When not in government, Labour opposed the sale of council houses; championed the low paid; promised to increase the state pension and link it to earnings; called for the redistribution of wealth and heralded an ‘ethical’ foreign policy. This sounded well worth voting for. I did. When is it going to happen? Continue reading Ryeview – September 2007
There is a shortage of affordable housing in Britain. Ryedale is one of the most unaffordable areas within Britain. Very little is being done in the UK, even less in Ryedale. I was delighted when RDC commissioned a ‘2006 Housing Needs Assessment’. This document surveys, measures and analyses housing in Ryedale, affordability and the need for future housing. Continue reading Ryeview – August 2007
Nearly twenty years ago, my son, Alasdair, asked me ‘How do drains work?’ I cannot remember my answer to him but the truth is ‘I don’t know’. I know some basics like: the water runs off the roof or the roads, down the drain and ends up in the sea. It’s the bits in between I don’t understand. Continue reading Ryeview – August 2007
In the 1950’s in Appleton – Le – Moors, my grandmother and I walked down the street to a farm where the farmer poured ‘about a pint’ of milk into a jug. Not pasteurised, not homogenised, no top colour, no bottle, no food miles. Just local food produced within a natural environment. Continue reading Ryeview – July 2007
Climate change is either caused by humans or it is not. The majority of climate scientists believe it is. That doesn’t mean they are right. On the other hand, we must not assume they are wrong. What is certain is that we are using up the worlds limited fossil fuels. These two facts mean that we must not only reduce our fossil fuel use but we must convert to all renewable energy with zero carbon emissions. Continue reading Ryeview – June 2007
Ryedale District Council is in a disagreement with the government. The government wants larger local government while RDC wants to stay in its present form. The next problem is North Yorkshire County Council has come over the horizon and offered the government a solution. NYCC will deliver a larger council for the government. The whole of North Yorkshire will become one ‘unitary’ council. Continue reading Ryeview – May 2007
Food is the fuel of life. Despite this immense importance, our food is abused. Preservatives, E numbers, salt, fat and many unknowns are all added to processed food resulting in much of it becoming harmful. Research in the 1930s (McCarrison) showed that those people eating healthy simple food were in fact healthy themselves. The groups he observed ranged from isolated villages in Northern India to South Sea Islanders and Eskimos (Inuits). A wide range of diets from lacto-vegetarians through to almost carnivorous. The food was unprocessed and the people were healthy. Continue reading Ryeview – April 2007
Being in a minority is one thing. Being in a minority of one and not being sure is another. Last week I was the only one opposing the ‘Sustainable Communities Bill’ on Ryedale District Council. How could I possible be against something being sustainable? How could I possibly be against something supporting communities? Continue reading Ryeview – March 2007
Out of the window I can see a pigeon, a pheasant and a hen all within twenty yards of each other. The ‘Men from the Ministry’ view these birds completely differently. The pigeon is a wild bird; the pheasant becomes a wild bird when it is released from its intensive rearing while the hen is a domestic bird. The ministry rule book insists that if there is a case of H5N1 (bird flu) then the hen must be kept inside. Continue reading Ryeview – February 2007
Paying twice is always bad news. Losing a ticket and having to buy a replacement hurts more than twice the cost in the first place. Now, the con merchants of the EU and the ‘market’ have found ways of getting us to pay three or four times. Continue reading Ryeview – January 2007