Readers may wish to know what their paid councillors think are priorities
for spending of precious public money and senior officers' time.



What, for example, does suspended Conservative Councillor David Barton
think is a priority for the valuable time of the Sefton MBC Chief Executive?

The answer is that Councillor Barton wrote to Margaret Carney in November
seeking a CONFIDENTIAL meeting to discuss with him his idea to have two new
trees at Lord Street opposite Market Street moved because late night
revellers' complaints of pigeon fouling while they were waiting in the taxi
rank. The work would likely cost the Council about £400.

Councillor Barton told Mrs Carney:

"The fault therein upon my research actually lies here with there being an
absent official Representative on behalf of the Hackney Taxi Association
whereby during the original consultation process as part of the Planning
and Planting Procedure, the Trees Department have contacted the Taxi
Drivers themselves in lieu.

Unfortunately this has caused trees to be planted in two such unfavourable
locations whereby the background knowledge has proven to be ill-thought
given the numerous complaints I have myself received of damaged car doors
due to the unfortunate placing of these two new tree sites being in close
proximity with the waiting taxis and their clients, in addition to various
other pieces of street furniture throughout the year such as the Southport
BID planters and metal planting stalls."


Cllr Barton continues:

". . . based on the consistent numbers of complaints I have received from
various Taxi Drivers and residents that park their cars there, be they
local resident or visitor, I feel the need to seek your assistance with
authorising the reversal of this decision. As previously stated I am happy
to support this decision from the Dukes Ward District funds if necessary.

" If I may therefore kindly request to meet with you either alone or with a
senior member of the Taxi Association in the near future, subject to your
preference naturally and as soon as is convenient with yourself of course I
would be most obliged."


The Sefton Tree team have reported that a survey by officers inTaxi
Licensing) resulted in approximately 18 taxi drivers being spoken to about
the pigeon threat.

" none voiced concerns regarding where the trees had been placed. Therefore
the trees were not programmed to be removed and placed elsewhere."

Councillor Barton does not believe that the Hackney drivers represent their
views adequately on important matters such as this. So he asked for Mrs
Carney's

". . assistance in appointing a new Official Hackney Taxi Association
Representative to allay any such similar occurrences in this future. ."

Residents have been suggesting cheaper ways of addressing the perceived
pigeon problem on Lord Street. One suggestion is a 'scarepigeon". This is
very similar to a scarecrow but consists of a cardboard cut out on a stick
of a man in a shiny blue suit.

Cllr. Barton's written English is appalling.
A lot of it makes no sense whatsoever and just seems to be a collection of random phrases cobbled together, with a few words thrown in inappropriately in order to try and sound impressive.
How much did his father spend on his education?

Notwithstanding the pertinent fact that contemporaneous research predicates this appearing to be an issue of great seriousness in the context of the immense problems currently facing society, one cogitates whether the consequences herein described merit anything other than a considered response, taking into account all potential arguments, considerations and deliberations and ignoring the fact that words of such magnitude and in an order of such randomocity and non-sensicalness to render meaningful debate of debatable value, that actually the person concerned should seek out an issue of greater importance to society, civilised in the way to which we have been accustomed both historically and hopefully thereafter in future and should simply......


get a life.

No wonder our town is in the state it's in:

1) we have councillors we can't understand
2) our local libs think our GPs are guilty of theft
3) our councillors cant work cross party.

Incidentally on the £400, our MP cost us £77k trying to block Sainsbury's which was 2.5 times the amount spent on the much blasted Nexus report to develop the whole town based purely on fear that Sainsbury's *may* close the store in 5 years time.

Originally Posted by Mr. Brightside

Cllr. Barton's written English is appalling.

My own thoughts exactly.

For example (always assuming that they are his words, and not an example of someone trying to send him up) his opening paragraph is an example of the worst sort of pompous, semi-literate verbosity:

"The fault therein upon my research actually lies here with there being an absent official Representative on behalf of the Hackney Taxi Association whereby during the original consultation process as part of the Planning and Planting Procedure, the Trees Department have contacted the Taxi Drivers themselves in lieu."

Originally Posted by BOING2

Notwithstanding the pertinent fact that contemporaneous research predicates this appearing to be an issue of great seriousness in the context of the immense problems currently facing society, one cogitates whether the consequences herein described merit anything other than a considered response, taking into account all potential arguments, considerations and deliberations and ignoring the fact that words of such magnitude and in an order of such randomocity and non-sensicalness to render meaningful debate of debatable value, that actually the person concerned should seek out an issue of greater importance to society, civilised in the way to which we have been accustomed both historically and hopefully thereafter in future and should simply......


get a life.

Absolutely brilliant ( and so succinct).

Surely the problem is the pigeons rather than the trees.

Just move the rank.

The Hackney Rank did used to be better situated by the Old cinema across the road,but the management of the Vincent did NOT want a Taxi Rank outside their entrance.Mind you,watching the customers eating their food,now that would be horrendous for us,the waiting drivers using the rank.

But DO agree with the tree situation,as there are a couple of NEW trees which were planted recently,and are at least 2 feet too close to the kerb,and drivers have to be careful in case a passenger opens the doors too wide.And sometimes when waiting in the Hackney Rank at night,you can hear the thud of droppings hitting the roof of the vehicles,but they are NOT just the pigeons doing this,as most of them roost on the top of the shops veranda's,and it is starlings and sparrows in the trees branches when roosting doing the damage to passengers clothing.

Get rid of the pigeons, problem solved.

Cull the pigeons and leave the trees........... Simples....

The recipient of that letter must be having a good old laugh. What a pompous, puffed-up and self-important load of drivel, showing a lack of self-confidence. But I guess at least this guy is always seen to be doing something, which is more than can be said for some of his colleagues.

Originally Posted by Mr. Brightside

Cllr. Barton's written English is appalling.
A lot of it makes no sense whatsoever and just seems to be a collection of random phrases cobbled together, with a few words thrown in inappropriately in order to try and sound impressive.
How much did his father spend on his education?

It's his mother tongue ......... pigin english

well we have homeless on our streets ,beggars aplenty yobs running rings round the police drugdens a&e in overload ,the shops shutting down,even the charity shops.and here we have our councillors worrying about 2 trees and pigeon poop on afew pd up taxi punters not opening a taxis door with care duh!!!.wont be long before we wont be needing our taxis due to lack of punters in this place anyway!

Originally Posted by roving-eye

Readers may wish to know what their paid councillors think are priorities
for spending of precious public money and senior officers' time.



What, for example, does suspended Conservative Councillor David Barton
think is a priority for the valuable time of the Sefton MBC Chief Executive?

The answer is that Councillor Barton wrote to Margaret Carney in November
seeking a CONFIDENTIAL meeting to discuss with him his idea to have two new
trees at Lord Street opposite Market Street moved because late night
revellers' complaints of pigeon fouling while they were waiting in the taxi
rank. The work would likely cost the Council about £400.

Councillor Barton told Mrs Carney:

"The fault therein upon my research actually lies here with there being an
absent official Representative on behalf of the Hackney Taxi Association
whereby during the original consultation process as part of the Planning
and Planting Procedure, the Trees Department have contacted the Taxi
Drivers themselves in lieu.

Unfortunately this has caused trees to be planted in two such unfavourable
locations whereby the background knowledge has proven to be ill-thought
given the numerous complaints I have myself received of damaged car doors
due to the unfortunate placing of these two new tree sites being in close
proximity with the waiting taxis and their clients, in addition to various
other pieces of street furniture throughout the year such as the Southport
BID planters and metal planting stalls."


Cllr Barton continues:

". . . based on the consistent numbers of complaints I have received from
various Taxi Drivers and residents that park their cars there, be they
local resident or visitor, I feel the need to seek your assistance with
authorising the reversal of this decision. As previously stated I am happy
to support this decision from the Dukes Ward District funds if necessary.

" If I may therefore kindly request to meet with you either alone or with a
senior member of the Taxi Association in the near future, subject to your
preference naturally and as soon as is convenient with yourself of course I
would be most obliged."


The Sefton Tree team have reported that a survey by officers inTaxi
Licensing) resulted in approximately 18 taxi drivers being spoken to about
the pigeon threat.

" none voiced concerns regarding where the trees had been placed. Therefore
the trees were not programmed to be removed and placed elsewhere."

Councillor Barton does not believe that the Hackney drivers represent their
views adequately on important matters such as this. So he asked for Mrs
Carney's

". . assistance in appointing a new Official Hackney Taxi Association
Representative to allay any such similar occurrences in this future. ."

Residents have been suggesting cheaper ways of addressing the perceived
pigeon problem on Lord Street. One suggestion is a 'scarepigeon". This is
very similar to a scarecrow but consists of a cardboard cut out on a stick
of a man in a shiny blue suit.

What a load of TRIPE! (From our esteemed Councillor) (Apart from the LAST paragraph!)