You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Did anyone read the quote from Cllr Britcliffe in this week's Observer? He apparently said,


“Councillors do not have good records of running businesses which is why we are letting the professionals do it”. He was talking about the plans to let a large outside company run the Market Hall.

What is the Council if it is not a business with a £10million budget? What else is the Council elected for but to run the business of Hyndburn? Perhaps this goes some way to explaining why our Council run by the Conservatives is continually in debt, if it is run by people who are not professional enough to run it.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

If he believes that Councillors including himself are no good at the job, he should be standing down and let someone who can run a business get on with it.
It always did appear stupid to me that any fool can be voted onto the Council and have input as to how HBC is run.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Is their no way the general public can have a vote of confidence in the council, I'm sure they would lose.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

No, we have to wait until May next year to do something about it.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

as well as not being very good at running businesses,councillor britcliffe has displayed his stupidity to the people of the borough by making a quote like this to the media(beam me up scotty)lol

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Scotty has just this week boldly gone where no man wants to go at anytime, (bless).
http://news.google.co.uk/news?imgefp...amesdoohan.jpg

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

There is also a letter following up an article in last weeks edition complaining about the Idiot-in-Chief pumping money into Oswaldtwistle at the expense of other areas of the borough. The correspondant thinks that it is unfair that one area gets preference over another, which it is. But fails to ask the question why the I-i-C is using Ossy as the target of HBC's largesse. Could it possibly have something to do with the fact that, as Gayle helpfully points out, Britcliffe's seat is up for election next year and he is turning himself inside out doing everything that he can think of to secure another term for himself?

What do you think?

.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

The problem is that by the time elections come round the voters will have forgotten what PB said and there wont be any business to run anyway as it will have been sold off

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

i know less but though hes gone the quote lives.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Councillor Britcliffe, unless l am very much mistaken, owns and has run a successful frock shop in Accrington for at least the last twenty years.

Obviously he's better with his own business than he is with ours.

No, l don't know this because l shop there!!!!

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Which shop is that Garinda?
Bit of a stupid thing for PB to say but nothing surprises me!

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Reminds me of Gerald Ratner.:rolleyes: It was Gerald wasn't it?

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

There is a fancy name for putting your foot in your mouth......PB has gone one better with this quote........he got both feet in there.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

i was just referring to DUMBOS quote that councillers dont have good records at running businesses,he said it not me lol

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

i dont think it takes a buisness degree to see that most of HBC's ideas are a waste of money

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

I don't think it's very appropriate for somebody employed by Mid Penine Arts to promote the panopticon project to be criticising a council leader on a public forum like this.
Hyndburn, I believe, are the one council really making it difficult for MPA to complete their panopticon project, and to be so critical of the Hyndburn Council leader really is skating on thin ice. Do your bosses know you are on here Miss Knight?
Are you commenting with their permission, or as a member of the public? It might be a good idea to seperate the two a little more.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Errm, I fully realise that Gayle is more than capable of speaking for herself on this issue, but nevertheless, as a resident of the borough I would have thought that she had as much right as anyone else to speak her mind, either on this forum or indeed anywhere else. The comment by Dillon appears to me to be a bald attempt at censorship by intimidation.

The membership of this forum take freedom of speech issues very seriously and do not take kindly to attempts at interference with such freedoms.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Quite corect AB I consider Gayle to be a very good ambassador bothe for MPA and HBC. She has spoken for and against both, but in a manner which I considered fair. She is entitled to her own opinion as is everyone else in this world. Dillon I am sure you have not gone through your working life agreeing totally with everything your bosses have told you, or the tasks they ask you to fulfill. If we did not have open minded people in a position such as "Miss Knight" then how would we as members of the public get to know all the ins and outs of these types of projects. We are fully kept informed of the ups and the downs of this project, and I can assure you their is no subterfuge involved. Now you have expressed your opinion please allow Gayle the same privilege. Thankyou!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Depending on her contract she may be well advised to put a disclaimer at the bottom of any posts that could be misconstrued. At work we have discussion forums and one condition of posting is thet we include a standard disclaimer on all posts just in case so that it covers our employers. I don't think it needs to be on all her posts, just those where she is maybe going against what her company would want her to be saying

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

i agree and disagree with the views of gayle,and the councillor,as well as other members,they in turn do likewise with my opinions,i think everyone is entitled to a POINT OF VIEW dillon.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Agree with other previous posters since Dillons comments.

Gayle Knight, in my opinion, is as entitled to her opinion as anyone else. She as a public figure as had the bottle to post under her own name. She could have chosen to hide behind a nom de plume and we'd have been non the wiser.

There are lost of things posted on here that l disagree with, and l'm sure there are things l write which people disagree with, but it is our right to do so, just as it is Gayle's.

You Dillon, have the advantage over Gayle because you know her from part of her work. The only thing we know about you Dillon is that you were born on April Fool's Day and are twenty five, and you have the same name as the rabbit from the Magic Roundabout, which makes you to young to be Cllr. Britcliffe.:D

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

dillon have you stopped to think? some folk could well construe your comment as an attempt at intimidation, i think if they did you yourself may be skating on thin ice.(just an observation)

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Wow - who would have known I could cause such a fuss! Thank you everyone for defending my right to free speech.

I came on this forum originally with one intent - to win people over to the Panopticon project and if not to win them over then to at least get the truth out there so that people could make a more informed decision. Whether that has happened or not, I perhaps can't comment but I do know that I am always honest in my posts and try to inform people rather than make comment when it comes to issues that might be considered a conflict of interest.

Yes, I work for MPA (amongst other companies as I am partly freelance as well), I do NOT work for the council. although I do know a number of people who work for the council so sometimes get inside information. Yes, HBC are proving to be a difficult council to deal with in regards to the Panopticon project but that has no bearing on my views on other issues relating to the council. I have, as has been pointed out, defended them when I think information has been misconstrued and criticised when I feel that things have gone awry.

I am first and foremost a resident of Hyndburn and so entirely at liberty to discuss anything that will affect me and I will continue to do so. I am also a resident of St Andrew's Ward for which Cllr Britcliffe is Councillor so I have every right to comment on his management of that ward and of the area in general.

Since becoming a member with the one intention, I have been far more active than I ever intended. I have made friends, had some interesting debates and I hope become a useful member of this group. I have done this under my own name, as I see no reason to hide my views from anyone - other people including you Dillon, are not so open.

I am very aware of issues that could cause a conflict of interest and there have been times when I have bit my tongue and not replied to posts. However, in this instance I feel I have as much right as everybody else to comment. As for whether my boss at MPA is aware I post on here, it is none of your business. I am as honest and true in my dealings with my boss as I try to be with everyone else. He knows I have outside interests and he knows I have a certain public persona within Hyndburn. He knew this before he employed me and he knows now. He also knows that I am not afraid to voice my opinions when something matters to me.

If it makes everyone feel more comfortable then I will put a disclaimer on my posts but I will NOT stop posting.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

You tell 'em, Gayle.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Hurrah! Well said Gayle. Don't you dare stop posting!

On the principle that we would all claim to be Spartacus, I propose that we should all put disclaimers into our signatures.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

brill nice one gayle.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Oh, and one final thing - it is MRS Knight. I am very proud to be married to my husband!

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Wow, Mrs Knight looks to me that you have not only won the respect of your fellow members, but their admiration as well. I for one would like to compliment the membership for their support and eloquence in which they defended your right to free speech and self expression. For my part I can only agree with those honourable members who have spoken. My respects Madam, and don’t you dare make any changes in the way you post.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Well done "Mrs Knight" or can I call you Gayle. You said what needed to be said and I agree with you and am proud to support your views on this. Call a spade a spade, after all it's not a fork . WELL DONE> Ian.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Let's not stand on ceremony - you can call me Gayle, if I can call you Fire! lol

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Love your disclaimer x

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

i dont feel that i can comment on the topic, coz i dont live round here ,, but gayle has the guts to say what she thinks and not what others think she should say..

nice one

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Of course you can comment, granny. Your location makes not a ha'porth of difference. You are a member of the forum and it's your opinion that counts, not where you live.:D

I would hate to think that some members felt inhibited from sharing their opinion of the ludicrous doings of Britcliffe and HBC et al, simply because they didn't live in the borough. A comparison with the doings of Wyre BC would be quite illuminating.

More comment and more opinion, the more the merrier, I say!

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

"The comment by Dillon appears to me to be a bald attempt at censorship by intimidation.
"The membership of this forum take freedom of speech issues very seriously and do not take kindly to attempts at interference with such freedoms."

Thanks A-B nice to know that the freedom of speech extends to all members...Ah, but wait, apparently not to me.
Let's not get personal, eh?

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

No offence meant though, right?

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

What a ridiculous notion. Of course it extends to you dillon. And if you paused for long enough to remove the chip from your shoulder you would be able to see that as clearly as the rest of us.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

none so blind as one who cannot see.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

But I like chips.
And I admit I wear glasses, but lets leave out the jibes about 'blind' and 'see' shall we?
Cheers!

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

shall we all kiss and make up....
lets have an imaginary drink....mines a pernod and lemonade


CHEERS EVERYONE

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Ok - mines a pint of lager

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

I think Dillon is totally balanced... he has a big chip on each shoulder....... and no one has challenged your right to Free speech Dillon.

I applaud the other members of the forum for their support for Gayle.......and Gayle......WOOOOHoooooooo!

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

I`d vote them OUT

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

No one, as far as l read, stopped you from making your comments Dillon. Therefore you have the same freedom of speech as those of us who defended Gayle's right to express her opinions on matters relating to her life outside of her job.

Again forgive me if l am wrong, but you made it 'personal' by targeting one member's right to freedom of speech.

Like l said Gayle has the cyber bollocks [so to speak, and not literally,] to post under her own name, and not a nom de plume. Reading through your past postings, half of them seem to be against the Panopticon, and at least half mention quotes from The Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Is there something you aren't telling us? I hope you don't have a conflict of 'professional interest;, or a hidden agenda?

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Flicking through my Miss Marple, and a copy of your posts and an old copy of The Accrington Obsever, l notice that they employ someone with the surname Dillon, and he lives in Huncoat, were you posted you live?

He's the same age as you too.

Surely not a journalist from the same anti Panopticon rag???

I do so hope not.

If you never make Fleet Street Dillon, don't consider a career as an undercover detective.;)

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Well done Garinda

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

you clever little sausage you!

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

The Names Dillon.............

Jonathon Dillon.

Super scooper…….Scroll down

http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/..._observer.html

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

I wonder if he also doubles as Mr Angry........him of 'It really makes my blood boil'

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Did we not have a thread about him? He could be the same one Margaret, He seems a little angry, doesn’t he…………….

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

if it is him then his journalistic talents are sadly lacking..........every week he starts his column with 'It really makes my blood boil' and it is always about some sad inconsequential incident. I am sure that the column could be better written by a pupil of one of the local secondary schools.....on some issue of local or national interest.

Hmmmm.......I might just write to the observer and suggest that to them.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

You could do one. What about a title like – “A Message from Mrs Pilkington” Your first column could be about the “Wrist Ribbons” and your second could be about Mr Angry’s Blood Pressure………lol

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Well, I know I could write one better than he does......well, that is if it IS him......maybe I am presuming too much.
I have more readers for my blog than he does for that column.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Your asking for it arnt you Margaret. When you pick the next cpoy of the Observer up and turn to Mr Angrys page you'll see. :eek:

Mr Angry Say's...........

"Margaret Pilkington's Blog Make's my Blood Boil"........

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

I wish.... I really wish. I could give him a real run for his money.

A journalist of any decent calibre would be able to find some other cliche to signify how ticked off he was with some experience or situation......or if he was a decent jornalist... this Mr Angry, I mean........ he would be able to ditch the cliche altogether.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

I totally agree Margaret, you never know? You might have just put him on the road to enlightenment and success…………………

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

come on dillon own up , are you he or not.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

Dillon, Dillon?

Please feel free to answer the insinuation that you are one and the same, using of course your right to free speech.

In Accrington's Victorian Arcade there is a fancy dress shop, you may have had rather more luck in there.


Rindy Sherlock, [much indebted to my dear Holmes.] Hee, hee.

Re: You have to laugh... or you'd cry!
 

DILLON by name? lol