Residents’ Fire Cuts Protest Ignored By Echo In Favour Of CIIP Petition

IF RESIDENTS WERE WAITING to have their local story of Tuesday’s Fire Protest meeting told by the Echo – or to have the paper follow-up the Canvey Island Independent Party’s manufacturing of resident support and its redirection of £2,580.50 of Veteran Charities’ funds into its Town Council’s Bank Account, they will have been sorely disappointed.

Today, the Echo’s Max Orbach decided to assist the CIIP in taking-over the residents’ Fire Cuts campaign by choosing to castigate the local Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s stores for not advertising the CIIP’s petition.

There were no accompanying photos of the packed Northwick Park School hall on Tuesday; no photos of George Whately or Tracy Touse – and no mention of the residents’ meeting. Instead, Max devoted his column to quoting Dave Blackwell, and illustrating his piece with a photograph depicting CIIP councillors promoting their petition.

Max indicates that the CIIP’s petition will be presented to Essex County Council; but does not ask Blackwell why his party does not just give his party’s Essex County Member, Brian Wood, a ring to raise the matter in Council – if he thinks that will do any good. But why petition Essex County Council when this issue regards an operational decision by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service to remove full-time fire-fighters from Canvey? Should not the petition be directed there?

While residents debate their options and wait for the result of talks between the County’s Chief Fire Officer and our local MP, Rebecca Harris, Dave Blackwell and his party are already jumping upon the issue to divert attention away from their party’s fraudulent Websites and questionable Town Council management. And the Echo is ably assisting them in their quest.

Elected to represent islanders, neither CIIP Town Councillors – nor CIIP Borough Councillors – appear to have even lifted the phone to speak to the County’s Chief Fire Officer about his decision. From the latter’s point of view, Canvey Island has no problem with losing its full-time fire contingent – apart from representations made by Castle Point’s MP.

Max Orbach quotes Blackwell as saying the matter is ‘not political;’ but that is precisely what the CIIP’s petition is. When Bob Spink held the Borough’s Parliamentary seat, the CIIP always ensured that their petitions were handed-over as further ammunition for the former to use; but, perhaps because Rebecca would use such a petition as a means to bring further pressure upon the Chief Fire Officer – and achieve a successful outcome for islanders – the CIIP has purposely decided to keep her out of the loop.

Better that Canvey lose its full-time fire-fighters - and Rebecca be blamed for allowing it to happen – than to join forces in representing island voters and defeating the cuts…

… (Ted Pugh, 21/01/2011) – What On Earth Was I Thinking?..