Links, theatre and prayers

Posted By: Robin Parker
Date Posted: 26/11/2007

Links We were briefed on the results of the consultation on the proposed Langley Link corridor and I was initially surprised at the positive results they had received. That is, until I took another look at the questions. As an example people were asked if they wanted ‘new retail facilities’, ‘new homes’, ‘high quality open space’.  They didn’t ask if people were happy for communities to be wrecked through demolitions of improved properties. They didn’t ask people if they wanted a dog toilet stretching from Langley Lane to Rowrah Crescent.

As I’ve said before, there are some good things in the proposals which we can buy into. But they must go back on the demolitions, because if not there will be a rebellion at local and national level which could bring down the pathfinder and I’ll be wielding one of the axes.

Theatre Friday saw the 30th Anniversary of M6 Theatre Company and I went with my daughter to a lunchtime birthday celebration at Urbis. It was great to recall so much good theatre over so many years and to be recognised by the Arts Council as one of the top theatre in education companies in the country. M6 has been the stable for many budding actors, with probably the most notable being Sue Johnson (Royle Family, Waking the Dead amongst many other parts) and Steve Helliwell and Jane Cox (Zach and Lisa Dingle). Jane was there having agreed to be a patron of the company and she was delighted to meet my daughter whom she hadn't seen since pre Dingle days. Needless to say, an offer to visit the Emmerdale set was gratefully accepted!

Prayers I was really annoyed at the headline of the MEN ‘Fury at plans to ban prayers’ as there had been nothing of the sort. All they went off was my diary entry and Fr Paul Daly’s response online. It was only a very reasoned editorial that dissuaded me from having nothing more to do with them. I was also given a right to reply on Channel M after the M6 do which was very fair and enabled my daughter to have her picture taken with Andy Crane, which added to making her day.

Of course, the Opportunist Party jumped on what they thought was a bandwagon (75% of the MEN Online comments actually supported me) and have put a Focus out in North Middleton also using the ‘F’ word. In it, I have been told, ‘Rhoda says this barmy councillor should apologise for his comments’. Having been offered a place at the count, I look forward to discussing this with her on Thursday.