SOME heartening news to report this week as I drifted round to the hallowed offices at Dalton Square to take advantage of the time of year when the peasants are allowed to gaze upon confidential and classified documents to check that all is in order.

And all you cynics and conspiracy theorists, anarchists, rhinos, winos and lunatics who complain the place is being run by power-crazy masons with vested interests are completely wrong! Yes you heard me... wrong. For I have seen the proof with my own eyes. In the register of officers' interests, which is now kept at the town hall offices, there is a comprehensive list of officers declared interests and not a single one is a member of a mason's lodge, secret society or any other group of that ilk. So no more letters please complaining that you have not been told what is going on. Somewhat less heartening was the news that I was not allowed to see documents regarding the departure of former town clerk John Burrows (you remember, the man it cost you about £100,000 in a pay-off settlement) and technically speaking it appears there is no obligation on the council's part to let us see these papers. Because of this I suppose one shouldn't grumble but you might have thought, given the council's new propensity to open, local government, that they might have showed me the papers anyway, you know, just to prove to the public it was all necessary. Trying to find out who owns the Winter Gardens (Victoria Pavilion), is quite an amusing though ultimately frustrating way, to while away a few hours and get absolutely nowhere. The problems with the Tarnsyke Road upgrading of council property has cause some concern and I am happy to confirm (as previously reported in this paper) that the whole matter is being reviewed by the council's own internal audit people who no doubt will be reporting back as soon as they have finished their inquiries... watch this space!

News this week that the closure of the Fair Elms home has been all but rubber-stamped by county council bosses will bring dismay to many, residents and relatives alike. Despite a strong and vigorous fight to make them think again it appears the protests fell on deaf ears and the residents will be shipped off to other homes as soon as is practicable. MP Hilton Dawson was forceful in trying to persuade county hall bosses to think again but now claims to carry on the fight would be wrong because it would be irresponsible to build up the residents' hopes... it is a pity that he and others should be forced to admit defeat even though, realistically, there is little hope of reversing the decision.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.