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Nothing will change Guildhall’s importance
8:40am Thursday 17th January 2008
Comments (18)SIR - From time to time you publish letters in which the writer clearly hopes to tell a story that is not the whole truth.
In my view the letter to your paper (January 9) from Councillor Bob Peachey is one of these letters.
Yes, there is controversy about what additional activities can be undertaken in the Guildhall to make it more self-sustaining.
But laying the blame for the possibility of these additional uses on the transfer of staff from the Guildhall to the Orchard House complex is perverse.
I am sure that Bob remembers that the driving force behind the moves to Orchard House was to allow the council to surrender two expensive leases and to give all our staff modern office conditions where contact and efficiency improvements were easy.
The moves also gave the city an effective one-stop contact centre that has been of enormous benefit to the people of Worcester.
Finally, reducing the staff in the Guidhall allowed the council to meet its obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act and open up the splendour which is the Guildhall to all citizens.
To read Bob's letter you could be forgiven if you believed that there was a chance the Guildhall will become a purely commercial building.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The facts are that it will remain the centre of civic and democratic government in Worcester as it has always been and nothing will be done which prevents this.
COUNCILLOR BARRY MACKENZIE-WILLIAMS, Worcester.
Your Say YourWorcester News
Alan2, Worcester says...
12:04pm Thu 17 Jan 08
It would be reasonable to ask, what would our Guildhall be used for then if this totally idiotic idea got off the ground.
Stan Parr, Pershore says...
12:21pm Thu 17 Jan 08
This message is taking a long time to sink in, for most people, but the Guildhall decision would be prudent, when viewed in this light.
They probably have no option actually and I reckon, like the mergers of the Ambulance, Police and Fire Services - which are all part of the same "Regional" scheme, you are likely to see a lot more similar "office moving" going on across the country, during the next few years.
If I'm wrong - I'll be delighted, apologise - and buy you all a lemonade!
Stan Parr, Pershore says...
12:21pm Thu 17 Jan 08
This message is taking a long time to sink in, for most people, but the Guildhall decision would be prudent, when viewed in this light.
They probably have no option actually and I reckon, like the mergers of the Ambulance, Police and Fire Services - which are all part of the same "Regional" scheme, you are likely to see a lot more similar "office moving" going on across the country, during the next few years.
If I'm wrong - I'll be delighted, apologise - and buy you all a lemonade!
Paul H Griffiths, says...
12:45pm Thu 17 Jan 08
From time to time? The Europhobes have letters in almost every day!
Paul H Griffiths, says...
12:45pm Thu 17 Jan 08
From time to time? The Europhobes have letters in almost every day!
Paul H Griffiths, says...
1:01pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Paul H Griffiths, says...
1:01pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Stan Parr, Pershore says...
2:10pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Yes - and credit to the WN for printing both opinions in balance.
The reason us "Anti-EU" people (not anti-Europe, by the way) write so frequently, is that we feel very passionately about losing our country to foreign rule!
There are more "anti-EU" letters, than those in support, because more and more people are realising that we have been sold down the river, by this - and many previous governments!
...and you ain't seen nothin' yet, my friend! You'll need your tin hat!
It's going to get a lot worse, before it gets better - especially if Parliament are silly enough to ratify the Lisbon/Constitutiona
l Treaty!
Stan Parr, Pershore says...
2:10pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Yes - and credit to the WN for printing both opinions in balance.
The reason us "Anti-EU" people (not anti-Europe, by the way) write so frequently, is that we feel very passionately about losing our country to foreign rule!
There are more "anti-EU" letters, than those in support, because more and more people are realising that we have been sold down the river, by this - and many previous governments!
...and you ain't seen nothin' yet, my friend! You'll need your tin hat!
It's going to get a lot worse, before it gets better - especially if Parliament are silly enough to ratify the Lisbon/Constitutiona
l Treaty!
PM, pershore says...
2:54pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Its lemonade all round, the west Midlands Regional Assembly is abolished on 31 March 2011.
Rather than buying Lemonades I hope a contribute to the Friends of Pershore Hospital is forth coming.
Its a dying elephant.
PM, pershore says...
2:54pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Its lemonade all round, the west Midlands Regional Assembly is abolished on 31 March 2011.
Rather than buying Lemonades I hope a contribute to the Friends of Pershore Hospital is forth coming.
Its a dying elephant.
Alan2, Worcester says...
3:51pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Yes, I am aware of the LGR which was fraught with problems from start to finish and had a mixed reception and consequences when it's findings were implemented. The fact remains that we in Worcester City to all intents and purposes came out of it unchanged and unscathed.
That will not be the case if our Labour Councillors have their way. I don't know what the Lib Dem position is on the structure of LG but one thing is certain, I don't like the position of New Labour on it - in fact I don't like their position on anything - period.
I am firmly of the view that big is not beautiful and I would realy hate to see the City Council disapear.
In fact, I would even opt for an inflation busting large increase in Council Tax if it would mean it's retention.
I am clutching at straws of course in the face of a Government which knows the cost of nothing and the value of nothing.
The point of my original comment was to high light the hypocracy and humbug of New Labour with regard to the Guildhall, not become involved in deep political debate.
Alan2, Worcester says...
3:51pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Yes, I am aware of the LGR which was fraught with problems from start to finish and had a mixed reception and consequences when it's findings were implemented. The fact remains that we in Worcester City to all intents and purposes came out of it unchanged and unscathed.
That will not be the case if our Labour Councillors have their way. I don't know what the Lib Dem position is on the structure of LG but one thing is certain, I don't like the position of New Labour on it - in fact I don't like their position on anything - period.
I am firmly of the view that big is not beautiful and I would realy hate to see the City Council disapear.
In fact, I would even opt for an inflation busting large increase in Council Tax if it would mean it's retention.
I am clutching at straws of course in the face of a Government which knows the cost of nothing and the value of nothing.
The point of my original comment was to high light the hypocracy and humbug of New Labour with regard to the Guildhall, not become involved in deep political debate.
Alan2, Worcester says...
4:04pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Alan2, Worcester says...
4:04pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Stan Parr, Pershore says...
1:01pm Sun 20 Jan 08
This internet comment about Regional Assemblies states:
"...one of the announcements of the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown - on 25 July - was that they will be abolished from 2010."
This was news to me (and most of my e-mail friends as well!) so thank you for that!
However - all that glitters isn't gold, their powers are simply being transferred to Regional Development Agencies, to continue the same work under another name, but the same EU control. A typically devious EU tactic!
You may find this website of interest:
http://www.regionala
ssemblies.co.uk/inde
x2.html
....and thank you for bringing me up to speed! As you appear to be local, you can always ring me, if I make any more gaffs.
We are in this soup together - but not yet in actual uniform!
Stan Parr, Pershore says...
1:01pm Sun 20 Jan 08
This internet comment about Regional Assemblies states:
"...one of the announcements of the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown - on 25 July - was that they will be abolished from 2010."
This was news to me (and most of my e-mail friends as well!) so thank you for that!
However - all that glitters isn't gold, their powers are simply being transferred to Regional Development Agencies, to continue the same work under another name, but the same EU control. A typically devious EU tactic!
You may find this website of interest:
http://www.regionala
ssemblies.co.uk/inde
x2.html
....and thank you for bringing me up to speed! As you appear to be local, you can always ring me, if I make any more gaffs.
We are in this soup together - but not yet in actual uniform!
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Alan2, Worcester says...
12:04pm Thu 17 Jan 08
It would be reasonable to ask, what would our Guildhall be used for then if this totally idiotic idea got off the ground.