Good News – Bad News

It was a mixed week in STC. We started with unusually good news, just to have it countered with disastrous news a few days later. I’m super busy, so I’ll just note these events in a few sentences. Let’s start with the good news.

£250,000 FROM THE MAYOR
STC was awarded a grant from the Mayor (I bet you don’t know her name) of (I bet you don’t remember her constituency name) some area I can’t remember, and we’re in it (yes — our taxes fund her office). This whole “mayor’s office” is peak bureaucracy: no one knows what she does, no one knows her name, no one knows the name of the area she’s responsible for, but it costs millions of pounds. I admit — I knew nothing about her and her responsibilities, so… I did some quick research. Let me drop a few nuggets about another Labour “politician” in a high place.

The 2026/27 budget is £500,000,000, approved unanimously by the EMCCA Board, including a £290m capital programme with more than 70% on transport. Mayor Claire Ward has a salary of £93,000, plus extra allowances. Research also fed back two media nuggets that sound like a nice, Labour-style scandal: she spent £9,328 on chauffeuring services between March 2025 and February 2026, using a Government-issued corporate credit card. And then, just to top it off, she went on a taxpayer-funded trip to… Japan!

The whole “mayor” thing is a topic for a separate article, because no one knows her and no one knows what she does apart from spending tax money left and right.

But hey — she gave Shirebrook £250,000 of your own tax money, so… be happy, right?

SUCCESS IS A SUCCESS
When the news exploded on Facebook, everyone rushed to post about it. I saw at least 6 versions of the same news. Success has many fathers; failure usually ends up an orphan… just ask any Labour politician who started chaos in STC and wave of resignations. Still, there’s no doubt this is a Shirebrook success. We kicked Labour out of STC and suddenly Labour politicians are paying attention and blessing us with grants.

This £250k will be used to build a few new things around the Leisure Centre. Of course, none of it will be used to increase our safety, street cleanliness, at-risk-youth outreach or elderly programmes. All of it goes straight into… leisure. The number one priority of local Labour for the last… hmm, two decades? The ship is sinking, but at least you’ll be relaxed when you drown.

THEN — DISASTER
At the end of the week, another post made the rounds on Facebook. I’m so busy that I didn’t even comment on it, but the gist is this: someone applied to turn the unpaved part of Stinting Lane into a street.

I’m surprised. The Police already gave a negative recommendation to that idea. Years ago. Then there were attempts to turn this muddy path into a proper sidewalk. I proposed and lobbied for it several times — I even mentioned it in recent months.

Suddenly, out of the blue, someone’s trying to build a road there. Road that no one wants after cross lights that no one wanted near Crematorium that only Labour-led BDC wanted. I see pattern here…

I’M NOT WORRIED AND HERE’S WHY
There’s only £569,000 left in s106 money. This part of Stinting Lane contains hundreds of yards of unpaved path and… a metal bridge over a ravine. It’s barely visible because it’s overgrown with bushes, but its there- you can see it if you walk whole Stinting Lane. Ravine is deep and wide. Building a proper road connecting Meadow Lane with the “civilised” part of Stinting Lane will cost much more than half a million.

I’m also not worried because news about it immediately provoked a reaction from the community. Negative and furious. I have no idea who is pushing for that ridiculous idea, but it will be a big hill to climb. Especially if you take into consideration that many drivers would prefer that road over cross-lights near cemetery. That road will get busy. Fast.

In reality, the majority of residents just want the small path to be paved, A-framed, lit and secured by CCTV. On the other hand: the majority of residents wanted a roundabout near the cemetery, and we all know how that ended. BDC signed off on something that in my view made traffic ten times worse.

THE END
I think this grant is more significant than you think. The last time Shirebrook got any substantial sum was years ago. It was called the NG20 fund (or something like that), and it was £1.2m from a Conservative government. This time the money comes straight from a Labour office, and it’s the first time in my lifetime that Labour has done something extra for this town. And by sheer coincidence, this happens just as Labour is losing its footing here.

Isn’t this the best proof that this town can’t afford to let Labour win 100% of the seats again? Vote, people — for anyone but Labour. Good things happen when Labour is not in charge…

Sylwester Zwierzynski info@shirebrook247.com
Lead picture: made with Midjourney