General Discussion

Not happy with what's going on? Well, you can always go public with your thoughts and write a letter to our local papers - the Gazette and the Post.

email address for Gazette is: Dawlish@internet-today.co.uk

email address for Post is: mda.edit@internet-today.co.uk

deadline for Gazette is 12 noon Mondays. I'd guess for Post is 12 noon Wednesdays.

You have to give your name, address and daytime tel. number but the number of your house and your phone number won't get published.

(go on try it...you never know you might get published and prove the cynics like Viaduct and Jambuster completely wrong).

Angry Of Dawlish

I see the PR machine is in full-swing, attempting to bolster the rabble that go under the guise of mayor and councillors. It's all very well giving out information on how to air grievances against these charlatans.....but you do so, from a smug and arrogant standpoint.

You know very well, that the system will close ranks, protecting the clique, regardless of their numerous misdemeanours. This results in apathy, which allows our councillors/mayor to carry on with pompous impunity.

Thankfully, the likes of Viaduct, Jambuster and many others, are fighting this apathy, by highlighting our Town Councils corruption and ineptitude. In turn, this will result in an open and transparent Council, where ALL of Dawlish is represented and not just the inner-sanctum.

I say inner-sanctum, as i believe their is an elite group of councillors who preside over underling councillors, keeping them in the dark on many matters, with the aim of maximising their ill-gotten gains. This inner-circle includes; Protheroe, Hockin, Mugford, Price, Clemens amongst their members. Look at what they have accrued over the years and it becomes apparent this runs parallel with their council business.

As regards the Gazette and the Post, can we really trust the reporter Tom Scobie (i am loathe to use the term journalist), when he is in the pocket of mayor Protheroe and is an ex councillor? I recently contacted The Mid Devon Advertisor in respect of the non-transparent reporting on council matters in Dawlish. During the conversation, the subject turned to the lack of a Dawlish correspondent after the mysterious departure of Jonathan Wright (also in mayor Protheroe's pocket and an ex employee of mayor Protheroe's). I was informed that they were "having trouble filling this position as the issue of Dawlish Town Council was too much of a hot-potato" and that "we're better off without a reporter there because of this".

So much for, unbiased, open and transparent investigations. That's why websites like 'Dawlish Live' are important....to fulfil the obligations of a true democratic process; something you won't find at Dawlish Town Council meetings or on the Dawlish Town Council website.

This has been responded to in another posting.

If Dawlish.com should require people to put their name and address like the newspaper or as other town websites have proper user registration and so postimgs have more credability.

Its so sad to again see that there is no point in Dawlish trying to achive anything. Lets look at a few things:

1. The work I and a small group worked effortlessy on to get the Millenuim play park at the manor gardens repaired!

So ok its now fixed wasnt that a good job despite many attempts where were the people of dawlish coming in there droves to suppourt the replacement of the equipment after I publisised it many a times?? The answer no where to be seen so people of Dawlish dont go sitting on your backsides moaning about what should or should not be done if you dont wanna get up and spend a few hours a week/month helping out the causes that are trying to make your town better!

2. The finished play park! Well yes its all nice and new and fixed now I would just like to congratulate the press, dalwish town council and teignbridge on telling the world what a good job they done shame they didnt mention the group of 4 local residents that kept putting the pressure on to get it done!

3. The skate park! Yes how many of you are whinging about that now whens it going to be done they had the money what are they doing???

Well you been told where are you people of Dawlsih yes you may have voted to help get the money but where are you on these voulntary commetties? where is your spare hour a week or so going to help yourslefs make a better community cause I dont see you at any off these meetings???

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS PEOPLE OF DAWLISH IF YOU WANT SOMETHING GET OF YOUR BACKSIDE AND HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN I AM WILLING TO HEAD ANYTHING THAT CAN MAKE THIS TOWN BETTER AND TRY AND IMPROVE THE TOWN BUT UNLESS YOU WANNA GET BEHIND ME AND SUPPOURT IT DONT GO ASKING FOR IT YOU GET BACK WHAT YOU GIVE WHICH IS WHY AT THE MINUITE YOU DONT GET ANYTHING!!!

I am intrigued with the help 'Angry Of Dawlish' is offering, regarding the contacting of councillors. Is this because he/she has a vested interest, guiding complainants through the system, ensuring that their inquiries are sidelined?

'Angry Of Dawlish' plays dumb, when the truth is they know exactly how the system works and what the outcome will be. The system is for the councillors and NOT the people.

Residents realise that councillors champion projects, pocketing the plaudits and benefits along the way, while the people who do the real work are given little credit.

This is why there is much apathy in Dawlish.

Actually, Dave whilst agreeing with you that there is apathy in Dawlish I don't think it is because a lot of people are cynical of the council. I think a lot of people haven't got a clue,don't have a clue and don't want to have a clue about how things operate.

Having an older population could be a reason. You ain't got as much energy when you get older. A lot of people just want a peaceful rest of their life, to keep their heads down and believe what they read in the press (as after all we do have a 'free' press don't we and it does tell the 'truth' doesn't it?).

But you and I know the real 'truth' though don't we?

You may be right that many people haven't a clue or aren't interested on how things operate. I put this down to the obstructive nature of the council, who content themselves with showing the 'public face' (or should that be farce?) of town council work, to fob the residents off, whilst keeping them in the dark with the real machinations. This breeds cynicism as well as apathy.

Your comments about the older population are both ageist and unfounded. Closer inspection will find that a great number of older people are extremely active when it comes to local matters and certainly not keeping their heads down. Many contribute regularly to the local press, in response to not believing what they read. A great number of older people are using websites and blogs because of their lack of belief in the press. I think you misjudge them.

The real truth is there is no free press, especially when it comes down to a local level. The local rags rely on the local business advertising revenue....and who do those businesses belong to? In the main, local councillors and their cronies of course (including roundtable and rotary members)! Very cosy. Can you see the local papers biting the hand that feeds?

RE energy and getting older. I don't think I'm bing ageist nor do I think it is unfounded. I think it is a matter of fact that as you get older you have less energy. That doesn't mean you have less mental energy but less physical energy.

Did I say that older people (and define older) don't use computers? Most certainly not.

Did I say that no older people don't take an active part in Dawlish? Most certainly not (just look at the councillors for example). But I bet they and everyone else over 45 don't have the energy they had 10/15 years ago.

I most certainly don't have the physical energy that I had 5 years ago let alone 10 or 15 and neither do a lot of people I know who are my age and older.