Councillor Mat Court

Cock Piss Bab Tridge

an animated chef's kiss

a blocked drain gulley with plants growing out of it pictured during a rain shower with the water flowing over the drain instead of in to it.

I thought the water was meant to go DOWN the drain, not OVER the drain?

Actually, thinking about it, I am not sure it's meant to have plants growing out of it either.

It's almost as if it hasn't been cleared out for years. Like many in Brghtlingsea.

Blimey, that's pretty stark. Thanks for sharing that.

Maybe it’s not such a mystery when the old government shut down Remploy, which actually gave disabled people real jobs and support. Instead of cutting benefits, they should be investing in proper supported employment schemes like that again.

Why stop at reopening blast furnaces and coal mines. Why not bring back other Victorian classics like child chimney sweeps, sweat shops, bread whitened with chalk and plaster of Paris, tapeworm diets, lead makeup, baby farming, and madhouses. The good old days 🤪🤪🤪

"It's the answer, not the problem." I like that and I'm definitely going to start saying it 👍

My MP. So proud. Not.

See you at the Brightlingsea War Memorial at 9am in the morning and 9.30pm in the evening (Thursday).

Many thousands of people were still fighting, serving, suffering and dying after VE Day.

It is important to mark this week, but it is just as important to remember the full picture, especially for those British service personnel who were involved in Asia.

I do wish the news would stop calling this week the commemoration of the end of the Second World War.

It is not. It is the commemoration of the end of the war in *Europe*. The war continued in the Far East until August '45.

(For the record this decision was led by the ruling Conservatives at Essex County Council, supported by Labour councillors and then agreed by national government)

The point is this: If ever there was a moment to give people a say it is now.
But instead the people we elected decided they knew best.
And didn’t even ask the public first 🤐

They’ll say it was postponed.
But I’ll shave my head for charity if we ever see another ECC election before the council is dissolved 👴
(OK I know I am bald but seriously if I’m wrong I’ll do something public and mildly humiliating to raise money)

But I cannot vote.
You cannot vote.
None of us can vote.

Because the county councillors we were supposed to be voting about cancelled the election 🤯

We are heading into the biggest shake up of local government in a generation.

Devolution is coming.
A new mayoral system is coming.
The county and district setup is on the way out.

If ever there was a time for public input it is now.

☑️ I was going to vote for myself.
Not necesarilly to win.
But to raise issues ECC keeps getting wrong.

Roads and pavements.
Safe off road routes for walking wheeling cycling in rural areas.
SEN provision that is failing too many families.

a 'vote here' sign with a red line through it and the word 'cancelled' underneath

🗳️ I was looking forward to walking down to the polling station at the church today to vote for who I thought would best represent Brightlingsea at Essex County Council.

@mrjamesob.bsky.social just listening to yesterday's show about processed foods (in the gym trying to lose weight) and here's the problem: straight after the call from the greek American chap Spotify gives me an advert for an Aero bar. Does that happen outside the UK? Could be part of the prob.

Spoiler alert: they don't.

I don't follow London politics any more (too busy avoiding potholes and sunken drain gullies out here in the sticks on the Costa del Clacton these days) but I'm surprised someone with that title would do this - surely road danger is measured by data, not feelings (or as you rightly say: anecdotes) 😢

Sorry Jenny, but I don't think it's enough to keep calling something "dangerous" without evidence. That’s not how good policy should be made — especially when it risks undermining infrastructure that supports active travel. Decisions should be based on data, not personal impressions.

Can I borrow it afterwards? Seems like he knows what he's doing.

Nailed it 🔨

I think now is the time to forget the USA. It's time for Europe to step up and fix the Russia/Ukraine problem. And we need to get back in with Europe.

This is the summary. Bang on.

bsky.app/profile/ourb...

Some on benefits are 'taking mickey', Liz Kendall says The work and pensions minister says the welfare system needs reforming to encourage young people to work if they can.

Some billionaires and business owners and MPs are ‘taking mickey’.

But no, let’s go after the little ones and sow division.

Classic.

I’ve been on benefits. The vast majority of people aren’t scamming the system, they’re just trying to get by.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Some on benefits are 'taking mickey', Liz Kendall says The work and pensions minister says the welfare system needs reforming to encourage young people to work if they can.

Some billionaires and business owners and MPs are ‘taking mickey’.

But no, let’s go after the little ones and sow division.

Classic.

I’ve been on benefits. The vast majority of people aren’t scamming the system, they’re just trying to get by.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...