thenotsomightyom

Thanks to Alice Cullinane and BBC News Online for the Headline

Staffordshire County Council have again hit the headlines, but I must just congratulate them on still having Council run libraries.

Libraries are for people to read in and to enjoy books and learn should they choose about different subjects and cultures.

They do not need to celebrate anything other than their role of having good archives and a good selection of books, DVD’s , Wi-fi and access to a computer for those who need one. A coffee shop is a plus and a nice place to meet and have a chat.

Yes libraries are good for everyone, so congratulations to Staffordshire Council for keeping theirs going.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏

Thanks to Vincenzo Genovese and Euro News for the Headline.

Spain and Denmark both have elected Socialist Governments however their views on illegal immigration are the polar opposite. They are both members of the EU , so Denmark has asked that the European Commission examine the Spanish intention to legalise 600,000 illegal immigrants currently residing in Spain.

The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is adamant that Spain’s action’s will make Europe an attractive prospect for those wishing to risk illegal immigration and the difficulties associated with their journeys and indeed their arrival in their Country of choice. Spain should act with other Countries in the EU and have a tougher stance.

Spain is looking at the humanitarian and economic argument. Perhaps , Spain has illegal immigrants contributing to their economy positively and by legalising them they will be able to contribute taxes etc.

Apparently within the EU PM Frederiksen is aligning herself with the Italian PM Meloni and are now part of a group of EU Countries pushing for tougher action on illegal migration.

I suppose how you treat animals can be transferred to humans, and I remember Marius the giraffe in Copenhagen Zoo, who was euthanised in 2014 on the basis of availability of space and genetic material. Other organisations offered to rehome the animal for it to live out it’s life but were refused. If Marius’s genes were wrong then why was he born?

And so the push to ensure that the gene pool is kept clean continues in Denmark and they will push within the EU to achieve it.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏

Thanks to Cameron Weldon and BBC Online News for the Headline.

Well the good news is that in November 2025 the Minister for roads and buses at the time, Simon Lightwood MP, wrote to all local authorities in England (not sure what happened to the rest of the Country) to pause the installation of floating bus stop designs which require passengers to board directly from or onto a cycle track.

The bad news is I wonder if cyclists have been giving the finger to people who are moving too slow and who get in their way when they are trying to get by. I hope no one has been seriously injured.

The floating bus stops are designed to protect cyclists from main-road traffic but unfortunately leave vulnerable people having to negotiate the hazard of crossing a two- way cycle path when they are getting on or off a bus.

Surely the Highway Code is quite clear that drivers need to look out for cyclists on the roads , not sure where the Law stands on someone who is on a cycle path and who through no fault of their own causes an obstruction because they simply cannot see or hear a cyclist.

The petition has been handed into Whitehall to get rid of all the floating bus stops. I hope common sense prevails and the safety and well-being of the vulnerable takes priority over cyclists who are road users just like anyone else.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏

I remember about fifteen years ago standing under a phone mast in a misty field surrounded by sheep on high ground in a farmers field in Cornwall. There was still no reception.

The masts are essential for rural areas and I’m sure connectivity has improved but it seems that the rental contracts between the farmer and the Telecomms operators have not been honoured and the monies the farmer’s receive have been greatly reduced.

This is due to changes made to the Electronic Communicatons Code in 2017 which has exposed people renting their land to host a ‘Phone Mast’ to lower rents in order to make the infrastructure investment cheaper and in theory increase coverage, but in fact could do the opposite.

This is definitely a David versus Goliath scenario , with the Telecoms operators unwilling to negotiate and saying “see you in court”, which of course the farmer will in most cases be unable afford. It’s risking time and money to try and get fair treatment.

Again common sense should prevail, you cannot cut a rent that was agreed fifteen years ago, just because you want the infrastructure to be cheaper.

Also the farmer’s land is his and who he gives access to it is up to him. To have a decent infrastructure the masts need to be maintained and located where they can provide the best coverage.

Surely at the very least there should be an arbitration service to act as a go between between the landowner and the telecoms operator.