease. The ten year-old might be considered a “do gooder” , the scientist is (in my book) a person who does good.

Perhaps a little simplistic but I think you should just accept the belief does not have to be naïve but sometimes is.

Hence one has "Do-gooders".
[quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: Yes I know what it means, I am questioning why a belief in social reform, humanitarian causes and so on has to be seen as naive.[/p][/quote]... a response to JF, not K22.[/p][/quote]It doesn’t. There is however a difference between a belief in such causes born out of experience, knowledge and common sense and a belief in causes not worthy of consideration by those in possession of all the relevant facts. A ten year-old may regard the killing of a rat as a bad thing whilst the scientist ‘executioner’ has a clear conscience as he knows that such killing is necessary to advance our knowledge to prevent and treat disease. The ten year-old might be considered a “do gooder” , the scientist is (in my book) a person who does good. Perhaps a little simplistic but I think you should just accept the belief does not have to be naïve but sometimes is. Hence one has "Do-gooders". johnny foreigner

7:56pm Sat 3 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

johnny foreigner wrote:
John the resonator wrote:
John the resonator wrote:
Yes I know what it means, I am questioning why a belief in social reform, humanitarian causes and so on has to be seen as naive.
... a response to JF, not K22.
It doesn’t.

There is however a difference between a belief in such causes born out of experience, knowledge and common sense and a belief in causes not worthy of consideration by those in possession of all the relevant facts.

A ten year-old may regard the killing of a rat as a bad thing whilst the scientist ‘executioner’ has a clear conscience as he knows that such killing is necessary to advance our knowledge to prevent and treat disease. The ten year-old might be considered a “do gooder” , the scientist is (in my book) a person who does good.

Perhaps a little simplistic but I think you should just accept the belief does not have to be naïve but sometimes is.

Hence one has "Do-gooders".
OK thanks but I am not sure how that advances the discussion. I was described as a 'do gooder' for questioning where someone got some pretty stereotyped views about single parents.

That person went on to express surprise if I was a taxpayer (another assumption) but now appears to have left the discussion.

The expression 'do gooder' and many others tend to get used to dismiss and negate a person's point so one does not have to confront and answer it. As such, in my opinion labels tend to do a disservice to debate.

But thanks for the example of the same behaviour or attitude being described in opposite ways. Social scientists have the concept of 'horns and halos' whereby if you see someone as 'good' it is easy to interpret all their behaviour that way and very challenging (cognitive dissonance) if 'good' people appear to be doing 'bad' things. The converse applies to people we see as 'bad.' That's why I avoid labels and stereotypes as much as I can.
[quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: Yes I know what it means, I am questioning why a belief in social reform, humanitarian causes and so on has to be seen as naive.[/p][/quote]... a response to JF, not K22.[/p][/quote]It doesn’t. There is however a difference between a belief in such causes born out of experience, knowledge and common sense and a belief in causes not worthy of consideration by those in possession of all the relevant facts. A ten year-old may regard the killing of a rat as a bad thing whilst the scientist ‘executioner’ has a clear conscience as he knows that such killing is necessary to advance our knowledge to prevent and treat disease. The ten year-old might be considered a “do gooder” , the scientist is (in my book) a person who does good. Perhaps a little simplistic but I think you should just accept the belief does not have to be naïve but sometimes is. Hence one has "Do-gooders".[/p][/quote]OK thanks but I am not sure how that advances the discussion. I was described as a 'do gooder' for questioning where someone got some pretty stereotyped views about single parents. That person went on to express surprise if I was a taxpayer (another assumption) but now appears to have left the discussion. The expression 'do gooder' and many others tend to get used to dismiss and negate a person's point so one does not have to confront and answer it. As such, in my opinion labels tend to do a disservice to debate. But thanks for the example of the same behaviour or attitude being described in opposite ways. Social scientists have the concept of 'horns and halos' whereby if you see someone as 'good' it is easy to interpret all their behaviour that way and very challenging (cognitive dissonance) if 'good' people appear to be doing 'bad' things. The converse applies to people we see as 'bad.' That's why I avoid labels and stereotypes as much as I can. John the resonator

3:58pm Sun 4 Mar 12

katch22 says...

Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.
Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience. katch22

6:12pm Sun 4 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

katch22 wrote:
Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.
Yes, I suppose we don't even cross the road without prejudice coming into our decision but it can be unhelpful when applied to groups of people. I reckon however well we catergorise them they have this unpredictable habit of jumping outside the neat little boxes they are placed in.

That is why I objected to the ill-informed rant about single parents above, especially as our daughter is one, through no fault or bad planning on her part. That poster left the debate pretty early. I suppose it would be an assumption on my part to suggest they didn't have sufficient ammo to carry on the discussion.
[quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.[/p][/quote]Yes, I suppose we don't even cross the road without prejudice coming into our decision but it can be unhelpful when applied to groups of people. I reckon however well we catergorise them they have this unpredictable habit of jumping outside the neat little boxes they are placed in. That is why I objected to the ill-informed rant about single parents above, especially as our daughter is one, through no fault or bad planning on her part. That poster left the debate pretty early. I suppose it would be an assumption on my part to suggest they didn't have sufficient ammo to carry on the discussion. John the resonator

6:26pm Sun 4 Mar 12

watchfulk says...

John the resonator wrote:
katch22 wrote:
Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.
Yes, I suppose we don't even cross the road without prejudice coming into our decision but it can be unhelpful when applied to groups of people. I reckon however well we catergorise them they have this unpredictable habit of jumping outside the neat little boxes they are placed in.

That is why I objected to the ill-informed rant about single parents above, especially as our daughter is one, through no fault or bad planning on her part. That poster left the debate pretty early. I suppose it would be an assumption on my part to suggest they didn't have sufficient ammo to carry on the discussion.
Actually still reading with interest. If you care to re read some of my comments I did say that I recognised many of these single parents and that I appreciated that not all single parents are the same. I was actually one myself through no fault of my own either and very unexpectedly and I can assure you my benefits, paid for a very short while until I could secure more hours and support myself and my children (the safety net we are fortunate to have) went on what it was intended to go on. Heating, food and clothing etc. I certainly would not have dreamed of spending it as I have witnessed some of these single mothers doing. I personally know of single mothers who have one baby after another by different fathers, have no intention of ever working and in fact never have prior to having children. These are the single parents my comments are directed at and yes there were several of those drinking very expensive (in my eyes) coffee. Sorry if you took it as a personal rant aimed at your daughter. I can assure it was not.
[quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.[/p][/quote]Yes, I suppose we don't even cross the road without prejudice coming into our decision but it can be unhelpful when applied to groups of people. I reckon however well we catergorise them they have this unpredictable habit of jumping outside the neat little boxes they are placed in. That is why I objected to the ill-informed rant about single parents above, especially as our daughter is one, through no fault or bad planning on her part. That poster left the debate pretty early. I suppose it would be an assumption on my part to suggest they didn't have sufficient ammo to carry on the discussion.[/p][/quote]Actually still reading with interest. If you care to re read some of my comments I did say that I recognised many of these single parents and that I appreciated that not all single parents are the same. I was actually one myself through no fault of my own either and very unexpectedly and I can assure you my benefits, paid for a very short while until I could secure more hours and support myself and my children (the safety net we are fortunate to have) went on what it was intended to go on. Heating, food and clothing etc. I certainly would not have dreamed of spending it as I have witnessed some of these single mothers doing. I personally know of single mothers who have one baby after another by different fathers, have no intention of ever working and in fact never have prior to having children. These are the single parents my comments are directed at and yes there were several of those drinking very expensive (in my eyes) coffee. Sorry if you took it as a personal rant aimed at your daughter. I can assure it was not. watchfulk

7:02pm Sun 4 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

watchfulk I didn't take it as a rant against our daughter, who lives in Cornwall anyway so don't worry on that account.

What did strike me is the tone of your comments to J-Monroe, who simply referred to being a single parent, no mention of benefits, sponging off the state, failing to pay taxes, multiple children, watching Jeremy Kyle or any of the things you brought up. It all read like the front page of the Daily Mail. Your subsequent far softer comments appear to be an effort to qualify your initial, perhaps ill-judged outburst.

I too disagree with people who are determined not to ever work and have children to support that lifestyle. However I avoid jumping to conclusions until a person reveals something about their life.

To return to an earlier point I don't think a look at customers at Costas tells me anything about them other than that they drink the coffee.

Sounds like you are no longer a single parent and good luck to you.
watchfulk I didn't take it as a rant against our daughter, who lives in Cornwall anyway so don't worry on that account. What did strike me is the tone of your comments to J-Monroe, who simply referred to being a single parent, no mention of benefits, sponging off the state, failing to pay taxes, multiple children, watching Jeremy Kyle or any of the things you brought up. It all read like the front page of the Daily Mail. Your subsequent far softer comments appear to be an effort to qualify your initial, perhaps ill-judged outburst. I too disagree with people who are determined not to ever work and have children to support that lifestyle. However I avoid jumping to conclusions until a person reveals something about their life. To return to an earlier point I don't think a look at customers at Costas tells me anything about them other than that they drink the coffee. Sounds like you are no longer a single parent and good luck to you. John the resonator

7:07pm Sun 4 Mar 12

johnny foreigner says...

katch22 wrote:
Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.
Interesting comment from one who now posts on the thread relating to the drunk woman on the railway line "Perhaps German leaves daren't halt trains, not having orders to do so."

Closet racist? Probably. Hypocrite? More than likely. Lazy internet shopper? More of a lazy internet bigot I would say.
[quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.[/p][/quote]Interesting comment from one who now posts on the thread relating to the drunk woman on the railway line "Perhaps German leaves daren't halt trains, not having orders to do so." Closet racist? Probably. Hypocrite? More than likely. Lazy internet shopper? More of a lazy internet bigot I would say. johnny foreigner

8:24pm Sun 4 Mar 12

watchfulk says...

John the resonator wrote:
watchfulk I didn't take it as a rant against our daughter, who lives in Cornwall anyway so don't worry on that account.

What did strike me is the tone of your comments to J-Monroe, who simply referred to being a single parent, no mention of benefits, sponging off the state, failing to pay taxes, multiple children, watching Jeremy Kyle or any of the things you brought up. It all read like the front page of the Daily Mail. Your subsequent far softer comments appear to be an effort to qualify your initial, perhaps ill-judged outburst.

I too disagree with people who are determined not to ever work and have children to support that lifestyle. However I avoid jumping to conclusions until a person reveals something about their life.

To return to an earlier point I don't think a look at customers at Costas tells me anything about them other than that they drink the coffee.

Sounds like you are no longer a single parent and good luck to you.
I quote from an earlier post by J-Monroe
'It would be great to be married with two incomes and a nice family business. But I'm not. Instead i gave my well paid job up in order to be a better parent to my child. I'm not in the best financial state, but my pennies go back into the town centre as it's where i live!'

And although I appreciate she has the best intentions by giving up her job to care for her child it means that someone else is picking up the tab for that and as a single parent I think responsibility should be taken for how you choose to spend that money that is given to you to do that. I did and I know many single parents who do the same but some do not and feel it is their right to have the latest mobile phone, their nails done on a regular basis and eat or drink out (coffee is a very small part of that list). The necessities like heat and food at home are at the bottom of their lists. I am sorry if you were offended by my earlier comments but I do feel very strongly about this and incidently entirely agree with your earlier comments about the greed of the bankers too.
[quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: watchfulk I didn't take it as a rant against our daughter, who lives in Cornwall anyway so don't worry on that account. What did strike me is the tone of your comments to J-Monroe, who simply referred to being a single parent, no mention of benefits, sponging off the state, failing to pay taxes, multiple children, watching Jeremy Kyle or any of the things you brought up. It all read like the front page of the Daily Mail. Your subsequent far softer comments appear to be an effort to qualify your initial, perhaps ill-judged outburst. I too disagree with people who are determined not to ever work and have children to support that lifestyle. However I avoid jumping to conclusions until a person reveals something about their life. To return to an earlier point I don't think a look at customers at Costas tells me anything about them other than that they drink the coffee. Sounds like you are no longer a single parent and good luck to you.[/p][/quote]I quote from an earlier post by J-Monroe 'It would be great to be married with two incomes and a nice family business. But I'm not. Instead i gave my well paid job up in order to be a better parent to my child. I'm not in the best financial state, but my pennies go back into the town centre as it's where i live!' And although I appreciate she has the best intentions by giving up her job to care for her child it means that someone else is picking up the tab for that and as a single parent I think responsibility should be taken for how you choose to spend that money that is given to you to do that. I did and I know many single parents who do the same but some do not and feel it is their right to have the latest mobile phone, their nails done on a regular basis and eat or drink out (coffee is a very small part of that list). The necessities like heat and food at home are at the bottom of their lists. I am sorry if you were offended by my earlier comments but I do feel very strongly about this and incidently entirely agree with your earlier comments about the greed of the bankers too. watchfulk

9:00pm Sun 4 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

watchfulk you don't have to keep saying sorry. I can object to comments, as can people against mine but I don't get offended easily.

Of course if J-Monroe gave up work to care for her child one could see that as an investment in the future. If she had a well-paid job she might get one again when her child(ren) are at school and end up putting back via taxes. When they used to give out student grants in the old days I suppose I 'lived off the taxpayer' and probably looked like a right long-haired layabout but then held down an unbroken 40 year professional career. So it all got paid back.

I agree with you on people who make a career of parenthood with no intention of working.

The other thing I feel is if there is no room in life for the occasional treat, what is it worth? Our daughter will have the odd coffee out, but she could teach us lessons about providing a good diet and clothing for her children without any extravagant shopping and never has her nails done, drinks in moderation, doesn't smoke and could not afford a car.

Now if a particular single parent expected all those things as a right with no responsibility then I would find myself fully in agreement with you.

I am very slow to judge people, feeling I need to know quite a bit about them before reaching conclusions. I don't tend towards snap judgements. By the same token, sometimes on minimal evidence I get lots of labels attached to me, most of which cause a chuckle.

Anyway, best of luck to you, we might not be as far apart as at first seemed.
watchfulk you don't have to keep saying sorry. I can object to comments, as can people against mine but I don't get offended easily. Of course if J-Monroe gave up work to care for her child one could see that as an investment in the future. If she had a well-paid job she might get one again when her child(ren) are at school and end up putting back via taxes. When they used to give out student grants in the old days I suppose I 'lived off the taxpayer' and probably looked like a right long-haired layabout but then held down an unbroken 40 year professional career. So it all got paid back. I agree with you on people who make a career of parenthood with no intention of working. The other thing I feel is if there is no room in life for the occasional treat, what is it worth? Our daughter will have the odd coffee out, but she could teach us lessons about providing a good diet and clothing for her children without any extravagant shopping and never has her nails done, drinks in moderation, doesn't smoke and could not afford a car. Now if a particular single parent expected all those things as a right with no responsibility then I would find myself fully in agreement with you. I am very slow to judge people, feeling I need to know quite a bit about them before reaching conclusions. I don't tend towards snap judgements. By the same token, sometimes on minimal evidence I get lots of labels attached to me, most of which cause a chuckle. Anyway, best of luck to you, we might not be as far apart as at first seemed. John the resonator

9:09pm Sun 4 Mar 12

katch22 says...

johnny foreigner wrote:
katch22 wrote:
Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.
Interesting comment from one who now posts on the thread relating to the drunk woman on the railway line "Perhaps German leaves daren't halt trains, not having orders to do so."

Closet racist? Probably. Hypocrite? More than likely. Lazy internet shopper? More of a lazy internet bigot I would say.
Try not mix up the threads or people will get confused. You purposely ignoring what was said in regards on that thread, is not the opportunity to try diluting your own clear problem with race. Your comment to be honest are worthless while you maintain your sick stance on race. I believe your posts being deleted stand witness to that. But i would agree that you are not a closet racist, you are more honest than that.

So getting back to the issue the lapsed councillor is indeed labelling people for what must be a political agenda. Her comments must be aimed at some part of society, perhaps you might know which?
[quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.[/p][/quote]Interesting comment from one who now posts on the thread relating to the drunk woman on the railway line "Perhaps German leaves daren't halt trains, not having orders to do so." Closet racist? Probably. Hypocrite? More than likely. Lazy internet shopper? More of a lazy internet bigot I would say.[/p][/quote]Try not mix up the threads or people will get confused. You purposely ignoring what was said in regards on that thread, is not the opportunity to try diluting your own clear problem with race. Your comment to be honest are worthless while you maintain your sick stance on race. I believe your posts being deleted stand witness to that. But i would agree that you are not a closet racist, you are more honest than that. So getting back to the issue the lapsed councillor is indeed labelling people for what must be a political agenda. Her comments must be aimed at some part of society, perhaps you might know which? katch22

4:19am Mon 5 Mar 12

johnny foreigner says...

katch22 wrote:
johnny foreigner wrote:
katch22 wrote:
Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.
Interesting comment from one who now posts on the thread relating to the drunk woman on the railway line "Perhaps German leaves daren't halt trains, not having orders to do so."

Closet racist? Probably. Hypocrite? More than likely. Lazy internet shopper? More of a lazy internet bigot I would say.
Try not mix up the threads or people will get confused. You purposely ignoring what was said in regards on that thread, is not the opportunity to try diluting your own clear problem with race. Your comment to be honest are worthless while you maintain your sick stance on race. I believe your posts being deleted stand witness to that. But i would agree that you are not a closet racist, you are more honest than that.

So getting back to the issue the lapsed councillor is indeed labelling people for what must be a political agenda. Her comments must be aimed at some part of society, perhaps you might know which?
OK, now I've got it. Confused closet racist!
For the clarification I say...
Thank you.
[quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.[/p][/quote]Interesting comment from one who now posts on the thread relating to the drunk woman on the railway line "Perhaps German leaves daren't halt trains, not having orders to do so." Closet racist? Probably. Hypocrite? More than likely. Lazy internet shopper? More of a lazy internet bigot I would say.[/p][/quote]Try not mix up the threads or people will get confused. You purposely ignoring what was said in regards on that thread, is not the opportunity to try diluting your own clear problem with race. Your comment to be honest are worthless while you maintain your sick stance on race. I believe your posts being deleted stand witness to that. But i would agree that you are not a closet racist, you are more honest than that. So getting back to the issue the lapsed councillor is indeed labelling people for what must be a political agenda. Her comments must be aimed at some part of society, perhaps you might know which?[/p][/quote]OK, now I've got it. Confused closet racist! For the clarification I say... Thank you. johnny foreigner

9:26am Mon 5 Mar 12

Blind Haze says...

watchfulk wrote:
I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.
I work in the city and there's no way I'd pay 4 f**king quid for a coffee.
4 f**king quid? F**k me.
[quote][p][bold]watchfulk[/bold] wrote: I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.[/p][/quote]I work in the city and there's no way I'd pay 4 f**king quid for a coffee. 4 f**king quid? F**k me. Blind Haze

9:28am Mon 5 Mar 12

Blind Haze says...

Blind Haze wrote:
watchfulk wrote: I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.
I work in the city and there's no way I'd pay 4 f**king quid for a coffee. 4 f**king quid? F**k me.
I'd much rather spend my money on drugs.
[quote][p][bold]Blind Haze[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]watchfulk[/bold] wrote: I do certainly appreciate that not all these parents sitting drinking coffee or filling their faces may be draining our taxes with their benefits but I bet you a great many of them are. I have recognised many of those that I have seen and no they do not work and yes they do have numerous offspring. Sorry I should have made my opinions more clear. Kind of knew that one of the 'do gooders' who think it is OK that some and I repeat some of these so called struggling single mums have the spare cash to sit in costas guzzling coffee would pipe up. Jeremy Kyle no switched it on by mistake once and the people on it strangely enough looked very similar to some of those single mums that I have seen in those coffee bars.[/p][/quote]I work in the city and there's no way I'd pay 4 f**king quid for a coffee. 4 f**king quid? F**k me.[/p][/quote]I'd much rather spend my money on drugs. Blind Haze

11:29am Mon 5 Mar 12

katch22 says...

johnny foreigner wrote:
katch22 wrote:
johnny foreigner wrote:
katch22 wrote:
Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.
Interesting comment from one who now posts on the thread relating to the drunk woman on the railway line "Perhaps German leaves daren't halt trains, not having orders to do so."

Closet racist? Probably. Hypocrite? More than likely. Lazy internet shopper? More of a lazy internet bigot I would say.
Try not mix up the threads or people will get confused. You purposely ignoring what was said in regards on that thread, is not the opportunity to try diluting your own clear problem with race. Your comment to be honest are worthless while you maintain your sick stance on race. I believe your posts being deleted stand witness to that. But i would agree that you are not a closet racist, you are more honest than that.

So getting back to the issue the lapsed councillor is indeed labelling people for what must be a political agenda. Her comments must be aimed at some part of society, perhaps you might know which?
OK, now I've got it. Confused closet racist!
For the clarification I say...
Thank you.
Allegation that can be levelled at anyone, even those fighting racism. The fact you do shows just what you are. You have barely escaped being removed from here by admin because of your rasist abuse and now you pretend to defend against racism. Remarkable. trying to fool all of the people all of the time. FAIL!
[quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: Yes labelling people is a lazy way to interact with people and thus to live life, its like shopping on line! Easier to do but not much of a human experience.[/p][/quote]Interesting comment from one who now posts on the thread relating to the drunk woman on the railway line "Perhaps German leaves daren't halt trains, not having orders to do so." Closet racist? Probably. Hypocrite? More than likely. Lazy internet shopper? More of a lazy internet bigot I would say.[/p][/quote]Try not mix up the threads or people will get confused. You purposely ignoring what was said in regards on that thread, is not the opportunity to try diluting your own clear problem with race. Your comment to be honest are worthless while you maintain your sick stance on race. I believe your posts being deleted stand witness to that. But i would agree that you are not a closet racist, you are more honest than that. So getting back to the issue the lapsed councillor is indeed labelling people for what must be a political agenda. Her comments must be aimed at some part of society, perhaps you might know which?[/p][/quote]OK, now I've got it. Confused closet racist! For the clarification I say... Thank you.[/p][/quote]Allegation that can be levelled at anyone, even those fighting racism. The fact you do shows just what you are. You have barely escaped being removed from here by admin because of your rasist abuse and now you pretend to defend against racism. Remarkable. trying to fool all of the people all of the time. FAIL! katch22

1:12pm Mon 5 Mar 12

johnny foreigner says...

@katch22 (aka Mincer, Stanley & The Midnight Rambler):

I apologise for the terminological inexactitude. What I meant to say was "Out-of-the-closet racist".

I bet you're proud?! Better out than in as they say.
@katch22 (aka Mincer, Stanley & The Midnight Rambler): I apologise for the terminological inexactitude. What I meant to say was "Out-of-the-closet racist". I bet you're proud?! Better out than in as they say. johnny foreigner

3:01pm Mon 5 Mar 12

frenchinsouthend says...

unfortunatley she's right...if people dont have money to spend then why would shops open a branch in Southend? ...however I think that shops should take the risk... we need good shops in southend (not tacky shops!! ) to attract shoppers with money to the high street and hopefully this will have a good effect on the local economy, great jobs etc.....
unfortunatley she's right...if people dont have money to spend then why would shops open a branch in Southend? ...however I think that shops should take the risk... we need good shops in southend (not tacky shops!! ) to attract shoppers with money to the high street and hopefully this will have a good effect on the local economy, great jobs etc..... frenchinsouthend

4:08pm Mon 5 Mar 12

Derek_Christmas says...

I wouldn't fancy opening a shop on the high street as Southend has a lot of scumbags. It's good for passing trade but I'd rather be somewhere nice like Leigh.
I wouldn't fancy opening a shop on the high street as Southend has a lot of scumbags. It's good for passing trade but I'd rather be somewhere nice like Leigh. Derek_Christmas

5:49pm Mon 5 Mar 12

katch22 says...

johnny foreigner wrote:
@katch22 (aka Mincer, Stanley & The Midnight Rambler):

I apologise for the terminological inexactitude. What I meant to say was "Out-of-the-clo
set racist".

I bet you're proud?! Better out than in as they say.
You are full of it anf no one reading any post of mine could gone to the warped conclusion you have but then you know your of 'interest' under this name and your other names. Twice banned and very nearly a hat trick! Ringing into the paper this help you last time did it, just got the thread closed down. stropmag/smagport what do the acronyms stand for, surname?
[quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: @katch22 (aka Mincer, Stanley & The Midnight Rambler): I apologise for the terminological inexactitude. What I meant to say was "Out-of-the-clo set racist". I bet you're proud?! Better out than in as they say.[/p][/quote]You are full of it anf no one reading any post of mine could gone to the warped conclusion you have but then you know your of 'interest' under this name and your other names. Twice banned and very nearly a hat trick! Ringing into the paper this help you last time did it, just got the thread closed down. stropmag/smagport what do the acronyms stand for, surname? katch22

6:23pm Mon 5 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

watchfulk if you are still out there.

This came up on the BBC. I found it fascinating reading, not trying to use it to make a point, just an interesting glimpse on social history and attitudes towards single parents.

http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/magazine-17159
966
watchfulk if you are still out there. This came up on the BBC. I found it fascinating reading, not trying to use it to make a point, just an interesting glimpse on social history and attitudes towards single parents. http://www.bbc.co.uk /news/magazine-17159 966 John the resonator

6:48pm Mon 5 Mar 12

johnny foreigner says...

katch22 wrote:
johnny foreigner wrote:
@katch22 (aka Mincer, Stanley & The Midnight Rambler):

I apologise for the terminological inexactitude. What I meant to say was "Out-of-the-clo

set racist".

I bet you're proud?! Better out than in as they say.
You are full of it anf no one reading any post of mine could gone to the warped conclusion you have but then you know your of 'interest' under this name and your other names. Twice banned and very nearly a hat trick! Ringing into the paper this help you last time did it, just got the thread closed down. stropmag/smagport what do the acronyms stand for, surname?
Ah! Stanley's back. Not sure I know what you are talking about with regard to stropmag/smagport but I certainly recall someone posting under those names in the past. Someone who you obviously disagreed with as I remember it.

Of course that was before you reinvented yourself and before you slipped out of the closet to show your true colours.

As for the question about acronyms, I couldn't possibly help you there and I think you might mean anagrams but you are the real Stanley so we expect nothing better (at least you provide some entertainment).
[quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: @katch22 (aka Mincer, Stanley & The Midnight Rambler): I apologise for the terminological inexactitude. What I meant to say was "Out-of-the-clo set racist". I bet you're proud?! Better out than in as they say.[/p][/quote]You are full of it anf no one reading any post of mine could gone to the warped conclusion you have but then you know your of 'interest' under this name and your other names. Twice banned and very nearly a hat trick! Ringing into the paper this help you last time did it, just got the thread closed down. stropmag/smagport what do the acronyms stand for, surname?[/p][/quote]Ah! Stanley's back. Not sure I know what you are talking about with regard to stropmag/smagport but I certainly recall someone posting under those names in the past. Someone who you obviously disagreed with as I remember it. Of course that was before you reinvented yourself and before you slipped out of the closet to show your true colours. As for the question about acronyms, I couldn't possibly help you there and I think you might mean anagrams but you are the real Stanley so we expect nothing better (at least you provide some entertainment). johnny foreigner

7:31pm Mon 5 Mar 12

J-Monroe says...

watchfulk wrote:
J-Monroe wrote:
You're joking? I walk past Tomassis every day and it's picturesque middle-class well-behaved brilliance.
It won't suffer a decline in business at all. Does anyone not remember PushchairGate of a few years back? Us single mothers go to Starbucks, where we're welcome!
How reassuring for us tax payers that you are spending your benefits so wisely. Consider yourself fortunate that you live in a country where you are paid enough to sit in coffee shops that most working people have to think twice about whether they can afford to visit. Plus you have the cheek to brag about it. It is depressing to walk down the high street on one of my rare days off to see the cafes and burger bars filled with single mums and their numerous offspring taking a break from Jeremy Kyle at our expense. DISGUSTING have some pride
Excellent. I love a good stereotype.
As if my household expenses are anyone else's business, I go to starbucks for a £1.40 cup of tea and loiter in there to use their Wi-Fi, to apply for jobs,as I dont have a home broadband connection. Or a TV. So no Jeremy Kyle family setup here.
For the record, I've worked all my life until November, and am trying my hardest to find work again.
Don't lump me in with everyone else you think so negatively about, as demonstrated by my very public opinion in the Echo last week and this week, I take a very dim view of judgemental people.
[quote][p][bold]watchfulk[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]J-Monroe[/bold] wrote: You're joking? I walk past Tomassis every day and it's picturesque middle-class well-behaved brilliance. It won't suffer a decline in business at all. Does anyone not remember PushchairGate of a few years back? Us single mothers go to Starbucks, where we're welcome![/p][/quote]How reassuring for us tax payers that you are spending your benefits so wisely. Consider yourself fortunate that you live in a country where you are paid enough to sit in coffee shops that most working people have to think twice about whether they can afford to visit. Plus you have the cheek to brag about it. It is depressing to walk down the high street on one of my rare days off to see the cafes and burger bars filled with single mums and their numerous offspring taking a break from Jeremy Kyle at our expense. DISGUSTING have some pride[/p][/quote]Excellent. I love a good stereotype. As if my household expenses are anyone else's business, I go to starbucks for a £1.40 cup of tea and loiter in there to use their Wi-Fi, to apply for jobs,as I dont have a home broadband connection. Or a TV. So no Jeremy Kyle family setup here. For the record, I've worked all my life until November, and am trying my hardest to find work again. Don't lump me in with everyone else you think so negatively about, as demonstrated by my very public opinion in the Echo last week and this week, I take a very dim view of judgemental people. J-Monroe

7:43pm Mon 5 Mar 12

J-Monroe says...

John the resonator wrote:
watchfulk you don't have to keep saying sorry. I can object to comments, as can people against mine but I don't get offended easily.

Of course if J-Monroe gave up work to care for her child one could see that as an investment in the future. If she had a well-paid job she might get one again when her child(ren) are at school and end up putting back via taxes. When they used to give out student grants in the old days I suppose I 'lived off the taxpayer' and probably looked like a right long-haired layabout but then held down an unbroken 40 year professional career. So it all got paid back.

I agree with you on people who make a career of parenthood with no intention of working.

The other thing I feel is if there is no room in life for the occasional treat, what is it worth? Our daughter will have the odd coffee out, but she could teach us lessons about providing a good diet and clothing for her children without any extravagant shopping and never has her nails done, drinks in moderation, doesn't smoke and could not afford a car.

Now if a particular single parent expected all those things as a right with no responsibility then I would find myself fully in agreement with you.

I am very slow to judge people, feeling I need to know quite a bit about them before reaching conclusions. I don't tend towards snap judgements. By the same token, sometimes on minimal evidence I get lots of labels attached to me, most of which cause a chuckle.

Anyway, best of luck to you, we might not be as far apart as at first seemed.
Exactly.
I was in the Fire Service from 2008, and only gave it up when working shifts 20 miles from home, with a baby to care for alone, became too much to handle. Not to mention 15 hour night shifts and having to palm my son off on other people to look after him. I had a reality check and decided to find a job closer to home with more reasonable hours.
Since leaving the Service I've had to sell my car, cut off my TV, and rely on friends and family at birthdays and Christmas to do the expensive things formy boy like shoes and coats. I don't waste money on clothes, manicures, hair dye or other 'girl' treats, i cook economically, and have always contributed and paid my taxes; so begrudging me a cup of tea I can string out for hours in a coffee shop I don't have to worry about heating and lighting- it's a bit much.
[quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: watchfulk you don't have to keep saying sorry. I can object to comments, as can people against mine but I don't get offended easily. Of course if J-Monroe gave up work to care for her child one could see that as an investment in the future. If she had a well-paid job she might get one again when her child(ren) are at school and end up putting back via taxes. When they used to give out student grants in the old days I suppose I 'lived off the taxpayer' and probably looked like a right long-haired layabout but then held down an unbroken 40 year professional career. So it all got paid back. I agree with you on people who make a career of parenthood with no intention of working. The other thing I feel is if there is no room in life for the occasional treat, what is it worth? Our daughter will have the odd coffee out, but she could teach us lessons about providing a good diet and clothing for her children without any extravagant shopping and never has her nails done, drinks in moderation, doesn't smoke and could not afford a car. Now if a particular single parent expected all those things as a right with no responsibility then I would find myself fully in agreement with you. I am very slow to judge people, feeling I need to know quite a bit about them before reaching conclusions. I don't tend towards snap judgements. By the same token, sometimes on minimal evidence I get lots of labels attached to me, most of which cause a chuckle. Anyway, best of luck to you, we might not be as far apart as at first seemed.[/p][/quote]Exactly. I was in the Fire Service from 2008, and only gave it up when working shifts 20 miles from home, with a baby to care for alone, became too much to handle. Not to mention 15 hour night shifts and having to palm my son off on other people to look after him. I had a reality check and decided to find a job closer to home with more reasonable hours. Since leaving the Service I've had to sell my car, cut off my TV, and rely on friends and family at birthdays and Christmas to do the expensive things formy boy like shoes and coats. I don't waste money on clothes, manicures, hair dye or other 'girl' treats, i cook economically, and have always contributed and paid my taxes; so begrudging me a cup of tea I can string out for hours in a coffee shop I don't have to worry about heating and lighting- it's a bit much. J-Monroe

7:59pm Mon 5 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

Good luck to you J-Monroe and I hope you don't feel patronised that I took up your cause. I just thought you had signed off, otherwise I would have left it to you.

There is nothing our daughter does not know about shopping wisely. She has the usual dilemma of going out to work vs spending most of that paying someone else to bring up her 2 children. I know which we would prefer, she is instilling some good values in them. Her plan in response is to set up a business from her home and she is just gathering a customer base. Contrary to the stereotype she is very much at pains to play straight with the benefits agency about how much she can earn and cannot wait to get off benefits altogether. She loathes people who have no intention of ever working.
Good luck to you J-Monroe and I hope you don't feel patronised that I took up your cause. I just thought you had signed off, otherwise I would have left it to you. There is nothing our daughter does not know about shopping wisely. She has the usual dilemma of going out to work vs spending most of that paying someone else to bring up her 2 children. I know which we would prefer, she is instilling some good values in them. Her plan in response is to set up a business from her home and she is just gathering a customer base. Contrary to the stereotype she is very much at pains to play straight with the benefits agency about how much she can earn and cannot wait to get off benefits altogether. She loathes people who have no intention of ever working. John the resonator

8:45pm Mon 5 Mar 12

J-Monroe says...

^No offence taken at all! I'm glad you did speak up.
Your daughter sounds very sensible and honest; good luck to her.

I'm blogging from a single mums point of view at the moment at http://oursouthend.c
om
^No offence taken at all! I'm glad you did speak up. Your daughter sounds very sensible and honest; good luck to her. I'm blogging from a single mums point of view at the moment at http://oursouthend.c om J-Monroe

8:47pm Mon 5 Mar 12

sash bore buoy says...

John the resonator wrote:
Good luck to you J-Monroe and I hope you don't feel patronised that I took up your cause. I just thought you had signed off, otherwise I would have left it to you.

There is nothing our daughter does not know about shopping wisely. She has the usual dilemma of going out to work vs spending most of that paying someone else to bring up her 2 children. I know which we would prefer, she is instilling some good values in them. Her plan in response is to set up a business from her home and she is just gathering a customer base. Contrary to the stereotype she is very much at pains to play straight with the benefits agency about how much she can earn and cannot wait to get off benefits altogether. She loathes people who have no intention of ever working.
sorry to take issue with you but the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound. she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in...but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces. why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years. you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare.
[quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: Good luck to you J-Monroe and I hope you don't feel patronised that I took up your cause. I just thought you had signed off, otherwise I would have left it to you. There is nothing our daughter does not know about shopping wisely. She has the usual dilemma of going out to work vs spending most of that paying someone else to bring up her 2 children. I know which we would prefer, she is instilling some good values in them. Her plan in response is to set up a business from her home and she is just gathering a customer base. Contrary to the stereotype she is very much at pains to play straight with the benefits agency about how much she can earn and cannot wait to get off benefits altogether. She loathes people who have no intention of ever working.[/p][/quote]sorry to take issue with you but the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound. she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in...but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces. why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years. you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare. sash bore buoy

9:26pm Mon 5 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

sash bore buoy wrote:
John the resonator wrote:
Good luck to you J-Monroe and I hope you don't feel patronised that I took up your cause. I just thought you had signed off, otherwise I would have left it to you.

There is nothing our daughter does not know about shopping wisely. She has the usual dilemma of going out to work vs spending most of that paying someone else to bring up her 2 children. I know which we would prefer, she is instilling some good values in them. Her plan in response is to set up a business from her home and she is just gathering a customer base. Contrary to the stereotype she is very much at pains to play straight with the benefits agency about how much she can earn and cannot wait to get off benefits altogether. She loathes people who have no intention of ever working.
sorry to take issue with you but the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound. she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in...but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces. why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years. you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare.
Quite a lot of personal questions and assumptions in there, my initial instinct was to tell you to pi off but I am reasonable man and as you are asking.

"the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound" ignoring the sarcasm I agree with you but benefits are part of a welfare state in which those unable to work can be supported while they are in that position. I would not want us to go back to the days of the poor laws and the work house.

Let's not also forget that the state favours children being brought up within their own families and there are very sound emotional and developmental reasons for this.

"she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in..." big assumption on your part, she was working evenings behind the bar while her husband worked 9 to 5. That is till he went off with someone our daughter considered a friend of hers, leaving her with two pre-school age children. I would say someone did put her in that situation.

"but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces" not for any longer than is absolutely necessary and her personal adviser (or whatever they are called) at the benefits agency says she wishes more claimants were like her.

"why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years." You lack insight into how tough it is bringing up two pre-school age children on your own, particularly as one of them has been a little 'complicated' shall we say. Don't know where the 10 years comes from, 2 and a half years ago she was working.

"you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare" easy one that, it is 360 miles from here to West Cornwall, we go regularly and help out (my wife is there now actually) and our daughter comes to us sometimes subject to term times now the older one is in school and contact with their dad.

All I have been saying on this thread and others is it is easy to make negative assumptions and judgements about people, that is if you are predisposed to try not to understand.

I am not going to answer any further questions you might feel arise from my answers above.
[quote][p][bold]sash bore buoy[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: Good luck to you J-Monroe and I hope you don't feel patronised that I took up your cause. I just thought you had signed off, otherwise I would have left it to you. There is nothing our daughter does not know about shopping wisely. She has the usual dilemma of going out to work vs spending most of that paying someone else to bring up her 2 children. I know which we would prefer, she is instilling some good values in them. Her plan in response is to set up a business from her home and she is just gathering a customer base. Contrary to the stereotype she is very much at pains to play straight with the benefits agency about how much she can earn and cannot wait to get off benefits altogether. She loathes people who have no intention of ever working.[/p][/quote]sorry to take issue with you but the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound. she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in...but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces. why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years. you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare.[/p][/quote]Quite a lot of personal questions and assumptions in there, my initial instinct was to tell you to pi off but I am reasonable man and as you are asking. "the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound" ignoring the sarcasm I agree with you but benefits are part of a welfare state in which those unable to work can be supported while they are in that position. I would not want us to go back to the days of the poor laws and the work house. Let's not also forget that the state favours children being brought up within their own families and there are very sound emotional and developmental reasons for this. "she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in..." big assumption on your part, she was working evenings behind the bar while her husband worked 9 to 5. That is till he went off with someone our daughter considered a friend of hers, leaving her with two pre-school age children. I would say someone did put her in that situation. "but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces" not for any longer than is absolutely necessary and her personal adviser (or whatever they are called) at the benefits agency says she wishes more claimants were like her. "why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years." You lack insight into how tough it is bringing up two pre-school age children on your own, particularly as one of them has been a little 'complicated' shall we say. Don't know where the 10 years comes from, 2 and a half years ago she was working. "you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare" easy one that, it is 360 miles from here to West Cornwall, we go regularly and help out (my wife is there now actually) and our daughter comes to us sometimes subject to term times now the older one is in school and contact with their dad. All I have been saying on this thread and others is it is easy to make negative assumptions and judgements about people, that is if you are predisposed to try not to understand. I am not going to answer any further questions you might feel arise from my answers above. John the resonator

9:37pm Mon 5 Mar 12

sash bore buoy says...

John the resonator wrote:
sash bore buoy wrote:
John the resonator wrote:
Good luck to you J-Monroe and I hope you don't feel patronised that I took up your cause. I just thought you had signed off, otherwise I would have left it to you.

There is nothing our daughter does not know about shopping wisely. She has the usual dilemma of going out to work vs spending most of that paying someone else to bring up her 2 children. I know which we would prefer, she is instilling some good values in them. Her plan in response is to set up a business from her home and she is just gathering a customer base. Contrary to the stereotype she is very much at pains to play straight with the benefits agency about how much she can earn and cannot wait to get off benefits altogether. She loathes people who have no intention of ever working.
sorry to take issue with you but the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound. she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in...but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces. why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years. you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare.
Quite a lot of personal questions and assumptions in there, my initial instinct was to tell you to pi off but I am reasonable man and as you are asking.

"the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound" ignoring the sarcasm I agree with you but benefits are part of a welfare state in which those unable to work can be supported while they are in that position. I would not want us to go back to the days of the poor laws and the work house.

Let's not also forget that the state favours children being brought up within their own families and there are very sound emotional and developmental reasons for this.

"she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in..." big assumption on your part, she was working evenings behind the bar while her husband worked 9 to 5. That is till he went off with someone our daughter considered a friend of hers, leaving her with two pre-school age children. I would say someone did put her in that situation.

"but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces" not for any longer than is absolutely necessary and her personal adviser (or whatever they are called) at the benefits agency says she wishes more claimants were like her.

"why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years." You lack insight into how tough it is bringing up two pre-school age children on your own, particularly as one of them has been a little 'complicated' shall we say. Don't know where the 10 years comes from, 2 and a half years ago she was working.

"you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare" easy one that, it is 360 miles from here to West Cornwall, we go regularly and help out (my wife is there now actually) and our daughter comes to us sometimes subject to term times now the older one is in school and contact with their dad.

All I have been saying on this thread and others is it is easy to make negative assumptions and judgements about people, that is if you are predisposed to try not to understand.

I am not going to answer any further questions you might feel arise from my answers above.
sorry but did the state select her choice of partner to bring 2 children into this world? maybe the csa should be taking up her case and maybe she needs to relocate to where she has family support so the state can be saved from being sucked dry...or maybe the easy option is the benefits office.
[quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]sash bore buoy[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: Good luck to you J-Monroe and I hope you don't feel patronised that I took up your cause. I just thought you had signed off, otherwise I would have left it to you. There is nothing our daughter does not know about shopping wisely. She has the usual dilemma of going out to work vs spending most of that paying someone else to bring up her 2 children. I know which we would prefer, she is instilling some good values in them. Her plan in response is to set up a business from her home and she is just gathering a customer base. Contrary to the stereotype she is very much at pains to play straight with the benefits agency about how much she can earn and cannot wait to get off benefits altogether. She loathes people who have no intention of ever working.[/p][/quote]sorry to take issue with you but the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound. she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in...but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces. why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years. you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare.[/p][/quote]Quite a lot of personal questions and assumptions in there, my initial instinct was to tell you to pi off but I am reasonable man and as you are asking. "the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound" ignoring the sarcasm I agree with you but benefits are part of a welfare state in which those unable to work can be supported while they are in that position. I would not want us to go back to the days of the poor laws and the work house. Let's not also forget that the state favours children being brought up within their own families and there are very sound emotional and developmental reasons for this. "she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in..." big assumption on your part, she was working evenings behind the bar while her husband worked 9 to 5. That is till he went off with someone our daughter considered a friend of hers, leaving her with two pre-school age children. I would say someone did put her in that situation. "but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces" not for any longer than is absolutely necessary and her personal adviser (or whatever they are called) at the benefits agency says she wishes more claimants were like her. "why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years." You lack insight into how tough it is bringing up two pre-school age children on your own, particularly as one of them has been a little 'complicated' shall we say. Don't know where the 10 years comes from, 2 and a half years ago she was working. "you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare" easy one that, it is 360 miles from here to West Cornwall, we go regularly and help out (my wife is there now actually) and our daughter comes to us sometimes subject to term times now the older one is in school and contact with their dad. All I have been saying on this thread and others is it is easy to make negative assumptions and judgements about people, that is if you are predisposed to try not to understand. I am not going to answer any further questions you might feel arise from my answers above.[/p][/quote]sorry but did the state select her choice of partner to bring 2 children into this world? maybe the csa should be taking up her case and maybe she needs to relocate to where she has family support so the state can be saved from being sucked dry...or maybe the easy option is the benefits office. sash bore buoy

9:43pm Mon 5 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

sash bore buoy wrote:
John the resonator wrote:
sash bore buoy wrote:
John the resonator wrote:
Good luck to you J-Monroe and I hope you don't feel patronised that I took up your cause. I just thought you had signed off, otherwise I would have left it to you.

There is nothing our daughter does not know about shopping wisely. She has the usual dilemma of going out to work vs spending most of that paying someone else to bring up her 2 children. I know which we would prefer, she is instilling some good values in them. Her plan in response is to set up a business from her home and she is just gathering a customer base. Contrary to the stereotype she is very much at pains to play straight with the benefits agency about how much she can earn and cannot wait to get off benefits altogether. She loathes people who have no intention of ever working.
sorry to take issue with you but the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound. she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in...but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces. why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years. you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare.
Quite a lot of personal questions and assumptions in there, my initial instinct was to tell you to pi off but I am reasonable man and as you are asking.

"the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound" ignoring the sarcasm I agree with you but benefits are part of a welfare state in which those unable to work can be supported while they are in that position. I would not want us to go back to the days of the poor laws and the work house.

Let's not also forget that the state favours children being brought up within their own families and there are very sound emotional and developmental reasons for this.

"she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in..." big assumption on your part, she was working evenings behind the bar while her husband worked 9 to 5. That is till he went off with someone our daughter considered a friend of hers, leaving her with two pre-school age children. I would say someone did put her in that situation.

"but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces" not for any longer than is absolutely necessary and her personal adviser (or whatever they are called) at the benefits agency says she wishes more claimants were like her.

"why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years." You lack insight into how tough it is bringing up two pre-school age children on your own, particularly as one of them has been a little 'complicated' shall we say. Don't know where the 10 years comes from, 2 and a half years ago she was working.

"you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare" easy one that, it is 360 miles from here to West Cornwall, we go regularly and help out (my wife is there now actually) and our daughter comes to us sometimes subject to term times now the older one is in school and contact with their dad.

All I have been saying on this thread and others is it is easy to make negative assumptions and judgements about people, that is if you are predisposed to try not to understand.

I am not going to answer any further questions you might feel arise from my answers above.
sorry but did the state select her choice of partner to bring 2 children into this world? maybe the csa should be taking up her case and maybe she needs to relocate to where she has family support so the state can be saved from being sucked dry...or maybe the easy option is the benefits office.
I don't get angry so you needn't bother.
[quote][p][bold]sash bore buoy[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]sash bore buoy[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: Good luck to you J-Monroe and I hope you don't feel patronised that I took up your cause. I just thought you had signed off, otherwise I would have left it to you. There is nothing our daughter does not know about shopping wisely. She has the usual dilemma of going out to work vs spending most of that paying someone else to bring up her 2 children. I know which we would prefer, she is instilling some good values in them. Her plan in response is to set up a business from her home and she is just gathering a customer base. Contrary to the stereotype she is very much at pains to play straight with the benefits agency about how much she can earn and cannot wait to get off benefits altogether. She loathes people who have no intention of ever working.[/p][/quote]sorry to take issue with you but the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound. she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in...but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces. why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years. you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare.[/p][/quote]Quite a lot of personal questions and assumptions in there, my initial instinct was to tell you to pi off but I am reasonable man and as you are asking. "the standard default is not to claim benefits as unbelievable as that might sound" ignoring the sarcasm I agree with you but benefits are part of a welfare state in which those unable to work can be supported while they are in that position. I would not want us to go back to the days of the poor laws and the work house. Let's not also forget that the state favours children being brought up within their own families and there are very sound emotional and developmental reasons for this. "she is choosing to stay at home and claim benefits. nobody put her in the situation she is in..." big assumption on your part, she was working evenings behind the bar while her husband worked 9 to 5. That is till he went off with someone our daughter considered a friend of hers, leaving her with two pre-school age children. I would say someone did put her in that situation. "but it'd the state that is picking up the pieces" not for any longer than is absolutely necessary and her personal adviser (or whatever they are called) at the benefits agency says she wishes more claimants were like her. "why is this business not already up and running? i bet she's been planning this business for 10years." You lack insight into how tough it is bringing up two pre-school age children on your own, particularly as one of them has been a little 'complicated' shall we say. Don't know where the 10 years comes from, 2 and a half years ago she was working. "you seem to have plenty of time on your hands...why aren't you doing the childcare" easy one that, it is 360 miles from here to West Cornwall, we go regularly and help out (my wife is there now actually) and our daughter comes to us sometimes subject to term times now the older one is in school and contact with their dad. All I have been saying on this thread and others is it is easy to make negative assumptions and judgements about people, that is if you are predisposed to try not to understand. I am not going to answer any further questions you might feel arise from my answers above.[/p][/quote]sorry but did the state select her choice of partner to bring 2 children into this world? maybe the csa should be taking up her case and maybe she needs to relocate to where she has family support so the state can be saved from being sucked dry...or maybe the easy option is the benefits office.[/p][/quote]I don't get angry so you needn't bother. John the resonator

9:49pm Mon 5 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

J-Monroe wrote:
^No offence taken at all! I'm glad you did speak up.
Your daughter sounds very sensible and honest; good luck to her.

I'm blogging from a single mums point of view at the moment at http://oursouthend.c

om
Thanks for that, I enjoyed reading those posts. Well researched. The extra jumper versus heating on resonates very strongly with our daughter's situation.

Think I will be at the bridge.

Have you seen the attention I am getting from the poster formerly known as shoebury asbo (anagram)? Nice.
[quote][p][bold]J-Monroe[/bold] wrote: ^No offence taken at all! I'm glad you did speak up. Your daughter sounds very sensible and honest; good luck to her. I'm blogging from a single mums point of view at the moment at http://oursouthend.c om[/p][/quote]Thanks for that, I enjoyed reading those posts. Well researched. The extra jumper versus heating on resonates very strongly with our daughter's situation. Think I will be at the bridge. Have you seen the attention I am getting from the poster formerly known as shoebury asbo (anagram)? Nice. John the resonator

9:52pm Mon 5 Mar 12

sash bore buoy says...

sorry mate ever heard of working tax credits? i assume the father is providing maintenance - i hope she is declaring this as income. don't give me the bs that she is staying there for contact with her ex. it's just a sorry list of excuses i'm afraid.
sorry mate ever heard of working tax credits? i assume the father is providing maintenance - i hope she is declaring this as income. don't give me the bs that she is staying there for contact with her ex. it's just a sorry list of excuses i'm afraid. sash bore buoy

9:54pm Mon 5 Mar 12

sash bore buoy says...

my overriding takeaway is she is just plain workshy
my overriding takeaway is she is just plain workshy sash bore buoy

9:55pm Mon 5 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

sash bore buoy wrote:
sorry mate ever heard of working tax credits? i assume the father is providing maintenance - i hope she is declaring this as income. don't give me the bs that she is staying there for contact with her ex. it's just a sorry list of excuses i'm afraid.
.
[quote][p][bold]sash bore buoy[/bold] wrote: sorry mate ever heard of working tax credits? i assume the father is providing maintenance - i hope she is declaring this as income. don't give me the bs that she is staying there for contact with her ex. it's just a sorry list of excuses i'm afraid.[/p][/quote]. John the resonator

9:55pm Mon 5 Mar 12

sash bore buoy says...

so sort of a chip off the old block then!
so sort of a chip off the old block then! sash bore buoy

9:56pm Mon 5 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

sash bore buoy wrote:
my overriding takeaway is she is just plain workshy
.
[quote][p][bold]sash bore buoy[/bold] wrote: my overriding takeaway is she is just plain workshy[/p][/quote]. John the resonator

9:57pm Mon 5 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

sash bore buoy wrote:
so sort of a chip off the old block then!
.
[quote][p][bold]sash bore buoy[/bold] wrote: so sort of a chip off the old block then![/p][/quote]. John the resonator

10:02pm Mon 5 Mar 12

sash bore buoy says...

were you really expecting sympathy from the poor taxpayers from your gut spilling session?
were you really expecting sympathy from the poor taxpayers from your gut spilling session? sash bore buoy

10:08pm Mon 5 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

sash bore buoy wrote:
were you really expecting sympathy from the poor taxpayers from your gut spilling session?
.
[quote][p][bold]sash bore buoy[/bold] wrote: were you really expecting sympathy from the poor taxpayers from your gut spilling session?[/p][/quote]. John the resonator

10:14pm Mon 5 Mar 12

sash bore buoy says...

well i guess you're conceding that you have no answer to the sponge tag
well i guess you're conceding that you have no answer to the sponge tag sash bore buoy

10:23pm Mon 5 Mar 12

John the resonator says...

sash bore buoy wrote:
well i guess you're conceding that you have no answer to the sponge tag
I don't understand the reference to sponge tag.

What I am conceding is that I already explained I would not answer any further questions after those responses to your earlier post. I gave my answers to your points but now I feel you are just being provocative and personal.

You are entitled to your beliefs but my conscience is clear. You will not draw me into any further argument.

Incidentally I will not report your posts because I far prefer people to show themselves up through their own words.

Over and out from me.
[quote][p][bold]sash bore buoy[/bold] wrote: well i guess you're conceding that you have no answer to the sponge tag[/p][/quote]I don't understand the reference to sponge tag. What I am conceding is that I already explained I would not answer any further questions after those responses to your earlier post. I gave my answers to your points but now I feel you are just being provocative and personal. You are entitled to your beliefs but my conscience is clear. You will not draw me into any further argument. Incidentally I will not report your posts because I far prefer people to show themselves up through their own words. Over and out from me. John the resonator

10:29pm Mon 5 Mar 12

sash bore buoy says...

what did i post that was offensive? you put your daughter's issues in the public domain. i asked some legitimate questions which you have failed to answer. sorry if there was any offence but sometimes personal details should not be laundered in this type of forum as it naturally provokes more questions particularly in the context of this story.
what did i post that was offensive? you put your daughter's issues in the public domain. i asked some legitimate questions which you have failed to answer. sorry if there was any offence but sometimes personal details should not be laundered in this type of forum as it naturally provokes more questions particularly in the context of this story. sash bore buoy

10:41pm Mon 5 Mar 12

sash bore buoy says...

where's my toking grandad buddy john?
where's my toking grandad buddy john? sash bore buoy

11:50pm Mon 5 Mar 12

katch22 says...

johnny foreigner wrote:
katch22 wrote:
johnny foreigner wrote:
@katch22 (aka Mincer, Stanley & The Midnight Rambler):

I apologise for the terminological inexactitude. What I meant to say was "Out-of-the-clo


set racist".

I bet you're proud?! Better out than in as they say.
You are full of it anf no one reading any post of mine could gone to the warped conclusion you have but then you know your of 'interest' under this name and your other names. Twice banned and very nearly a hat trick! Ringing into the paper this help you last time did it, just got the thread closed down. stropmag/smagport what do the acronyms stand for, surname?
Ah! Stanley's back. Not sure I know what you are talking about with regard to stropmag/smagport but I certainly recall someone posting under those names in the past. Someone who you obviously disagreed with as I remember it.

Of course that was before you reinvented yourself and before you slipped out of the closet to show your true colours.

As for the question about acronyms, I couldn't possibly help you there and I think you might mean anagrams but you are the real Stanley so we expect nothing better (at least you provide some entertainment).
i think we all know who you are, smagport and stropmag are the names you had before you were kicked off here in those guises, and yes i meant anagrams. If my true colours we as you say they are id be the same as you and we would agree but that would never be.

This country rejects racism and it should reject what this clearly batty woman has said about single mums and poor people!picking on people because who or what they is the sign of instability! But you know that all ready dont you.
[quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]katch22[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]johnny foreigner[/bold] wrote: @katch22 (aka Mincer, Stanley & The Midnight Rambler): I apologise for the terminological inexactitude. What I meant to say was "Out-of-the-clo set racist". I bet you're proud?! Better out than in as they say.[/p][/quote]You are full of it anf no one reading any post of mine could gone to the warped conclusion you have but then you know your of 'interest' under this name and your other names. Twice banned and very nearly a hat trick! Ringing into the paper this help you last time did it, just got the thread closed down. stropmag/smagport what do the acronyms stand for, surname?[/p][/quote]Ah! Stanley's back. Not sure I know what you are talking about with regard to stropmag/smagport but I certainly recall someone posting under those names in the past. Someone who you obviously disagreed with as I remember it. Of course that was before you reinvented yourself and before you slipped out of the closet to show your true colours. As for the question about acronyms, I couldn't possibly help you there and I think you might mean anagrams but you are the real Stanley so we expect nothing better (at least you provide some entertainment).[/p][/quote]i think we all know who you are, smagport and stropmag are the names you had before you were kicked off here in those guises, and yes i meant anagrams. If my true colours we as you say they are id be the same as you and we would agree but that would never be. This country rejects racism and it should reject what this clearly batty woman has said about single mums and poor people!picking on people because who or what they is the sign of instability! But you know that all ready dont you. katch22

11:55pm Mon 5 Mar 12

katch22 says...

J-Monroe wrote:
John the resonator wrote:
watchfulk you don't have to keep saying sorry. I can object to comments, as can people against mine but I don't get offended easily.

Of course if J-Monroe gave up work to care for her child one could see that as an investment in the future. If she had a well-paid job she might get one again when her child(ren) are at school and end up putting back via taxes. When they used to give out student grants in the old days I suppose I 'lived off the taxpayer' and probably looked like a right long-haired layabout but then held down an unbroken 40 year professional career. So it all got paid back.

I agree with you on people who make a career of parenthood with no intention of working.

The other thing I feel is if there is no room in life for the occasional treat, what is it worth? Our daughter will have the odd coffee out, but she could teach us lessons about providing a good diet and clothing for her children without any extravagant shopping and never has her nails done, drinks in moderation, doesn't smoke and could not afford a car.

Now if a particular single parent expected all those things as a right with no responsibility then I would find myself fully in agreement with you.

I am very slow to judge people, feeling I need to know quite a bit about them before reaching conclusions. I don't tend towards snap judgements. By the same token, sometimes on minimal evidence I get lots of labels attached to me, most of which cause a chuckle.

Anyway, best of luck to you, we might not be as far apart as at first seemed.
Exactly.
I was in the Fire Service from 2008, and only gave it up when working shifts 20 miles from home, with a baby to care for alone, became too much to handle. Not to mention 15 hour night shifts and having to palm my son off on other people to look after him. I had a reality check and decided to find a job closer to home with more reasonable hours.
Since leaving the Service I've had to sell my car, cut off my TV, and rely on friends and family at birthdays and Christmas to do the expensive things formy boy like shoes and coats. I don't waste money on clothes, manicures, hair dye or other 'girl' treats, i cook economically, and have always contributed and paid my taxes; so begrudging me a cup of tea I can string out for hours in a coffee shop I don't have to worry about heating and lighting- it's a bit much.
Dont listen to them or even worry about it, these types would find fault with Jesus or Mother Theresa!
[quote][p][bold]J-Monroe[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]John the resonator[/bold] wrote: watchfulk you don't have to keep saying sorry. I can object to comments, as can people against mine but I don't get offended easily. Of course if J-Monroe gave up work to care for her child one could see that as an investment in the future. If she had a well-paid job she might get one again when her child(ren) are at school and end up putting back via taxes. When they used to give out student grants in the old days I suppose I 'lived off the taxpayer' and probably looked like a right long-haired layabout but then held down an unbroken 40 year professional career. So it all got paid back. I agree with you on people who make a career of parenthood with no intention of working. The other thing I feel is if there is no room in life for the occasional treat, what is it worth? Our daughter will have the odd coffee out, but she could teach us lessons about providing a good diet and clothing for her children without any extravagant shopping and never has her nails done, drinks in moderation, doesn't smoke and could not afford a car. Now if a particular single parent expected all those things as a right with no responsibility then I would find myself fully in agreement with you. I am very slow to judge people, feeling I need to know quite a bit about them before reaching conclusions. I don't tend towards snap judgements. By the same token, sometimes on minimal evidence I get lots of labels attached to me, most of which cause a chuckle. Anyway, best of luck to you, we might not be as far apart as at first seemed.[/p][/quote]Exactly. I was in the Fire Service from 2008, and only gave it up when working shifts 20 miles from home, with a baby to care for alone, became too much to handle. Not to mention 15 hour night shifts and having to palm my son off on other people to look after him. I had a reality check and decided to find a job closer to home with more reasonable hours. Since leaving the Service I've had to sell my car, cut off my TV, and rely on friends and family at birthdays and Christmas to do the expensive things formy boy like shoes and coats. I don't waste money on clothes, manicures, hair dye or other 'girl' treats, i cook economically, and have always contributed and paid my taxes; so begrudging me a cup of tea I can string out for hours in a coffee shop I don't have to worry about heating and lighting- it's a bit much.[/p][/quote]Dont listen to them or even worry about it, these types would find fault with Jesus or Mother Theresa! katch22

10:37am Tue 6 Mar 12

J-Monroe says...

^Heh, that made me chuckle. Cheers Katch22.
^Heh, that made me chuckle. Cheers Katch22. J-Monroe

9:10pm Sun 18 Mar 12

me2ub8be says...

APR wrote:
No doubt she will come in for a lot of stick for saying this, but she is probably correct.
Wow, what a sweeping generalisation.

Being a single mum myself, I personally feel very offended by Anna's remarks!! Clearly all she proves is that anything politic related is simply brainless.

It doesn't take a genious to work out what is really hitting the shops hard; try the fact that most people these days simply shop online for the love of it being cheaper than high street shops.

I work hard trying to bring up my only child alone whilst working part time in London earning a good wage, so therefore have money to spend when and where I choose. I just choose to spend it wisely rather than being ripped off by high street shops, who clearly have to charge over the odds in order to try and make ends meet because of their extortionate overheads.

If I made any such comment within my workplace, I would be under investigation for discrimination. She should be scoulded heavily!!!
[quote][p][bold]APR[/bold] wrote: No doubt she will come in for a lot of stick for saying this, but she is probably correct.[/p][/quote]Wow, what a sweeping generalisation. Being a single mum myself, I personally feel very offended by Anna's remarks!! Clearly all she proves is that anything politic related is simply brainless. It doesn't take a genious to work out what is really hitting the shops hard; try the fact that most people these days simply shop online for the love of it being cheaper than high street shops. I work hard trying to bring up my only child alone whilst working part time in London earning a good wage, so therefore have money to spend when and where I choose. I just choose to spend it wisely rather than being ripped off by high street shops, who clearly have to charge over the odds in order to try and make ends meet because of their extortionate overheads. If I made any such comment within my workplace, I would be under investigation for discrimination. She should be scoulded heavily!!! me2ub8be

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