Flaming June you must be joking!

Just what has happened to our summer? So far this month I have seen my fruit trees decimated by the fierce wind, my garden shed de-roofed and requiring urgent repair and so much detritus dumped on my front lawn by a very angry sea. On Friday I had to go to London on business and got absolutely soaked in what could only be described as a tropical monsoon. So where has our summer gone? Answers on a postcard please. However CBC stuff goes on with the weather effecting things like grass cutting around the Borough which gets a lot of residents in a tizz. Flooding is always my concern but thankfully we have not been affected and long may that last. Yesterday I attended the opening of the new 2RM gym and along with loads of fit looking residents saw the results of CBC investment, I have to say I was very impressed, the new facility is just about as good as I have seen anywhere in the County. Loads of people were signing up so I am expecting a really good return on our financial investment but more importantly a fitter healthier Christchurch. The supermarket wars came to a head on Thursday night which saw a planning meeting start at 6.0pm and finish at 10.45pm. A highly technical, in planning terms, meeting saw the comparison of the site locations with a potential site at the Magistrates Court. I have to say at about 9.30 I had lost the will to live so my respect for the members and officers labouring through the process went up in leaps and bounds. For all you cynics out there who complain about what Councillors do it would have been good for you to see and hear how they professionally dealt with the issues raised and gave considerations to the presentations by members of the public who attended and lasted the course. The matters were concluded with winners and losers but CBC were seen to have dealt with the process properly and with due diligence. Details of the decisions will be issued shortly but I have a suspicion that we will have not heard the last of this matter. To all potential investors CBC did make the very important point that we are a welcoming Council seeking sustainable growth in our economy. We are also ambitious and ready to tackle head on the issues around making our commercial centres, especially our town centre a better experience. On a final positive note we also heard that work was underway at County on a new traffic system for the Fountain round-a-bout associated with the potential development at the Bargates site. Better not hold your breath though!!!