Mione Goldspinl's Article for the 'Bishop's Stortford Flyer' - December 2011 (Hertford and Stortford Liberal Democrats)

Hertford and Stortford Liberal Democrats <info@bishops-stortfordlibdems.org.uk>

Mione Goldspinl's Article for the 'Bishop's Stortford Flyer' - December 2011

December 3, 2011 1:00 AM
By Mione Goldspink in Bishop's Stortford 'Flyer'

I was inter

The Hockerill Fountain - about 1913

ested to read the article about Hockerill in last month's edition.

We are fortunate that so many of our lovely old buildings have survived, as, in many other towns, the historic buildings have been demolished to make way for the motor car. But, there are serious problems with the Hockerill crossroads. From the days when stage coaches travelled on their way to East Anglia, with a pub on each of the 4 corners, up to the present time, Hockerill crossroads has been a most important junction.

There are traffic lights now, instead of a drinking fountain, shown left (which was moved to the Castle grounds), and, unfortunately, there have been many malfunctions of the lights recently, and the traffic going north has been seriously delayed. Sometimes, only 2 cars have been allowed through on each phase of the lights, resulting in great long queues of frustrated drivers. One of my Lib Dem colleagues has suggested a new phasing for the lights, which could well solve the problem. The County Council Highways officers are now investigating it. I do hope they will approve and then implement it. This would restore some dignity to this attractive 18^th century crossing.

Further up the Dunmow Road from the crossroads, is the Hockerill Anglo European School. This fantastic school has just become the first state school to be awarded the title of "International Baccalaureate School of the Year". This was announced in the Sunday Times Good Schools Guide, which also records the excellent exam results of all the 6^th form students. Bishop's Stortford is fortunate indeed to have such a brilliant school in its centre.

The Localism Bill has now become law. I wonder if it will make much difference. There are many people in the Town who are most dissatisfied with the lack of true, local democracy. Some people are calling for Bishop's Stortford to be separated from East Herts - they would like us to declare UDI! The Town Council has set up a working party to look at the possibility.

I can sympathise with these feelings in relation to Henderson's planning application for the Causeway site. All the Bishop's Stortford Councillors voted against the application, reflecting the views of the Civic Federation and many individuals in the Town. But the Bishop's Stortford Councillors were outvoted by councillors from other parts of the District. Matters might be very different if we had our own Borough Council - but then our costs might increase and taxes rise. So, the whole possibility needs to be carefully assessed.

In December we are thinking about Christmas, and giving gifts to others. It is heart-warming to see evidence of so much kindness in our local paper - children baking cakes, scouts sleeping rough, people filling shoe boxes or organising glittering Balls, people going on sponsored bike rides or climbing mountains or eating pizzas - all to raise money for good causes.

There is a pantomime, too, about a legendary character who gave money to the poor - Robin Hood - and this will be performed at Rhodes this month. Nationally, there has been talk of a "Robin Hood tax" (or Tobin Tax) by which rich bankers and wheeler dealers have to pay a special tax on their profits, but nothing has come of it yet. However, in spite of the national economic situation, and the real hardship that many people are suffering, it is amazing to see how much kindness and generosity there still exists in our society.

I do wish everyone as happy a Christmas as possible.

Mione Goldspink. (Chairman Bishop's Stortford Liberal Democrats).