HAVING DOMINATED the local press for the last four years, bemoaning the state of Canvey Island and leading protests against the Borough’s majority, it is difficult to find any sympathy amongst Canvey Beat readers for Dave Blackwell’s complaints of having been purposely ignored during the public meeting, organised by Essex County Fire & Rescue Service (ECFRS), to discuss their proposed changes to the way the island’s two fire engines are manned.
As readers point-out: if Blackwell had anything pertinent to say on the issue, he had more than enough opportunity to put his thoughts into print. And, unlike the vast majority of the meetings’ speakers, he also had the ability to publicise his thoughts on both Canvey Island Town Council’s and the Canvey Island Independent Party’s Websites to move public opinion.
‘Perhaps the fact that he did not,’ suggests David, ‘implies he actually has nothing relevant to say.’
Certainly, that is what is inferred from Max Orbach’s report in the Echo, in which he devotes three whole paragraphs to quoting Blackwell. But at no time does the island’s most vociferous pink-sack protester mention what it was that he was allegedly prevented from saying. Instead, like some spoilt child denied from taking part in a game of musical chairs with limited furniture, Blackwell provides a Freudian insight into his personality when he uses those precious column inches to declare:-
‘They knew who I was, because I’d introduced myself at the start.
‘I even spoke to the guy taking questions half way through, he just said hold on and you’ll get your turn, but I never did.
‘I think everyone who was there could tell it was political, it wasn’t like they didn’t notice me.’
If Blackwell had been about to provide the meeting with tales from his own experience as a retained fire-fighter on Canvey, residents will never know. Did he have a compelling argument for retaining the island’s full-time crew? Or did he just intend to make another ‘political statement’ by objecting and walking out in a wave of accompanying publicity?
The indications are that the latter was to have been the case.
Despite the island having 28 CIIP councillors representing residents at both Borough and Town Council level, not one has been able to present a viable alternative to the ECFRS proposals. Apart from the CIIP’s Blog, in which Neville Watson asks why his party is being criticised for launching another petition, none of the other CIIP sites have anything to say on the issue.
Two news releases have been placed on the Town Council’s Website regarding the Flood Plaque’s unveiling in the island’s library since the issue was raised; but not a single word has been written about the fire cuts.
Such is the importance of the matter as far as the CIIP is concerned.
The Canvey Island Independent Party declares itself to be a ‘strong opposition;’ but, the fact is, it is anything but. On every issue that the party opposes it has only two replies: to raise another petition – or to walk-out of the discussions.
‘A strong opposition.’ and ‘Canvey for Canvey,’ to the CIIP, simply means opposing any initiative by the Borough’s majority or service providers. Not once has the party ever promoted its own initiative or successfully argued its case.
Thanks to Blackwell and his party, islanders are now considered NIMBYs – to be politely listened to and then ignored.
‘Nice people, Canvey Islanders.’ it is often said. ‘But they never have anything useful to say.’
With such a history, it is little wonder that, on matters of vital local importance, the CIIP leader is left complaining that he has no voice – and residents are forced to ineptly fend for themselves as usual…
… (Yellow Advertiser, 03/02/2011) – Concerns grow over fire cuts proposals
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