Spoiled by graffitti

THE refusal of planning permission for the proposed Titnore Woods development was certainly a victory for the people, and perhaps so unexpected that protesters didn't actually have a press release in placefor the decision.

While I've never been one to stand in the way of progress, as a local

person I'm pleased.

What was being proposed would have been a blight on our countryside and, in my opinion, would not have added to the overall framework of the town.

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However, I don't think anyone can rest on their laurels as this is not the end of the "war" as such, merely just one battle in a long campaign.

Readers might recall some years back Sainsbury's initially being refused planning permission for the Lyons Farm store.

That decision later went to government appeal at a time when the Sainsbury family contained both a long-standing Tory MP and another member of the family was a major donor to the Labour Party.

I'm not suggesting any impropriety, but I think the phrase "it's not what you know, it's whom you know" was perhaps quite apt on this occasion.

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Rest assured, once their wounds are suitably licked, the developers will be back looking for a different result, and if it means going to government appeal, it could end up with the result none of us locally wants.

There is just one downside to the whole issue, as far as I'm concerned, and that was the daubing of "Save Titnore Woods" on one of the council doors.

Clearly, this act of graffiti was done by an alleged environmental protester, but isn't the aerosol spray used ultimately harmful to the ozone layer?

As potentially were the chemicals used by the council to remove the slogan?

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A great victory all the same, but there are ways and means.

IN these difficult economic times, the sale of gold has become more prevalent, but, through it, our local children's hospice, Chestnut Tree House, has benefited.

Since Christmas, local jeweller Jeremy Silverthorne has donated 5 to the organisation every time he has bought gold from clients in his shop in Warwick Street, and the total raised now stands in excess of 700.

The offer ends next Thursday.

UNFORTUNATELY, on the back of that positive tale, a couple of negative stories concerning St Barnabas House hospice.

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Last Saturday, a group of hard-working volunteers embarked on a bucket collection in Montague Street in aid of the Building a Dream Appeal.

First thing, one of the cars dropped the buckets off, stopping briefly in Montague Place '“ but clearly not briefly enough, as, despite the car driver explaining the circumstances, it didn't stop the NCP warden issuing a parking ticket.

So, the volunteer had not only given up a Saturday to raise money for a very worthy cause, but also had to incur a parking fine for the privilege.

But if you think that's bad, just think about the scumbag who went into Sweeney Todd's barbers in Salvington Road the other Thursday, engaged barber Phil Samuels in conversation, sat down while Phil was cutting hair, suddenly changed his mind about a haircut and hastily left, having stole the nearly full hospice collecting tin off the counter.

We seem to have some "quality" people in this town . . .

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Ian Hart's comment is published in the Herald series every Thursday

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