Buxton Social Services

With all the focus locally on the changes to the ambulance and fire services within the High Peak, the fall out from New Mills council (see High Peak Transparency) for more information. It would seem now isn't the time to raise questions with regard to social services. We have enough to deal with at the moment, Derbyshire County Council is supposedly axing 1600 jobs to help balance the budget. But poor old Sea Duck has been sent some information that I am eager but at the same time slightly worried to blog about.

It regards the actions of a children's social worker based in Buxton, the subsequent investigation which reflects badly on other agencies like SureStart, one of the local schools perhaps even one of the local GP practises.

This matter has been investigated by the local government ombudsman (LGO) a much under used resource in my opinion but when I read their report considering the information I now have, which I am assuming was also sent to them, well their conclusion beggers belief to be frank. A very poor job by the LGO.

I need to speak to a legal friend of mine before I go much further, to check if I can progress and blog about this. 

I need to look at all the information in front of me, lots of paperwork, and I mean several very full files, as well as digital recordings, maybe speak to a few people too before I progress.

County Council Elections 2013

I've been chatting to people about what they think about the County Council Elections this May. Quite a few people didn't know who they were going to vote for. Mainly on the basis of 'they're all as bad as each other.' However, I tried to focus conversations on what people were wanting from their council.

One of the main things that people mentioned was pot-holes. It seems like Mayor Giuliani's broken window policy many people feel that a pot hole means that those in power don't care. Mayor Giuliani of New York thought that broken windows left unpaired made people feel that things were going downhill and that those in power did not care so launched a policy of repairing every broken window reported or spotted. Pot holes seem to be classed in the same way by the people I spoke to. St John's road in Buxton and New Mills Newtown traffic lights seemed to feature in peoples evidence of this.

The second thing mentioned was the fear of loosing ambulance cover from the Being the Best proposals from East Midlands Ambulance Service. This seems to get classed as either 'insane or just plain madness' rather across the board from locals who cannot see the sense in the proposals at all. That East Midlands Ambulance Service were solely focusing on ticking the boxes for response times which are easier in the bigger towns and cities and relegating those of us who live in rural areas to second best. Feeling that EMAS have assumed the attitude of we can't hit the response times in the High Peak area so why bother. I'll blog a little more about the current ambulance stations situation this coming week as I think it's an essential service to focus on.

Other things people mentioned were housing, schools and more importantly after school care for the children as most families have both parents working. There was a mixed reception to the welfare reforms, namely some people were worse off and others thought that a cap on benefits was actually a good thing. Then the conversations moved to jobs. Or rather the lack of them. High Peakers do seem to be focusing on local issues, rather than national. However, on a national level one thing seemed to be apparent a 'fear' of immigration. Namely if more people come into the country then services will be reduced just by the increase in people using them. This was apparent on last nights Question Time on the BBC. Us Brit's seem to have developed a 'fear' of immigration?

I'm seeing more signs up regarding the election, mostly Labour with a few Lib Dems and Conservatives. As I previously mentioned, Labour do seem to have got their act together with regard to these elections. A lot of activity on Twitter, and canvasing and the signs in people's gardens. Fiona Sloman is getting a few mentions on Twitter though she doesn't appear to be tweeting much herself.
The High Peak Conservatives seem to have finally going on cyber space too. There were also quite a few placards seen showing support for their candidate Jocelyn Street.

The Greens seemed to not really being up for this round. I saw their leader on Question Time last night, she did seem to live in a Utopian world of her own, to brass tacks I didn't like her. I was toying of voting for the Green Party until then.

Apart from a few placards in High Lane (not our patch) I haven't seen anything of the Lib Dems and a few posters around were all I have seen of UKIP.

I really couldn't say which way this election could/will go. All I hope is that the turn out is high and that everyone who is able to vote  does so.

Snow and wind and not much else.

Snow and wind and not much else.

Today we were hit with the snow storm that is crossing the UK at the moment. I went out to fill the car up at around 0630hrs this morning. The side streets admittedly weren't great, but the main A6 Buxton to Dove Holes (Fairfield Road) route was fine. Stopped at Morrissons to get some more unleaded and then back home. I saw snowploughs and gritters.

Buxton weather station has a site  Buxton weather site link which is updated every 10 minutes or so, where they post traffic reports too, as usual the A537 Buxton to Macclesfield road, Buxton to Leek roads the A53 Axe Edge and A54 were shut due to the weather. The problem seems to have been the wind mainly blowing drifts into awkward places across the routes. A crash outside Hayfield also seemed to have slowed things down.

Then off to do some shopping around 0930hrs, over to Harpur Hill to Redferns the Farm Shop Redferns Farm Shop , listening to High Peak Radio  as I went for any updates weather or traffic wise High Peak Radio 

Passing a chap who appeared to have a bump on St John's Road, no one hurt, I did stop and ask. I passed through Burbage to where a large traffic sign noting that the Cat & Fiddle and Axe Edge roads were closed to snow. Just in case any driver didn't notice the blizzard they were currently driving through. I travelled down Grin Low one of the roads which are described as passable with care and up into Harpur Hill. Harpur Hill was in dire need of ploughing. Several lorries appeared stuck and the local bus was struggling but managed to get through, well done that driver.

After Redferns, I joined the A515 which was delightfully clear of snow and carried on into Buxton to stop at a friends to help him out with the weather. The B5059 West Road and Macclesfield Road were not in a great state and another route in need of ploughing at that time. Then onto to check on other friends and a spot of shopping at Aldi. Then I started to see the ploughs, some big, some land rovers with a scoop on the front and also a quad ploughing the pavements. I was very impressed and I thank Derbyshire County Council's ploughmen for their stoicism in fighting the blizzard.

The current temperature is still -1'C, but the snow has thankfully stopped and the wind is playing with what it can to make drifts. Most roads are clear and gritted, still be careful when you are driving.