RICHARD W. SYMONDS (RWS) - INDEPENDENT ANALYST

An apology is due from me...but only about the elections.

Horsham District Council have their elections this May - not West Sussex County Council. Sorry, my mistake.

Cllr John Mortimer has made an unsurprising, spirited defence of his 'council housing' position ("Always against housing sell-off", Crawley News, Letters Page, January 31)...but he (like Skuds and Danivon here) is still missing the point, in my view.

At every available opportunity since 1997, did Cllr Mortimer (and his political colleagues) openly oppose his (Labour) government's policy relating to privatisation - which inevitably led to the privatisation of council houses - and the mess we are now in.

It's quite clear that the Labour-controlled Brighton City Council did not openly oppose this government policy - and are not openly opposing - quite the opposite in fact.

13,000 Brighton council tenants are voting on the privatisation/housing association issue right now - as Cllr Mortimer well knows...and others.

Quite why Charles Pearson - of the Pearson Global Media Empire (eg FT & Penguin et al), and brother of Viscount Cowdray - is advertising his 'footpath' cause on the letters page of Johnston's Press's Crawley Observer, I don't quite fully understand yet ("West Sussex County Council Ignores Local Views", January 24 2007 - Page 13).

Charles Pearson is very rich - and I mean really rich. For example :

http://www.pearsongovernmentsolutions.com/aboutus.htm

The Argus described him as a "millionaire" this week ("Millionaire hits out in 'right of way' row", Argus, Jan 27/28 (or 29?). That's rather like calling Lord March (future Duke of Richmond) a "photographer" (as Argus did before Christmas). Charles Pearson is an integral part of the Pearson media empire which is worth $7.2 billion !

Anyway, Pitshill House in Tillington (near Petworth House - which also has strong links to the Pearson family) is interesting - once lived in by The Mitford Sisters. Remember them - Hitler-adorers and high-society fascists (Diana 'married' Oswald Mosley) ?

I bet there are a few stories to tell within the walls of Pitshill House !

Cllr Marcella Head of Broadfield South - who recently defected from the Cons to the Lib Dems - has certainly 'set the cat among the political pigeons' - whether she knows it or not !

Have a read of the most recent problem now created by her defection ("Councillors' nightmayor decision", Argus, Jan 29 - Page 7)...

A few things to say before I criticise Cllr John Mortimer :

1. If I point a finger, three are pointing back at me.

2. I don't personally dislike Cllr Mortimer - or his Labour politics.

3. I am a hypocrite.

Cllr John Mortimer has opened himself up for criticism - and the accusation of hypocrisy - by appearing to have 'changed his tune' over the Council Housing issue.

This may well be very unfortunate for him - and any other Labour councillor in the same situation - four months before the County Council Election (and possible General Election).

Other political hypocrites, including my Independent self, will pounce on this hypocrisy for electoral advantage. Well, that's politics isn't it !?

My attention was particularly drawn to Walter Shuttleworth's letter in the Crawley News this week ("Councillor has changed his tune", January 26).

It appears that Cllr Mortimer "vehemently supported" the selling-off (transfer) of Crawley council houses to a private housing association, when the Council was Labour-controlled....but then when the Council unexpectedly became Tory-controlled, he appears to have changed his tune, by saying the sell-off (transfer) was a "total mess".

Let's just hope, for Cllr Mortimer's sake, that he did not personally take advantage of the 'right to buy' for his own home...

It's been snowing in these parts - probably so in your neck of the woods too. Co-incidentally, I bought a music single last week - "Snow (Hey Oh!)" by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

So what, you may well ask.

Well, for those who know me well, this is highly unusual. I am losing one sense with great rapidity - my hearing - and with that loss has also come the loss of all melody in the music I love.

I can assure you this is not fun to live with - and neither am I.

Anyway, I can't listen to most music anymore...but just before Christmas we went out in the car as a family (Elaine - the better half - and Peter and David - our two teenage sons - with a mouth like their father). They had the radio on. Most of the music is an uncomfortable, painful, distorted noise for me, but then this track came on - "Snow (Hey Oh!)" by Red Hot Chilli Peppers...

The bass and drums were magical to listen to, and it had melodic power - rock at its best (like Led Zep and Deep Purple)....I'm showing my age now. But do I care ? No.

I can tell you, listening to this has warmed the cockles of my cold heart. I bought the single from Virgin at Bluewater - and this bloke was so helpful and patient - and he eventually dug it out from the back (it's quite an old single).

I'm now learning the words - much to the amusement of my family. Do I care ? No.

OK, so maybe the "Snow" relates to crack cocaine - but so what ? I love the track - and it has brought some melody back into my life.

Although it looks like Ifield Golf Course will definitely be 'walked all over' by developers in the ancient Parish of Ifield, Ifield Brook Meadows/Village Conservation Area looks 50/50 - so is it 'sling your hook English Partnerships/CBRE', or is it 'sling your hook Ifield parishioners' ?

Nobody knows, and Horsham District Council's Core Policy CP6 (the 'lead document') is far from clear ? This is disturbing because HDC has stated (23 January 2007) : "CP6 sets the parameters of the JAAP, and provides the framework in which the JAAP operates" (and for Crawley's EiP - Ed).

HDC's CPC 6 "parameters" and "framework" appear confused, confusing - and unsound :

For example, here is a definitive 'Conservation Area Statement' from HDC's Core Strategy 2007 - Web version - to be adopted in February 2007 - Core Policy CP 6 - Strategic Location - West of Crawley :

"PRINCIPLE 11 - NEW DEVELOPMENT SHOULD PROTECT, AND WHERE POSSIBLE, ENHANCE THE SETTING OF IFIELD VILLAGE CONSERVATION AREA, AND AVOID AREAS OF FLOOD RISK AND AIRCRAFT NOISE CONTOURS..."

So Ifield Brook Meadows/Village Conservation Area looks safe, according to the above.

But, here is another definitive 'Conservation Area Statement' from HDC - Issue 9 : Land W and NW of Crawley - Para 4.1 - January 2007 :

"THE DISTRICT COUNCIL WOULD NOT OBJECT TO ANY PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE THE LAND BETWEEN THE BUILT-UP AREA AND THE BOROUGH BOUNDARY WEST OF IFIELD IN THE STUDY AREA." (ie CBC's Site 19 - which is primarily Ifield Brook Meadows/Village Conservation Area - Ed)

So, what's happening ? Is the area safe from developers or not ?

Considering HDC's CP6 has already been judged "sound" by its Inspector, the future Crawley EiP and JAAP EiP Inspectors will now have to make some very sound judgements themselves...to put it mildly !

I believe Ifield Brook Meadows/Village Conservation Area will be saved from developers - but only after another fight.

This precious area, rich in heritage and character, should be "enhanced" like those areas in Horley's Riverside Park and Southwater's Visitor/Heritage Centre...

Somebody please enlighten me here, please :

Is Ifield Golf Course going to disappear under developer concrete and tarmac - or not ?

Some say 'yes'. Some say 'no'. Some say 'yes' and 'no'. Some say 'don't know'. Some know but aren't saying.

Horsham District Council proposed 'no' - apparently - last year* : "The search area boundary is proposed to be reduced from that identified in Policy CP6. The change proposed being...THE IFIELD GOLF COURSE, an area...to be removed from the Strategic Location Area of Study".

(*Horsham District Local Development Framework - Alternative Development Sites and Boundary Changes 2006 - Site ADS 66 - West of Crawley Area of Study - Page 38).

But, as I read the situation at the moment, 'partners' are assuming 'yes' - Ifield Golf Course will be closed and re-located elsewhere.

Is there anybody out there who can speak without a forked-tongue - and tell the truth...or is that too much to ask ?!

I believe it is important to understand, but not accept, that Humanity is enslaved by a small cabal of global Slave-masters. We are slaves.

Globalization is essentially a new Slave-trade - and we are its slaves (whether we know it or not - or like it or not). Tyranny comes in many a guise - it is up to us to see behind the disguise.

The old slave-trade was abolished (eventually); so must this new one (fast) - along with the Arms and Drugs Trade.

It's critical that we - humanity - all wake up, wise up and grow up to this...then maybe, just maybe, we can set ourselves free from these chains which enslave us.

Public Ownership is under new management - Private Ownership - and the private sector will become 'slum landlords' (as in the past), who are simply predators who rob for profit.

The last remaining bastions of Public Ownership - Health (NHS), Housing (Council Housing) and Education - are planned for 'Reform' (ie Private Ownership).

As George Orwell said - his last published words just before his death in 1950, aged 46 :

"DON'T LET IT HAPPEN. IT DEPENDS ON YOU"

"The private sector (PFI-Ed) will pocket at least £23 billion of NHS money (taxpayers' money - Ed) in profits and interest over 30 years" ('NHS profits private sector', Argus, Jan 20/21 2007)

"The largest bank in the world, based on assets, is Swiss-based UBS, which has an estimated £777 billion in its coffers" ('did you know', Argus, Jan 20/21 2007)

"Complaints about 'rip-off' bank overdraft charges have hit record levels" ('Beat The Bank', Argus Front Page et al, Jan 20/21 2007)

The 'master plan' of these global, financial 'master puppeteers' is clear, for those with eyes to see :

Public Ownership (The Public Sector-Governments-Taxpayers) must come under new management - Private Ownership (The Private Sector - Banks - The Global Private Financial System)

"DON'T LET IT HAPPEN. IT DEPENDS ON YOU"

Europe's far-right parties have formed an EU political bloc - calling themselves "Identity, Tradition and Sovereignty" (ITS).

Last Tuesday, 16 January, they received (from the European Parliament) official status as a publicly-funded group, and so received one million euros.

One British MEP, Ashley Mote, has joined the group - who probably all hate each other as 'friends'. Mr Mote was kicked off the UKIP 'boat' in 2004 - when he was prosecuted for housing benefit fraud - and has since sat as an Independent (oh dear!). And which area does he now represent ? South East England (oh dear again!!).

Who else is in this right-wing alliance ?

Jean-Marie Le Pen - veteran member of the French National Front.

Alessandra Mussolini - grand-daughter of Benito - "I'd rather be a fascist than a faggot".

Corneliu Vadim Tudor - Greater Romania Party Leader - "Jews are like warts on a man's body".

Andreas Molzer - a former aide to the Austrian extreme right leader, Jorg Haider.


This is a disturbing development within Europe. What do certain MP's and Councillors in West Sussex think of ITS...I wonder ?!

I'm pretty certain what the British National Party (BNP) thinks of Identity, Tradition and Sovereignty (ITS).

As an Independent - somewhat different in outlook to Ashley Mote - I think they are the BNP(ITS).

This is a 'tricky dicky willy' quiz of one question - which requires more than a one-word answer :

"WAGING WITH BLAISE, RAGING WITH DYLAN, AND SAGING WITH JOSE"

It's a good description of someone I know well - but what does it mean ?

Anybody who answers correctly, and comprehensively, will get a mystery prize...