Life

What would I like to change in Shirebrook?

September 14, 2020

6 minutes read

This article is a direct answer for criticism from one of the “fans” of this website who is very active on Facebook. I will not mention his name but for the use of this article, I will call that reader XX.

I always try to accept criticism and take it into consideration, especially if it is constructive. XX criticism is based on three pillars: the first pillar is the claim that I only criticize the Labour Party; the second pillar is the claim that I do it only to make a “career” and that I supposedly hide my true ambitions from the readers; the last pillar is the claim that I do not propose solutions. I have considered these allegations very seriously and it seems to me personally that XX is only right on the last point.

As for the first one, my answer is simple: I criticize Labour because I can’t see anything in Shirebrook Labour Party current activities that are worth to praise. That is my opinion and readers can disagree with it. I acknowledge the fact that I don’t know everything STC has done and plan to do and maybe there is something that they doing right, but I observe Council very closely and I can’t name one thing that they have done and it’s impressed me.

I don’t want to be negative all the time- it gives me no pleasure. I tried to look for positives but everywhere I look, I see mismanagement, lack of out-of-box thinking, lack of trying, ignoring needs of residents. STC and Labour have a huge problem with communication and transparency. I even tried to interview one of the Labour Party Councillors to give Labour representative opportunity to explain their standpoints. My e-mail about it was ignored… I will try again with different Councillor but I don’t have much hope.

The second allegation is wildly untrue: I have never concealed anything from anyone. I have already run in an election and I openly stressed in one of the previous articles that I will do it again (if God and health allow me). Being Town Councillor is not a career- its a job that you do for FREE. The politician is a person who lives from politics- his main source of income is political work. I do not plan to be a politician because I am satisfied with my professional career. My ONLY ambition is to bring positive change to how Shirebrook is managed. I want to help. That is all. At this moment I’m doing it by providing independent information about STC activities: there is not much more I could do in my position at the moment.

The only thing I have to agree with in the criticism of the XX is that so far I have not written an article presenting my ideas for improving the town. People who have read the election leaflet that I distributed before the 2019 local elections know that I presented several solutions to improve Shirebrook. However, I am aware of the fact that few people read the election leaflets. That is why this article is being written: to explain once and for all why I do what I do and to show the other readers that if I will ever sit on the Town Council – I will not just be there to criticize.

It is quite likely that I won’t be able to win a seat on the Council. Last time I lost by 16 votes even tho I did everything in my power to win. Nevertheless, I want to present my ideas for the consideration of those who doubt that I can offer something more than scrutiny and criticism (which is still important and useful). I think that S247 can serve as a watchdog, as a source of independent information about Town even if I never get a seat at Council. At the same time, I’m confident that being there would provide me with a better perspective, more accurate information and better opportunity to do something more than writing.

CRIME PREVENTION IN SHIREBROOK
CCTV
The town council promised to launch CCTV as early as 2016. To this day we don’t even have one camera. Labour decided to take 400 000 debt to build new Town Hall yet they forgot to add a single camera on a wall. The objective of my project is not only to place cameras on the market but also in places with a particularly high crime rate and on every entrance road to the city. Such a system would be more expensive, but it would certainly significantly improve and speed up the police response in the town.

Dissolution of STC Leisure Committee and establishment of a new Crime Prevention Committee
I believe that STC should not spend taxpayer money on festivals, games and car shows as long as a crime in the city continues to grow. I want to dissolve the Leisure Committee and establish a completely new committee that will focus on finding and funding new ways to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in Shirebrook.

Operation Abash 2.0
A few years ago I worked as a volunteer for Doncaster Police. At some point I was attached to Operation Abash- it was a special police project aimed at combating crime among Eastern European minority. The operation led to the launch of a pilot crime prevention program in South Yorkshire which resulted in the deportation of 300 people and significant fall of crime rate in areas settled by Eastern Europeans. If I ever had an influence on anything, I would like to invite the police officers who led this operation to Shirebrook to help bring the tried and tested solutions from Doncaster to our area. All we need to do is to rid off few bad apples and change will be felt instantly: I saw it on my own eyes.

Police and Crime Commissioner
Labour PCC came to an unfamous community meeting in 2016, talk about the awesomeness of Labour, promised us a change and… disappeared. We never heard from him again. None of his promises came to fruition. Crime rate didn’t drop at all- it went up!!! There will be a new election for PCC in May 2021. Whoever wins it- he/she need to be constantly reminded that Shirebrook has the highest crime rate in Bolsover District. We need to be on the top of his/her priority list.

ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES
Conversion of the double T-crossing near the cemetery into a collision-free roundabout
I believe that the reconstruction of this intersection will reduce traffic jams in the area and reduce CO2 emissions, which will ultimately improve the quality of life of local residents and all who travel to and from work outside Shirebrook.

Speed cameras or speed bumps
Mainly problem occurs on Langwith Road- residents of this area complain for years about cars driving with the dangerous speed in this area. We should act before something bad happens.

Widening of Main Street near the intersection with Central Drive
I think that narrowing the road and pavement in this place is dangerous, causes traffic jams, increases the risk of accidents and increases CO2 emissions. There is a big patch of grass that could be used to a widening of road and pavement to make traffic more smooth and less dangerous for pedestrians.

Market place traffic
For years residents complain that cars drive trough Market completely disregarding posted road signs. Council should end this constant state of indecision in this matter. They should decide: either allow cars to drive there or close market entrance road for all except buses, market stalls operators, police etc. and fine those who break the law.

TRANSPARENCY OF COUNCIL
Information
There is a lack of information from Council available to the residents. The town does not have a Facebook account and News section at town website is updated rarely. This should be changed. One of the reasons for low turnout in the election (lowest turnout in District) is a fact that residents don’t know what is going on in Town. I think it is deliberate tactics of the Labour Party to keep the population in the dark, away from issues. It’s harmful to community cohesion and needs to be addressed.

Lack of scrutiny
Since 100% of Council is Labour- no one really controls and review what is going on. Amount of mismanagement revealed by S247 is only a proof that we need more scrutiny over Labour Party, we need someone not tied with Labour to provide inside information to residents. The Post is biased and does not inform about anything that could expose Labour to criticism.

Tax rises
Just in the last 4 years, local tax collected by STC rose by 22.7%. Same time Labour-led Bolsover District Council rose tax by 11.9%. That is 34.5% local tax rise. Inflation rate in the same period? 8.14%. The only way to stop another tax rises is an honest review and restructuring STC expenses. To do that the Council need a new suit of councillors- fresh people with ideas, energy, knowledge and will to make difficult decisions. As long as people of Shirebrook blindly vote on those who deliver nothing and takes all- nothing other than (rising)taxes will change.