Saturday, April 23, 2011

UK Banking System versus Tesco Express



It never ceases to amaze me nowadays at what greets me whenever I turn on the news or turn on my laptop.

The Middle East is ablaze, the people are uprising everywhere against their corrupt leaders and most of all innocent people are being slaughtered in Libya by a regime lead by a tyrant who will not let go of the reins and the free world stands by and watches when it comes to committing ground troops to protect them.

Closer to home, in Bristol City in the South West of England a small area called Stokescroft was involved in a riot on Thursday night when 160 police tried to evict some squatters who we are reliably informed were making petrol bombs. The graphic videos and TV coverage showed scenes very reminiscent of Egypt and Yemen (or so it seemed) as police battled to quell the mob with riot shields and batons. But there, the similarity with the Middle East ends!

What was the reason for this neighbourhood uprising? Was there a corrupt political regime in Bristol? Was there people disappearing off the streets and never being heard of again? Was there massive poverty and unemployment fuelling this bedrock of unrest?

Well actually no, it was all centred around the opening of a Tesco Express convenience store. Yep, you read correctly. All that violence and damage over the opening of a bloody Tesco Express.

We take to the streets over such a relatively minor issue as this when the whole population in the U.K. didn’t even raise as much as a whimper when the biggest raid on tax payers money occurred a couple years ago to prop up the corrupt and mismanaged banking system. They are still laughing at us as they raise their middle fingers and collect their bonuses this year supported by public donations which we had no say in.

Whilst I do not condone violence in any shape or form, it seems barmy to me that people take to the streets to oppose a mini supermarket on their little patch but basically the population as a whole chose to roll over and turn their backs on the biggest rip off this country has ever known.

Funny old world eh!!

Saturday, April 09, 2011

Morrisons new South West Distribution Centre Bridgwater Somerset, blot on the rural landscape?

Have you been down the M5 in Somerset recently and seen the monstrous new Morrisons Distribution Centre for the South West taking shape situated right alongside the M5 close to junction 23 . Well you can't miss it because it is a huge site and the main warehouse is the most appalling vision in green you have ever seen.
What a blot on the rural landscape of this beautiful part of the world and of course Bridgwater Council are crowing because of the number of jobs it will supposedly create. Neighbouring Taunton Deane are furious because they see the development as stealing a source of vital labour from Taunton.
Apart from the bickering I am more niggled at the way some of our rural land is being high jacked for commercial purposes in the name of job creation. Rumour has it that the owner of this piece of land got in excess of £30m for it. So, instead of breathing in and getting the smell from the cellophane factory as you drive past Bridgwater on the M5 you will now be met by this massive building as you make your way to Devon and Cornwall. As I said, you wont be able to miss it, it's just horrible. Shame on you Bridgwater Council.