The day’s are getting shorter and time is tight and before you know it, its Halloween night.

Deep in the forest where evil is rife, there are people with nothing, not even a life.

Hubble Bubble the pot boils well, whilst the red witch and her cat think up a new spell. 

Hocus pocus three shakes of a twig, a twist of frog juice and the tail of a pig 

“I will make mouthy trouble whilst dancing a jig”.

The potion is right there is steam everywhere, so now is the time to bring evil to bear. 

 As witch hour approaches something seems to be wrong, there’s a huge explosion and a hell of a pong.

 Where once stood the cauldron there is now a huge pit, the witch looked bedraggled and covered …stumbled a bit.

If you’re wondering what happened to red witch that night, she was banished forever for gobbing such shite utter rubbish.

Again…

Bring it on…….

Remembrance Sunday 2008

To quote my very great departed friend and father in law, “Its piddling down”.. (whats new) but thankfully it remained rain free just long enough in Memorial Park Fleetwood for today’s remembrance ceremony which was a very moving event, well organised and very well attended.

Representing Wyre Borough Council and taking part in the annual procession, I was wearing many hat’s, in tribute for the past and with pride for the present. Proud husband & father, community leader and local business man.

We gathered around the cenetaf as the wind howled through the otherwise silent park.

As the last post rang out and with a lump in my throat I remembered that this was an occasion not only to salute all our brave servants from every walk of life who have been lost in wars past and present, but also a time to reflect on personal losses, loved ones passed on who in turn would have stood proudly where I stood remembering their gallant comrades, including horrific moments forced upon them by terrible conflicts.

Looking around the gathering, which represented many parts of my community standing respectfully silent, I was uplifted by the presence of so many young people who had given their time to be with us, some not fully understanding the necessity of the occasion but learning how to give respect to others who had given their lives in the belief that they would help to create freedom and a better world in which to live.

If we do not continually strive for improvement and freedom together the lives of our great servicemen and women will have been lost without reason.

Obama the unknown pretender or McCain the ageing military Statesman ?

Either of these candidates can hardly be the cream of each party’s crop and personally I would be hard pressed as to which was the worst of two evils, never the less one of these much publicised senators will eventually have to prove their worth on a global stage.

Lets hope, for the sake of humanity, that the outcome provides us with a President capable of steering us all through some very tough times ahead.

God Bless America.

God Help Us All.

It would seem that Fleetwood may be pierless for ever more if I am to understand correctly a recent communication from Wyre Borough’s Director of Planning this week.

The owners of the former pier have had talks with Borough planners to re-develop the land where the stricken pier once stood. The talks were based upon a land only development which was not to protrude seaward over the beach. Formal planning applications have not been submitted at this stage and the owners are keen to seek advice from elected members in due course.

We are all looking forward to see the proposals however I fear that if housing is on the agenda there will be a public outcry as most will see it as salt in the wounds after loosing the landmark to fire.

I will of course keep you informed of the latest developments.

Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions as to what could be done to;

• Bring to Fleetwood a worthy replacement for its pier
• Give both residents and developers pride in achieving a compromise
• Provide ongoing viable construction in this area
• Create a new millennium attraction
• Give residents and visitors an attraction to herald the beginning of new times for Fleetwood

Last weeks Full Council Meeting in the Civic Centre chamber held at wyre Borough Council offices was the best entertainment I have seen for ages. The muppet show could’nt have improved upon the behaviour and antics of our socialist collegues, in fact the script writers of that famous show surely had a hand in the performance that was laid before us.

Scargill and Benn who doubled as Cllr Shewan & Cllr Grunshaw, threw acusation after acusation at the bemused cabinet members who sat before them. The answers to two of Cll Grunshaws questions “On Notice” being public knowledge already and one relating to ownership of the land under the pier was in his own ward. Whoops!!

Cllr Shewan went on to further upset the cabinet by accusing them of theft and lying about the Councils intentions for housing on the seafront. Cllr Shewan was ordered to withdraw his allegations by the leader Cllr Forsyth, stating that serious re-percussions could insue. The Deputy Mayor brought the meeting to order ..eventually. Steady Tiger

This mayhem brought to mind how many of the muppets had look alikes in the chamber.

Cllr Hamer had a curt response to his question about refuse collection then put in his place regarding CCTV in our Ward. He was then accused of wasting the deputy Mayor’s time when asking about the passenger figures for the ferry as he had been given that information at an earlier date.

Cllr Vincent was on form giving angry Shewan some of his own medicine and on each occasion Shewan fired a shot Vincent rebounded with a broadside.

This was some meeting!!  I left breathless thinking how many likenesses I could think of CAN YOU?

Will the real Muppets Stand up Please ??

The Pier in its prime

Will Fleetwood Pier live on?

Fleetwood Pier was built by the Fleetwood Victoria Pier company for £30,000 and opened on Whit Monday in 1910. It boasted an ornate oriental pavilion, five bars, a nightclub, a fish and chip shop and a 330ft jetty. A cinema was added in 1942, which became the Place to be for courting couples. The cinema was the seat of a fire in August 1952 which destroyed the pier, and was rebuilt almost immediately.

Always overshadowed by, and having to compete with, its three well known neighbours only a tram ride away in Blackpool, the pier continued to remain profitable throughout the declining years of the seaside resort, even receiving a £70,000 facelift in 1972. Sadly this was not to remain the case and the pier’s owners, Fleetwood Amusements Ltd, eventually closed the pier in 2000, after going into liquidation.

In 2003 the pier was given a new lease of life with manchester based Persian Leisure being granted development permission. For a time this injection seemed to breath new life into the structure re-opening most of the former attractions but sadly this could not be sustained.

It was then acquired by Mike Simmons, a professional comedian and property developer well known locally as Joey Blower. Mikes plans for housing development of the pier hit a raw nerve with the local community and as yet no further formal application for planning has been received by Wyre Borough Council.  

It is believed the fire started near the entrance to the pier, between the disused cafe and pub. The cause of the fire is as yet unknown although arson is suspected. Mike Simmons has reported that the pier was not insured making the recent demolition order a further burden on overheads.

Curtesy of utube this clip should bring back memories of harder times in Fleetwood. The Fleetwood flood brought devastation to the town nearly 100 years ago.

See if you can guess the streets involved here.

Cllr Mike Sanderson

Mike Sanderson Electricals

Were off.. Today is the first day of the rest of my blog life  and I hope to bring you some interesting news, links gossip etc.

“All remarks and personal comment on this site are with respect and Without Prejudice. Comments posted on this site are my personal views only and are not necessarily supported by my Borough Council or political colleagues”. 

Watch this space