Local Politics

  • Grangemouth may come back to life

    After apparently being left without economic life support following the announcement of the closure of its main source of employment, the people of Grangemouth can breathe a sigh of relief that it may finally be promised new life.

    The news that circulates now is that people are interested in the investment opportunities in the area. These are not insubstantial gains, and it looks to support a more vibrant local jobs market than before if it’s now handled correctly.

    The Labour government in London may feel proud of this achievement, but perhaps more relieved that their incoming administration had the chance to save it. It’s an important part of the UK’s economy that could have gone amiss.

  • Functionality only goes so far

    London prides itself on having a good way of organising its affairs. The unique Tube structure. The roadways that are kept open long after their historic inception. The many residential neighbourhoods that stay safe and reasonable to live in. These are all indicators that our capital is a national treasure in itself.

    Two ticket machines at St. James’s Park station in the City of Westminster, in London.

    However, the debates about its infrastructure stretch far into the lives of those that use it, and they have valid points to make. The plan to pedestrianise Oxford Street is another chapter in its storied history of response to public concern. It’s the type of local democracy people want. A politics that reflects all of our needs, all of the time.

  • Local elections end today

    It’s a big day for local politics in some areas. There are elections for 14 county councils, eight unitary councils, one metropolitan borough council, and in the Isle of Scilly.

  • Potholes and plaintiff’s

    Where I live potholes have been a problem for a long time, but it’s getting better.

    The repeated projects to lay new roads has worked in many areas – step by step, I mean – and this makes a difference beyond the overall ascetic.

    It’s not nice turning into a glorified trench as you visit a friend or return home (and the car doesn’t like it, either).

    There are so many things wrong with decay that we try to bring it up as many times as possible in as many conversations that centre around local politics which come up.

    Or at least, that is before it gets too boring to mention it again.

    But what else is there that is actually interesting that just local politics covers?

    Not a lot, in my view, unless it’s a problem you spotted.

    It makes it real if it’s personal so it’s worth trying again to bring it up since potholes don’t go away overnight.