Burton Joyce Online

*SQUAWK BOX* 

Hi Everyone -

A letter of thanks -

BUS PLUG VICTORY

 

Hooray!  Three cheers for the residents of Burton Joyce, Gedling, Lambley and surrounding areas.  After a very long haul the bus plug is no more – permanently no more.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported our 8 year campaign. This has involved signing petitions, attending public meetings, demonstrating at the bus plug itself and County Hall, writing to the press and carrying out surveys to disprove the absurd notion that the people of Gedling were in favour of the scheme.

 That we should have been driven to this in the first place by the introduction of such a hideous scheme throws open many issues, not least the arrogance with which some councils ride roughshod over common sense and the will of the people, and the cynical manipulation of so-called public consultation.

Most importantly, thanks are due to the small and dedicated army who have delivered countless batches of leaflets, often at short notice, to keep everyone informed regarding developments and important deadlines for expressing their views in advance of councillors’ consultations with their officers.

This is a triumph for local democracy.  Together we have forced our voice to be heard by those in authority.  Let us hope that if there is a ‘next time’ on another issue, it will be a much simpler task to get ourselves heard.  We are an indomitable team!

Val Baker

4 August 2011

Here is a solution to a long time problem within BJ, which we hope you will consider and participate in
 
We have for many years been aware of the fact that the distribution and communication of information thro-out the community has been  in-effec tive and wanting. Creating a reliable remedy for this has not had a simply, economical remedy. However we believe we do now have an answer which can go a long way toward providing a solution.
We now have a community “burtonjoyceonline - Keeping you informed” contact /email list ( which originated as our NHW co-ordinator list ) which is now well into the mid 100’s.  As many of you will be aware we circulate by email “ burtonjoycenews Alerts “ quite frequently . Yet as many in the village are not ONLINE, we suggest, that if each recipient of our e mail “Alerts” speaks or passes on the information ( when convenient ) to just two friends/neighbours and they in turn chat to two others,  then within a short time/days the information will be widespread out in the community – Thus creating a simple/viable/ low cost, yet effective flexible “burtonjoycenews Grapevine” . How about starting with the Alert11 - BUS PLUG information.
We ask and hope many ( preferably all ) will participate and create in establishing an effective “BJ Grapevine” for it has all the Advantages and NO Disadvantages and with the myriad of information within our website (www.butonjoyceonline.co.uk)  will also assist in aiding the community effectively communicating on a "one to one" contact basis – A WIN/WIN situation 

 

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14/07/2011

On Sunday 24th July Burton Joyce Archers held the East Midlands Archery Society Junior Intercounties team Tournament which saw teams of junior archers from Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestshire and Rutland, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire all competing for the Sydney Bond and Bingham Ceramics trophies.

20/07/11

Over the 2.5 years we have been continually trawling existing Parish Council and Village Community websites on the Internet, noting their good aspects and those which we consider as mundane and of little simulation and interest . We note that the really interesting and interesting PC websites utilise a dedicated webmaster or sponsor a specialist local source We believe our new content and presentation regime will please, interest and stimulate most within our own online community here in BJ and the surrounding area and will stimulate the creation an even wider and greater number of readers/followers.
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An OPEN Letter to the BJPC – “A New Era” - “ Mindful of the Old”

This message to the BJPC is NOT intended as a criticism of the creation of existence of the BJPC official website. It is offered solely as a constructive comment and a suggestion for improvements/ future of their website.

In late 2008 we developed our community website BJO, which eventually was uploaded online at the beginning of 2009. We suggested, at that time, that we at BJO were willing to provide FOC a dedicated space on our website for the sole use of BJPC posting as unedited /verbatim details of BJPC meetings and their minutes for the update of the BJ Online Community.
Our offer was also to promptly “upload and post” within a dedicated section of the BJO, information the BJPC could provide - both accurately and without edits. Regretfully our proposal was promptly rejected, with the comment that “they had plans to create their own BJPC website”.

We believed then and stated at that time, and even now will reiterate, that the maintenance and ongoing production/editing such a website is a time consuming and creative activity which will inevitably results in the unnecessary drain on and a detraction from the BJPC’s own finite resources for local governance. Later confirmed by the typo errors, broken links, out of date/late bulletins, incomplete individual Councillor information etc., plus the over emphasis within the BJPC website and the covering the Stoke Bardolph , Anti Wind Turbine project . Why is it that the BJPC has not create a dedicated “TOO BIG/TOO CLOSE” alternative online project rather than allowing the subject to become a cancer and swallow the existing BJPC website content?

BJO’s redirected “presentation and content” should now be evident in several areas of theour Website. Home Page editorial, Forum, BJ Diary/Blog, Local Groups etc. We do have more introductions/content in the pipeline.

A suggestion, there is more to be gained by and for each of our Parish Councillors by beginning to visit and regularly follow our “Not for Profit” BJO community website . The information and comments posted online will give each of them , a priceless means of contact and an improved understanding of the mechanism behind the “heart beat” of our community - It will enable them to begin a proactive “engagement with the community”, rather than the implied suggestion, expecting the “community to engage with the PC”.

WHY ? - Our research over the last two years, into a vast number of UK Parish Council Websites and published Council Minutes has revealed, that almost, without exception, the vast majority of individual residents in communities DO NOT ATTEND Parish Council Meetings ( only 2/3 members of the public attending is quite normal)

Community online publications such as BJO and social media ( whether or not the Councillors are in total agreement with the actual content) has become a valuable source of local information, information which is freely available for each of our Parish Councillors to consider, or not as is their will

We applaud the BJPC’s initiative to create a “Community Engagement Committee”, however the scheduled Quarterly meetings, do appear to lack real serious intent . We do suggest/propose that the stated emphasis of the Committee should take the lead, illustrating and acknowledging the BJPC’s intention to establish engagement/relationship with the BJ community - rather than expecting the broad Community to respond without the BJPC initiative .

We are also convinced that a BJPC “OUTREACH” capability, for those in the community who are isolated , infirmed, handicapped etc . should be considered and introduced urgently BEFORE the coming Winter

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19/07/11.

 BURTON JOYCE COMMUNITY CHAMPION - 2011

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11/07/2011

After 2.5 years in the life of BJO and our constant compaigning for the introduction of "Open and Transparency" within our community and Parish Council releases, we believe our concern  is well and truly noted . We have therefore decided it is time for a dramatic change to our style of  "Presentation and Content".
 
Over the 2.5 years we have been continually trawling existing Parish Council and Village Community websites on the Internet, noting their good aspects and dispensing with those which we consider as mundane and of little simulation and interest . We believe our new content and presentation regime will please, interest and stimulate most within our own online community here in BJ and the surrounding area and will stimulate the creation an even wider and greater number of readers/followers.
 
Our new Presentation and Content will be of great interest to those interested in reading/learning interesting information about our village, being it casual and those with the aim of seriously considering relocating here in our village or adjoining  area.
 
Our planned changes are extensive and will naturally take a little time to fully incorporate, however a sample of our new direction can be seen and read, within the editorial on our website Home Page  and the latest posting within the BJ Diary/Blog ( a category within the SQUAWK BOX section  - LH menu).
 
We trust that some of you may want to comment further  - please do not hesitate in contacting us  .
 

 

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03/07/2011

My wife began chatting with an isolated elderly lady living alone in BJ - for some 5 years - She was NOT aware of any local groups in the village which bring a social interest to her life ( Yes she does subscribe to the Parish Magazine ).

Individually and collectively, WE the BJ community, really need to adopt a constant vigorous "OUTREACH" attitude to all those in a similar situation, NO MATTER what their personal circumstances and age

 Yes ! we all or most of us are aware of AGE CONCERN, yet genuine suggestions and actions as to how we can remidy this type of predicament and prevent similar situations    - ALL comments will be appreciated and hopefully will provide a catalyst to improve this example of current day isolation in our village 

 

28/06/2011 - Had a surprise, pleasant and encouraging home visit from our new Gedling Councillor Stephen Poole. We discussed several issues including the inability to get the broad based information out to our community.

Stephen also advised

1) There MAY be a possible date for some progress on the Wind Turbine  - 20/07/2011

2) A new crossing is proposed by the Notts CC at the Nottingham Road Paper Shop - possibly October

2) BJ Library will be closed from 29/06 < 04/07 to onstall self-service system 

Keep-em ! coming Stephen this is a welcome initiative His new email address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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27/06/2011 -  I see from the report by the BJ Parish Council ( published in the June edition Parish Magazine )

Income for the Poplars Sports ground during the past year rose from £12,619 < £14, 234 an increase of over 15% . whilst the expenditure fell from £21,320 to 20,439

That looks to be great - HOWEVER - where is the Open Transparency ? for when we add the Groundsman's salary the figure looks a little different in fact

THE COST OF THE RUNNING THE "POPLARS" SPORTS GROUND could be at least £46 0000 pa

Is this just another example of " creative accounting" ?  - Not really, I guess it is the simply an act of burying the real facts -

"A case of out of sight - out of mind "

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Welcome to our new category title, as we move with the times. This category is now the home for serious, amusing topics which can and may be occasionally  spliced with a sence of humourn and "tongue in cheek" . We should add that this format is a result of our introduction to TWITTER which can be found at .

By visiting our clicking this TWITTER SITE link   

https://twitter.com/?utm_campaign=welcome20100914phx&utm_medium=email&utm_source=welcome#!/burtonjoycenews  We suggest that you may become interested in the short daily chat/comments intended to inform/amuse/promote the topics of local interest - Thanks for visiting, please keep on returning

So here we go  -  23/06/2011 

Welcome to our latest BJO category – this is THE PLACE where you can learn of the happenings, reactions,  dubious actions of the administrations, everything really the GOOD BAD and the UGLY . It is no longer a place of “Hot Gossip” a couple of words which signified “tickle tackle” . This now is the place to utter loud harsh cry, a loud complaint - This is the place to SQUAWK..   not SQUEAK  

So why have we changed/redirected ?  Well it is quite simple really .. .. .. 

Some two and a half years ago we began developing and creating our BJO website initiative  ( a natural result of the 12 months experience of posting online our  BJ BLOG.. .. ..  

At the time we were stimulated  by the work and attitude of a future  friend and  Parish Councillor who had over the years laboured to improve the lot of the BJ community - striving and working for a greater “Open and Transparency” in our administration’s affairs. .. ..

 At that time we were not aware of the “breadth and depth” such an initiative may achieve. We now have confirmation as to what was achievable, in numbers and interest levels with the impressive consistently high and depth of followers (visitor levels). We have stimulated  followers in 21 countries world- wide and in 141 and cities/towns/villages in the British Isle- All these figures are Independently verified by GOOGLE Stats

Our earliest contact, with our then local administration, was a clandestine meet, (initiated by a third party) with an enthusiastic, ambitious BJ local (subsequently recognised as an egotistic/ egocentric and who had a personal mission to be active in and update our local administration). This clandestine meet was in the Lord Nelson - one early mid week evening in Feb 2009.

The result and events which followed this meeting have already been covered extensively within BJO,  we have no intention of revisiting nor covering old ground.  HOWEVER.!!!.  ..    

 

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