Town Centre Latest

[frank_spencer]

I hope this works out. If it's filled with the right kind of small businesses - it could be the perfect antidote to all the chains and out of town shopping centres. That's a big if though!

Just before i left the sensible heads at the council (there are a few) were trying to encourage this kind of development as the likelyhood of massive The Rock style developments has all but vanished.

hopefully a few smaller developments will start to follow on if this is a success

[snowball]

I'd be surprised that no local or national news outlets had picked up on it. Especially in the current climate.

It was in Bolton News at the time Kent, just in case you were hinting I had made it up. I 'm sure the Conservatives asked for further investigations. It involved a number (in the hundreds) of postal votes all being handed in at the same time, all from small areas within Crompton and all fitting a certain demographic pattern.

It was explained away by resulting from intense canvassing in that area. No doubt given your politics you will accept that without question. Just as many refused to believe it was going on in other areas. I live in Crompton too and have cancelled my postal vote because I think there should be stricter rules on who actually qualifies for one i.e. disabled and serving armed forces etc. 

[tomski]

Gets a thumbs up from me

[snowball]

Snowball, would your dad know about these things

He would but we don't talk politics, don't want to fall out with him.   I enjoy going match with him don't want to spoil that!

[Sweep]

 have cancelled my postal vote because I think there should be stricter rules on who actually qualifies for one i.e. disabled and serving armed forces etc. 

 

I've just cancelled mine for similar reasons

[no balls]

I presume that people don't really think that he's deliberately trying to ruin the town....do they?

Do they fuck as like. He's just a useless arrogant cunt. Trouble is he's probably more dangerous than an evil Svengali.

[bgoefc]

It was in Bolton News at the time Kent, just in case you were hinting I had made it up. I 'm sure the Conservatives asked for further investigations. It involved a number (in the hundreds) of postal votes all being handed in at the same time, all from small areas within Crompton and all fitting a certain demographic pattern.

It was explained away by resulting from intense canvassing in that area. No doubt given your politics you will accept that without question. Just as many refused to believe it was going on in other areas. I live in Crompton too and have cancelled my postal vote because I think there should be stricter rules on who actually qualifies for one i.e. disabled and serving armed forces etc. 

 

We did postal voting for the referendum, as we were going on holiday. First time we had done it. Crossed my mind how easy it would be to do the forced voting thing.

 

I agree with your thoughts on stricter rules. People like me should have to individually go down to the local council offices ahead of the vote to register and vote.

[kent_white]

It was in Bolton News at the time Kent, just in case you were hinting I had made it up.......

 

It involved a number (in the hundreds) of postal votes all being handed in at the same time, all from small areas within Crompton and all fitting a certain demographic pattern........

 

It was explained away by resulting from intense canvassing in that area. No doubt given your politics you will accept that without question........

I've never seen the story you're talking about so it's hard to comment. What you said was that there was clear evidence of electoral fraud and a subsequent cover up by members of the council? If that was the case then I'm pretty sure the electoral commission, the press and possibly the Police would be all over it.

 

Aren't postal ballots anonymised? If so - how can you tell what the demographics of the voters were? Maybe they're not - I don't know?

 

And not that you have any idea what my politics are - but are you suggesting that because you perceive me as left leaning that I'd turn a blind eye to electoral fraud? Does the fact that I am asking you for more information not prove that I am questioning what happened.

 

Sounds to me like someone made an allegation which they had no evidence for so it went nowhere.

 

Is this what you're talking about?

 

http://m.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/14290817.Council_motion_will_call_for_clampdown_on_electoral_fraud_following_postal_vote_row/

[snowball]

Yes that was it. OK should have said possible evidence of electoral fraud until it is proven or otherwise. I think it's iffy. I said the council 'swept it under the carpet'. Is ignoring something the same as covering it up? I will leave the semantics of that to you.

 

300 Names were added to the list 'at the last minute' and you still have to be registered to vote.I think there are people out there who use names and addresses to help define demographic so no it is not completely anonymous.

 

I am suggesting that maybe those benefitting from these votes are turning a blind eye yes and Labour seem to benefit most from cases that have come to light nationally and they would benefit in this particular case. I get the impression you are asking for more information just to deny anything is wrong, so no it doesn't prove anything really, not to me anyway.

 

I still think postal votes are too easy to fake and the current system is open to abuse. I am also not convinced that the police and the press would necessarily be all over it straight away. Who prosecuted (and subsequently won) the fraud case in Tower Hamlets? Not the police that's for sure. 

[tyldesley_white]

OK should have said possible evidence of electoral fraud until it is proven or otherwise.

Or no evidence of electoral fraud until it is proven different 

[Guest]

I presume that people don't really think that he's deliberately trying to ruin the town....do they?

Probably not

 

But don't expect socialists to have any clue in a business environment. Get some folks in with a correct starting point.

[DirtySanchez]

Horwich is doing alreet isn't it?

 

Comes under Bolton council

[Gonk]

Horwich is doing alreet isn't it?

 

Comes under Bolton council

It is doing alright in spite of the fuckwits in Bolton, not because of them

[Smiffs]

I'd be surprised that no local or national news outlets had picked up on it. Especially in the current climate.

That's what we said about Rotherham.

[kent_white]

That's what we said about Rotherham.

I think the climate has changed a great deal since then Smiffs - or at least I hope it has.

 

Snowball - have you considered writing to the electoral commission or your MP?

 

300 votes en masse does seem a bit of an eyebrow raiser. But then again - if a party has targeted eligible but unregistered voters and encouraged them to vote, even if it's at the last minute - then it could equally be good, well organised campaigning as opposed to something nefarious.

 

It's impossible to make a judgement unless it's clear what the facts of the matter are.

[Smiffs]

I wouldnt expect the BN to get this afternoons result correct so accurate investigation and reporting into vote rigging has fucks chance.

[Traf]

I wouldnt expect the BN to get this afternoons result correct so accurate investigation and reporting into vote rigging has fucks chance.

 

 

Depends whether the chief football reporter is working or choosing to paint his daughters bedroom, or whatever it was he was doing on the day we nearly became extinct.

[snowball]

Or no evidence of electoral fraud until it is proven different 

'Evidence' - the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid. So unless there is an investigation how do you no there is/was no evidence? I reckon there were enough factors to warrant an investigation and look at the available evidence. That was my main point and the fact that postal votes are too easy to rig and such fraud and practices have already been proved in a court of law elsewhere despite the initial scepticism of some folk. 

 

Apologies to Kent for the remarks about his perceived politics, not necessary and won't happen again. 

[enzo gambaro]

'Evidence' - the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.

You may as well look up conjecture while you've got the dictionary out.

[Youri McAnespie]

No need for the dictionary, I think it means 'bollocks' in a polite legally way. It gets overruled a lot whatever it means.

[tyldesley_white]

'Evidence' - the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid. So unless there is an investigation how do you no there is/was no evidence? I reckon there were enough factors to warrant an investigation and look at the available evidence. That was my main point and the fact that postal votes are too easy to rig and such fraud and practices have already been proved in a court of law elsewhere despite the initial scepticism of some folk. 

 

Apologies to Kent for the remarks about his perceived politics, not necessary and won't happen again. 

You said "possible evidence" which means to me no evidence , just made up fact to suit your case

[snowball]

You said "possible evidence" which means to me no evidence , just made up fact to suit your case

Whatever. There are irregularities which are possible evidence but none as blind as those that won't see. Same pattern as in Birmingham and other places where no doubt people said nothing was going on and its all made up. The basic facts in this case are not made up they happened (the 300 votes being handed in as they were). If you are happy nothing is going on and trust the authorities to always be motivated to look into it then that's up to you. 

[Carlos]

Depends whether the chief football reporter is working or choosing to paint his daughters bedroom, or whatever it was he was doing on the day we nearly became extinct.

On the BN site, the single most read article is what some random old bloke thinks, rather than their chief, and any other, football reporters' output.

[kent_white]

Right - just reporting back from my trip to the town centre with my 18 month old.

 

Parked up at St Edmund's St Car Park. Bloke in the little hut shifted his car for me so I could squeeze in as they were really busy. Strolled up to the Octagon stopping to take a picture of the little one with the big Jason Kenny picture at the town hall. Booked tickets for me and my Mrs to watch To Kill a Mockingbird in October. Crossed over to the library - swapped some books for the young one who had a rawl about in the children's bit. Quick mooch around the aquarium so he could see the fish. Looked at the room with all the stuffed animals as the top floor is shut for refurbishment. Quick razz through the art gallery. Photo of young lad under the Amir Kahn painting. Through the little tunnel to Newport St. Stopped at that Crawshaws to get some cooked gammon - they only had a few pieces left so the woman put them all in for me and only charged me £2. Carried on through the TC - showed young one the lions and the pigeons and then back to the car. Bloke in the hut charged us £1.50 even though it should have been more - presumably because he was a nice chap.

 

Not sure what people find so horrifying about it really?

[Carlos]

So you've been into the centre and spent a grand total of £3.50? That's why it's on its arse. There's fuck all to spend your money on.

Edited September 16, 2016 by Carlos