RECENT PHOTOS FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

 

At http://picasaweb.google.com/gregmaistersmith   you'll find some of my best recent photos in the following almums

 

Reflections on autumn... http://picasaweb.google.com/gregmaistersmith/ReflectionsOnAutumn

 

 

October 20th Steam Trains   http://picasaweb.google.com/gregmaistersmith/SteamTrainsOctober202007

 

Lake district / Coniston    http://picasaweb.google.com/gregmaistersmith/LakeDistrict  (at bottom of album)

 

Nature   http://picasaweb.google.com/gregmaistersmith/Nature02    the dragonfly at http://picasaweb.google.com/gregmaistersmith/Nature02/photo#5118573245994879522  is a favourite.

 

 

Blackpool Iluminations   http://picasaweb.google.com/gregmaistersmith/Blackpool  (at bottom of album)

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Ribble Barrage .. an alternative plan

In view of the news that the daft plan for a barrage on the Ribble has been "put on ice" see



http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Barrage-plan-put-on-ice.3451802.jp



I've written to the leader of the city council thus:




Dear Cllr. Hudson,

I was pleased to read in the LEP yesterday that plans for a proposed river barrage have at least been put on the back burner, and I would hope that it is indeed sunk without trace.

As a local resident with some experience in the world of regeneration and an interest in a sustainable environment I would suggest this decision offers the city a golden opportunity to develop a plan for the whole of the Ribble flood plain that could bring huge benefits to local people, wildlife and the economy. In the context of wider strategic plans why not seek to get the whole of the undeveloped / green part of the flood plain from the Tickled Trout, downstream to Longton marsh to be designated as a Country park / nature reserve / green corridor at the heart of Central Lancashire?

The arguments for this are environmental and recreational. Even though the area should essentially remain greenbelt, there could be some minimal development like improving pathways for walkers and cyclists, more interpretation boards or a field studies centre and more marketing so that the area is used more by local people and attracts visitors. I’m sure it would be worthwhile developing partnerships involving not only Preston and South Ribble Councils, but sports associations (football, canoeing, cycling etc.), the wildlife trust, the RSPB and even the cafes and pubs along the way. Sounds like a great opportunity waiting to be grasped, and the tidal flowing Ribble would be the central feature. There are similar models of riverside country parks which are worth looking at, for example the Nene Valley in Peterborough and the Mersey Valley Park nearer to home. I’d be interested to hear what you think of such an idea, and delighted if you could get your officers looking into it.


Yours sincerely


Greg Smith



For some of my latest photos of the river and surroundin area go to



http://picasaweb.google.com/gregmaistersmith/RibbleThroughPreston



You'll find the new ones at the bottom of the album

Curse of the Google Vanity Search Brings Identity Crisis.

 

Dear Greg, & Greg, & Greg (that's me)

 

Oh the curse of the google vanity search.. I type in my own name and of course I get several hits... over a million to be precise .. the top four are these.. Well at least the top one is me..see below.

 

I discovered the (ranked at number 2) Greg Smith who is a sociologist at Salford a few years ago which was more than a co-incidence as I was at the time earning my living at the University of East London as a Social Researcher...

 

But the new (number 3) Greg Smith I've found he is hardly my alter ego.. a Tory Councillor in Hammersmith, who has been appointed Cabinet member for Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour. . With my politics being far to the left of anything left behind in the Labour Party..I must say I'm not surprised... on my list being a Conservative Councillor counts pretty much as a crime and anti social behaviour even if you don't make it to the cabinet.. and of course it has to be him who's grabbed the domain name http://www.gregsmith.co.uk/

 

The number 4 Greg Smith sounds more like me... an environmental scientist (I'm an environmental cyclist!) and working at my old alma mater.. the University of Reading... He even works in the Harry Pitt building, named after the Vice Chancellor of my days (early 70's) whom we used to refer to as the "BOTTOMLESS PITT". 

 

I don't believe in reincarnation, or even in parallel universes but the proliferation of names sakes makes me think I'd better find out how to apply to copyright my identity, or register my name as a trademark. Still I don't think it adds any weight to the oppressive government plan to bring in ID cards and take DNA samples from everyone.. But as soon as I say that I'm sounding too much like a Tory!

 

 

For reference the top four UK googleable Gregs are..

 

Greg Smith UEL Home Page

Greg Smith's Urban Mission and Minstry Pages · Credo Consultancy Business Web Site Helping churches and community groups with research, information and ... homepages.uel.ac.uk/G.Smith/ - 10k - Cached - Similar pages   (actually my real up to date home page and blog is now at http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/credoconsultancy/uelhome.htm Blog: http://gregsnewblogcredo.blogspot.com/

The University of Salford | Institute for Social, Cultural and ...

Dr Greg Smith, BSc (Salford), PhD (Salford) ... School of English, Sociology, Politics & Contemporary History. Email: g.w.h.smith@salford.ac.uk ... www.iscpr.salford.ac.uk/people/staff/gregory_smith.shtml - 18k - Cached - Similar pages

Greg Smith - Councillor for Town Ward & Cabinet Member for Crime ...

Greg Smith is one of three Councillors who represent Town Ward in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham. He serves alongside Councillor Stephen ... gregsmith.co.uk/ - 11k - Cached - Similar pages

Greg Smith's Home Page

Greg Smith, Research Fellow, Environmental Systems Science Centre. www.nerc-essc.ac.uk/~gcs/ - 9k - Cached - Similar pages

 

 

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Letter to MP re end of local bus services

Dear Mr Hendrick,

According to the Lancashire Evening Post

Preston Bus has revealed it has been forced into the first "retreat" of the city's bus wars.
The operator confirmed it is making sweeping cuts across its services as it battles Stagecoach for customers on its most popular routes.It has axed service number 21 to Broadgate, the 36 to Lightfoot Lane via Garstang Road and the twice-daily number 99 bus to the Royal Preston Hospital.

This leaves our community in Broadgate without a viable bus service which as a result of a mass local campaign three years ago was promised to be maintained. Furthermore the Council at that time instituted a one way system between South Meadow Lane and Riverside in order to make the route more viable. The bus service remains vital, especially to the many elderly people who live in the area.

Apparently the route has been cut because it is uneconomic and the rampant capitalist competition between rival bus companies. I am old enought to remember the campaigns of the 1980s against Thatcher's evil policies to privatise and deregulate public transport. Preston is now reaping the whirlwind of the failure of those campaigns.

But why on earth after 10 years in power has not your Labour government reversed the legislation, and put public service above economics? The question is even more relevant given what we now know about the devastation to the environment caused by among other things dependency on the private motor car.

Greg Smith

RECENT PHOTOS

Mainline Steam Trains in the NW July 28th

More at http://picasaweb.google.com/gregmaistersmith/NorthernSteamJuly282007



Union of South Africa approaches Oxenholme

Holiday photos from the Moray Firth Scotland at

http://picasaweb.google.com/gregmaistersmith/Scotland2007

Bow & Fiddle Rocks Portknockie

Lake district landscapes at

http://picasaweb.google.com/gregmaistersmith/LakeDistrict

NW from Windermere

Bristol Graffitti.... Community Cohesion