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Thursday, 25 December 2008
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Well done the Gazette !! Wednesday December 3rd
The Newspaper article in the Gazette is very interesting as Councillor Andrew Williams now espouses new reasons for demolishing the market structure before it is really necessary , see this open letter to him , we await his response with baited breath !!
Open Email / letter to Councillor Andrew Williams , Leader Dacorum Borough Council
Dear Andrew ,
It was a great pleasure to meet you on this Hemel’s Wednesday Antiques , bric a brac and secondhand market ( there has to be a first time for everything ) , it’s a pity you were so busy you couldn't stay longer than 5 minutes as there were many stallholders who wished to speak to you , perhaps you would seriously consider making a second visit to the market next week to speak to them as they desperately want to speak to you , I promise I won't intervene .
Unfortunately when we met today I hadn't registered the quotations attributed to you in the Gazette , I see from the Newspaper that you have “ changed the goalposts “ in relation to the reasons why the Market structure needs to go now , rather than when it definitely “has to go “ to be replaced by your “ 2020 vision “ You said to me today “ that contracts were in the process of being signed and that the Market redevelopment would take place and be finished within two years “ . Can you really be serious ? all around the UK anyone can see , residential and commercial projects being mothballed because no one wants houses and shops at the moment , this must be particularly true in Hemel , why would anyone build 180,000sq feet of new shops now , when there are so many empty shops?
2020 Vision if you've forgotten what that is for the market see it at this link http://hemel2020.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-post_29.html ( by the way how will you get the sky in Hemel to be that colour ? )
“ changed the goalposts “
I see you no longer put forward the view that you want the market structure removed “ because the CCTV cameras can't see under the canopy “ or that the “ antisocial behaviour “ can't be controlled , ( The ASBOS seem to have worked , don't they ? ) , both arguments were pretty silly anyway weren't they ?
BUT you still say “We’re not spending a lot of money on it’s maintenance at the moment because it’s not being used for the main market so it’s starting to look scruffy .” So you want to demolish it because it’s looking scruffy , but it’s looking scruffy because you spend nothing on maintaining it , so your going to demolish it because it’s looking scruffy , but it’s looking scruffy because you spend nothing on maintaining it , so your g…………. , Catch 22 ?
However you now advance a new reason for demolition which hasn‘t appeared before !!
“While the structure is there it costs the council £25,000 in business rates “
BUT while the structure is there the Wednesday market produces a minimum yearly income of £34,600 ( 50 x 14 x 52 ) probably more , so your council will be worse off if you demolish the structure before it is absolutely necessary as in the Gazette you say it will cost £17,000 to take down ! So year 1 , knock it down lose £11,300 , take it off your salary !!
Oh it’s just clicked , you would rather demolish the structure and lose a little bit of dosh , so that you don't have to send the £25 grand to the Labour treasury , that’s a bit Machiavellian isn't it ? I'm surprised that a man of your mien and integrity would stoop so low , I'd have thought you would have just come out with it , after all Hemel has a lot of Government grievances , the Hospital , 7 Gypsy sites ! What have you done to upset them ? Still I digress .
You said “ I don't believe people make a specific journey to visit the market or that it brings much extra trade to the town “ How many people have you asked , I can tell you in case you've forgotten NONE AT ALL !! We have asked them and people do come to Hemel to visit the Antiques bric a brac and secondhand market they then go shopping in the town , ( they have told us this ) . Take a look at the petition people have signed ( you clearly haven't looked at it yet yourself ) they come from Chesham , Watford , Rickmansworth , Welwyn etc etc , they come for the Wednesday market !
You pledge to hold “ one off events “ such as car shows and fairgrounds , we know that one car show is being planned for next May as a friend of ours is helping in the organisation how many more have you up your sleeve ?
You’re looking for an alternative venue for the Market on Wednesday such as the Old Town , where will the stallholders park their vehicles ? All parking short and long term in the old town is always full , but I don't expect you have ever been there perhaps you should make a first visit as you have done today for the Market .
More people have signed the petition today and these will be added to the Internet site for you to see , we'll let you have the full petition in due course .
Don't forget please , please come to the market next Wednesday and talk to the stallholders particularly Dave and Ralph !!
And Andrew don't forget if you need my address , just let me know !!
We look forward to your comments with acute anticipation but if your recent record is anything to be relied on you won't reply at all if ever
Regards and Best wishes
Mike
Open Email / letter to Councillor Andrew Williams , Leader Dacorum Borough Council
Dear Andrew ,
I forgot to add the comments about the market cost conversation we had today
I said " the market structure cost £1.5M "
You said " no it didn't "
I said , " I have been told by several people in Hemel that is cost £1.5M "
You said " so if I said it cost £5m you would believe that would you ? "
I said " so how much did it cost then ? "
You said , " Oh , I don't know , I haven't been able to find out , although I have tried "
So as far as we all know it cost £1.5M to build until we hear from you the actual cost , is that OK ? , doesn't it seem strange to you as leader of the council that your executive can't tell you how much it cost too build , surely you can't have lost the records or perhaps they don't want to tell you ?
Look forward to hearing the original cost of building the Market structure when and if you find out
Regards and Best wishes
Mike
Dear Andrew ,
I forgot to add the comments about the market cost conversation we had today
I said " the market structure cost £1.5M "
You said " no it didn't "
I said , " I have been told by several people in Hemel that is cost £1.5M "
You said " so if I said it cost £5m you would believe that would you ? "
I said " so how much did it cost then ? "
You said , " Oh , I don't know , I haven't been able to find out , although I have tried "
So as far as we all know it cost £1.5M to build until we hear from you the actual cost , is that OK ? , doesn't it seem strange to you as leader of the council that your executive can't tell you how much it cost too build , surely you can't have lost the records or perhaps they don't want to tell you ?
Look forward to hearing the original cost of building the Market structure when and if you find out
Regards and Best wishes
Mike
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