TIME FOR THE MAYOR AND HIS DEPUTY TO RESIGN

Dear Sir

It is a truism of political life that Oppositions do not WIN elections ... Governments lose them. When you are in power, it's what you DO that loses you the next election. What you didn't do is soon forgotten. The fact is that 90% of us like things much the same as they are. The familiar scene we know and love is infinitely more attractive than the uncertain future portrayed by the likes of the Bernie Foulkes of this world. "Trust me ... I'm a Developer's Consultant" does not inspire much confidence. We know the siren voice of the snake-oil salesman only too well ... the well rehearsed patter of the fairground 'barker' ... the reassuring charm of the 'quack' dentist saying "This isn't going to hurt ... much!" Yes, we've heard it all before. How the lovely Marine Spa was falling down ... how Dellers Cafe was out of date ... how Agatha Christies's birthplace was beyond repair ... how Oldway Mansion was no longer fit for purpose, etc. etc. etc. ad infinitum ... the permanent wail of the short-sighted Planning Officer complementing to perfection the soothing voice of the Developer's man telling us that this is what we want ... what will be inevitable due to climate change, global warming and future catastrophes too awful for us simple-mindedfolk to comprehend!

What a load of codswallop!! And what a waste of money ... that could ... and should ... have been spent on the maintenance and repair of the many fine buildings like Oldway ... ParKfield ... the Monastery ... the Town Hall ... let alone the Princess Gardens, Paignton Harbour, each and every one, with many more besides, deteriorating due to lack of simple routine maintenance.

Now the point is this. Does Mr Bye seriously think he has the slightest, teeniest, weeniest chance of being re-elected for a second term ... with Rock Walk staring us in the face whenever we go into town ... with that ridiculous balloon "like a carbuncle on the face of a well loved friend" (HRH ... Prince of Wales)??
Do you think he has the remotest chance of a second term? The answer is obviously in the negative ... and that being the case, Mr Bye should do the honourable thing ... and ask Uncle Kevin ... the Enforcer ... Please Sir, may I jump before I am pushed?
And Kevin should bring out the WHIP ... and the RESTRAINTS ... which led Development Control to speak passionately against 185 flats at Hollicombe ... and 30 seconds later to vote for it ... as soon as KC appeared in the doorway of the ballroom at Oldway and he, Kevin, should RESIGN as well. A fitting end to this miserable Tale of Two Cities ... that nobody wants!!

Yours faithfully
Ray Brewer

Sent to the Herald Express on 26/04/08 by Ray Brewer, Barnfield Road, Livermead, Torquay.