Anger in over Bucks council magazine's "True Grit" claims
12:00pm Thursday 31st December 2009 in News By Lawrence Dunhill
Anger over council magazine's "True Grit" claims
RESIDENTS have slammed a taxpayer-funded magazine which said road chiefs were ready for snow – days before the weather brought Buckinghamshire to a standstill.
Buckinghamshire County Council's quarterly magazine, Buckinghamshire Times, proclaimed “True Grit – Buckinghamshire gets ready for winter” on the cover of its latest edition, delivered to 200,000 residents from December 14.
The article said eight new gritters would “keep the county’s routes in top-notch condition this winter”.
Roads were gridlocked last Monday and many drivers had to abandon their cars.
Mayor of Beaconsfield Councillor Ken Brown said: “I think there's a bit of egg on people's faces after what happened.”
One Hazlemere resident wrote on our website: “When will these people realise that well done always trumps well said. We will tell you when you have done a good job.”
But Bill Chapple, the Conservative-controlled council's deputy leader, said the article was “entirely appropriate”.
Roads were gritted, the council has said, but severe cold lessened its effect.
Cllr Chapple said: “We have to weigh up what is practical and deliverable with what is affordable.”
The publications have provoked national controversy. One reader this week calls the BCC title a “complete waste of taxpayers’ money”.
And this year culture secretary Ben Bradshaw said they were often “propaganda sheets masquerading as newspapers”.
After advertising, the magazine cost taxpayers £112,000 last year, down from £204,000 in 2006/07.
Cllr Chapple said it is a “cost-effective” way to keep people informed and it was supported by “many of our residents”.
The magazine is set to combine into one title with four other councils’ publications next year, he said, to save cash.
Comments(12)
Melanie1
says...
1:15pm Thu 31 Dec 09
.
Perhaps the fancy new ones were only used on roads where the councillors live?
Plus ça change...
says...
1:48pm Thu 31 Dec 09
Does the word 'grit' have 4 or 5 'r's?
Grrrrr-it...!
Steve Totteridge Hill
says...
2:11pm Thu 31 Dec 09
Sorry everyone, I couldn't get angry with them...I was laughing too much.
codes... blue-some, perhaps should have been blew some!
wayneo
says...
2:14pm Thu 31 Dec 09
Doesn't the BFP do that already??? without the propaganda
Plus ça change...
says...
8:34pm Thu 31 Dec 09
That would buy a lot of grit ( or filled potholes ).
I know the snow was somewhat overwhelming last week but the view of most posters seemed to be:
'I’m stranded, I’m frozen - we need grit quick,
Not individual grains sculpted by pick,
But by the cart, truck, shovel and cup load,
I pay tax, so... spread it on MY road...!'
chesham20
says...
10:53pm Thu 31 Dec 09
wayneo
says...
1:05am Fri 1 Jan 10
chesham20 wrote:there's some irony in that they produce this very patronising, expensive and copius amounts of literature telling us that we must recycle; wouldn't it be nice if they did the same.
Maybe as well as the magazine being set to combine into one title with four other councils’ publications next year, to save cash, maybe they can do away with 3 jobs for the boys' and get 1 to do all 4 properly. Or is that asking too much?
yog
says...
12:02pm Fri 1 Jan 10
Rikard
says...
3:54pm Fri 1 Jan 10
OK - so you admit you can't do anything to help us when it snows - where was the warnings? Where was the help?
Truth is BCC *thought* they would cope (like we were lead to believe and like they spend £112K telling us) - if your *NEW* story is true BCC then your lack of contingency and back up belies your utter contempt for us residents - and you are still covering your backs - not listening because you think we are all cretins.
Take it on the chin (My God your jobs are so protected compared to us mortals) and get it sorted out - close roads/hills if you have to - admit you can't cope - do whatever - but STOP FEEDING US THIS BS
Rikard
says...
4:04pm Fri 1 Jan 10
s busting a gut. IT'S *YOU* (Yes *YOU* BCC) at the top - who do the planning and give the instructions and resources from your Ivory Tower.
Just get over this (it went wrong ok?) and give us a Bucks wide plan so we all know how to proceed when this happens again - it is quintessentially the reason you exist as an entity.
erm
says...
7:37pm Fri 1 Jan 10
miccles says...
12:39pm Thu 31 Dec 09
ROT you councillors