Kerb-stones and Paving Slabs

One of my former ward colleagues, from when I was on Medway Council, would sometimes refer to himself as "not a kerb-stones and paving slabs man". He was not, at the time he was first elected to the Council, all that interested in such 'minor' matters; though I soon educated him about what it means to be an elected representative of a community (okay, ten communities in that ward!) including dealing with issues such as those.

I wrote here a couple of months or so ago about such street scene issues I had noticed when I moved home late last year, and how nothing seemed to be being done by the three local (Labour) ward councillors.

As usual (and everything they do confirms this) their only real interest is in finding ways to attack their political opponents: they are obsessed with the negative, and not actually involved with positive activities unless they can gain some political Brownie points from something. The matters I have been handling clearly do not fall into that category: hence the long-term neglect around here.

I have not only been able to ascertain that they weren't taking any active interest in these matters, but have now had almost all of them fixed. The only one that hasn't been done yet is awaiting the arrival of a tenant to sign an indemnity form before graffiti can be cleaned off the private wall at the affected property.

Okay, so here are some "before and after" photos, along with the Medway Council service request ID numbers as proof that I was the person who dealt with them. In addition to the following, there was also the permanently-on street lamp (service request ID 1417654); but I can't really show "before and after" of that very clearly. However it can easily be checked, at the end of Chilham Close (off Fort Pitt Street), lamp No. CRB 1) if you are in the area during the daytime. The others follow: click on an image for the full size version...

Overhanging Foliage 1 – Service Request ID 1486241

Overhanging Foliage 2 – Service Request ID 1486243

Paint Spillage on Road – Service Request ID 1490747

Broken Footpath – Service Request ID 1417610

A lot of this success was down to my usual helpfulness in providing as much useful information as might be needed by the council and its contractors, including photographs and such "intell" as letting them know that the office where the overhanging foliage was (and might be that company's responsibility) is unstaffed and letting them know whom to contact and where. All of this is in my records here. I am also gently persistent, giving them time but chasing-up when necessary.

It's how I work; and is part of the reason for my very strong reputation in dealing with this kind of topic.

Meanwhile, I have been keeping an eye on the broader ward beyond the small area I have so far targeted, and if what I have noted in other places isn't dealt with in a reasonable time I shall no doubt expand my activities. There will come a time when all the ward's residents will be made aware of just who has been getting things fixed around here, and what their current elected representatives have been doing instead of looking after their patch.

With Labour it's all party politics. With me it's serving and looking after the community, first and foremost.