It’s been a week from hell! The horrific events of Martin Place in Sydney and then in Pakistan - so many lives lost in such a violent manner.
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It’s hard to fathom that we are coming up to a time of year which is all about love.
With less than a week until Christmas, it hardly seems right to be serious.
But I had such an amazing response to the comments last week about the Geographical Names Board of NSW refusing to allow the new ring road around the Parkes Hospital as Tom Morrissey Way.
Most local residents - and there have been plenty of them - are quite irate at the decision.
“Stuff ‘em, let’s do it anyway, what are they going to do to us? Come and chop the signs down?”
This was the general reaction from people who contacted me.
I agree totally.
I’m not sure what could be done to us if we went ahead.
It was interesting also that the Editor of one of the nearby newspapers contacted me to say they had the same problem.
“Council was told it could not name a road in a local resident’s honour with his full name.
“But they went ahead and did it anyway, and nothing has happened.”
A local resident said council should fight it all the way.
“And it should be a unanimous decision. All the councillors should be united in making sure this happens,” he said.
Another said there were many instances of local residents being recognised for their contribution by the use of their entire name for a street or park.
“The precedent has been set.” he said.
“How ridiculous that the full name can not be used. We want to honour an individual who has done something for our community - not a family which might not be seen as the appropriate family anyway.
“It stinks, it’s been allowed in the past.
“Council should dig their heels in about this one. This mob should not be allowed to dictate what we want to do in our community.”
Another said “I bet these bureaucrats have never done a thing for their community. Probably never even lived in a country town where we like to recognise our own.”
Indeed, the feeling was quite strong that we want to this happen.
Let’s see if People Power wins out!
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There has also been plenty of comment about the regulations which require a local business wishing to set up a bakery/wine bar to have to pay $25,000 for carparking spaces.
“It’s like they are saying Parkes is not open for business” one wag said.
“This sort of thing has come up in the past and businesses have decided against setting up because of this requirement to contribute to car parking - even though there are plenty of car parking spaces in the vicinity.
“It might be Local Government regulation, but if it is damaging to local business opportunities, is it sensible?
“And if it is not sensible, or practical, it should be kicked out.”
I guess these regulations are brought in for a reason, but if they hamper development, rather than encourage it, are they doing their job?
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We are having a lengthy break over the Christmas - New Year period, with our last edition for 2014 next Wednesday (December 24) and the next on Monday, January 5, 2015.
It’s highly unusual, but will be a pleasant change, although we’ll be working on and off during that time.
Our website will be updated regularly.
My best wishes for everyone to enjoy a safe and meaningful festive season.
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THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
‘I have long been of the opinion that if work was such a splendid thing the rich would have kept more of it for themselves.’
Merry Christmas.