Stuart Barton

So, how is it possible to defend the indefensible? Clearly, anything that makes enough money can be defended by our council. The evidence is clear to anyone with eyes to see; the litter police strategy isn’t working, at least not in Ashford’s streets. So the only possible justification for the employment of the company, Kingdom, which looses its teams of enforcers, is that it makes money both for itself and, to a lesser extent, for the councils which choose to use its services. Our council assures us that the income from the fines goes to ‘environmental projects.’ Might I humbly suggest that one such project might involve the matter of fly-tipping. The council chaps have always said that ‘it’s not our job’ to remove such rubbish and ‘anyway, it costs too much.’. Now, whoopee, citizens who drop a cigarette end or maybe accidentally let slip a receipt in the street could gain some satisfaction from the fact that they would, in fact, be helping to pay for a cleaner environment. I think it might be true to say that the company feeds on the gullibility of wellmeaning councils. Our council leader, Gerry Clarkson is quoted in last week’s Express saying that a gas-fired flare (sorry, ‘beacon’) “will help restore civic pride”. When the matter came up a while ago I made the point that the only pride such a joke would generate would be in the minds of those invited to be photographed grouped around it on high days and holidays. As I recall, one such event was declared at the time to be Remembrance Day. We have a perfectly serviceable war memorial for that purpose. I would be interested to know how much gas would be consumed by this vainglorious beacon during its use – and compare the cost of that with an equivalent amount of gas paid for at high price with pre-payment cards used by the least well off citizens. Perhaps we shall enjoy the sight of a cluster of Calor Gas cylinders sharing the limelight with the town’s great and good. During the planning meeting, the question of cost was raised but, of course, largely ignored.