Protest in Newbury Market Place Options

[Richard Garvie]

DELETED

[TallDarkAndHands...]

DELETED

You should be!!!

[Guest_Bill1_*]

DELETED

????

[TallDarkAndHands...]

????

I think the answer may lie here......

http://www.newbury.net/forum/m-1291073346/s-0/

Mr Garvie is trying to get protesters out on the Streets of Newbury!

[Blake]

I think it's clear; Garvie is the new Alf Garnett.

[TallDarkAndHands...]

I think it's clear; Garvie is the new Alf Garnett.

I'm not so sure - I think this might be him...

[Biker1]

I think it's clear; Garvie is the new Alf Garnett.

I don't think so - Alf Garnett was most definitely Conservative!

[Richard Garvie]

First of all, I found out that there was going to be a protest and I totally agree with what they were protesting against. There was students protesting against tuition fees and the removal of EMA, there were union members taking part representing care and youth workers and we also had users of those centres present too. I turned up and expected there to be very few in attendance, even though 300 were expected. Numbers vary at the minute, but around a hundred marched from the Market Place to Richard Benyons office, and then to West Berks offices in Market Street. Around 60 protesters took part in a sit in, leaving as requested by the council at 5pm. I stayed behind to help clear up, and I think everyone will agree that it was a positive demonstration.

There wasn't much organisation, but I brought along a loudhailer which the students enjoyed using to get their feelings over!!! Lots of banners and placards too, who says all youngsters shouldn't be allowed to protest?

(I should just state that although there were a number of Labour Party members and Unison members in attendance, it was organised by the students themselves and it was nice to see other political members and candidates present on the day, I'll let them name themselves if they so wish)

[user23]

????

Another gaffe from Mister Garvie.

Apparently only 40 people turned up and some of them were only to there see what was going on.

[Simon Kirby]

I think more people should speak up for what they believe in, and I welcome the protests. I think children particularly don't have their voice heard, and when they do it's too often controlled and sanitized to support their minders' agendas. I also welcome Unison members speaking up for themselves. Tradesunionism is about as welcome as a dose of the clap at the moment and I welcome their protest.

I'm also anoyed and frustrated at the personal comments members of this forum continue to direct at the originator of the thread. This is a discussion forum, so can we discuss the issues please, and not the individual.

[Darren]

Cast your minds back 30-40 years ago....

The students of then were always protesting about the government cuts of the day or the Bomb, or any other bandwagon.

Today, those same students are the government making those choices they protested about.

In 30-40 years, how many of todays' students will be the government making the same choices?

History has a habit of repeating itself...

[Richard Garvie]

Actually, over 100 gathered in the Market Place in Newbury, before walking through the streets to lobby Richard Benyons office. I counted 60 at West Berks offices when we got there, and Heart also report 60 or so in attendance at Market Street. You must have been able to count them for yourself User23!!!

[user23]

I'm also anoyed and frustrated at the personal comments members of this forum continue to direct at the originator of the thread. This is a discussion forum, so can we discuss the issues please, and not the individual.

The original post says "DELETED", this is what we're discussing.

[Richard Garvie]

I had to delete it, I posted it so people would know about the event but the organisers asked me to remove the original post.

[Darren]

Lots of banners and placards too, who says all youngsters shouldn't be allowed to protest?

Having watched the antics in London it seems that education is wasted on them. Painting graffiti on Nelsons Column is hardly going to help.

Now GLAl will have to spend money that would be better used on essential services in cleaning it off with out damaging the stonework.

If you look through the many many photos taken, you'll see home-made placards with terrible spelling.

[Richard Garvie]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=15249

http://www.heart.co.uk/berkshire/local/new...er-county-hall/

http://newburysound.co.uk/students-protest...bury-i-7909.php

Newbury Weekly News were there from the start, Newbury Sound arrived at 4:45 or so, after the paper had left, so maybe some people had left by then? I know the union members didn't attend Market Street as they have a protest planned there next week. Always so negative User23.

[user23]

Having watched the antics in London it seems that education is wasted on them. Painting graffiti on Nelsons Column is hardly going to help.

Now GLAl will have to spend money that would be better used on essential services in cleaning it off with out damaging the stonework.

If you look through the many many photos taken, you'll see home-made placards with terrible spelling.

I'm not totally sure what the 40 people who bothered to turn up were actually disgruntled about. Reading the Facebook page it seems to be mainly free parking for council staff plus various other random stuff.

I'm all for protesting but I wonder how many of these non-taxpaying people would be willing to volunteer to work to keep local services going.

[Richard Garvie]

You were there, you would have seen what the banners said. Tuition fees and Day Centre closures.

[user23]

You were there, you would have seen what the banners said. Tuition fees and Day Centre closures.

No I wasn't there, I think you have me confused with someone else. I didn't see anything of the protest.

It says "the council spend £1.3m on free parking for council staff" on the Facebook group.

Whilst this is seems untrue (exactly who do they pay this £1.3m?) it's certainly one of the things they seem to have been protesting about. It's there in black and white in More Info.

[Jayjay]

I'm not totally sure what the 40 people who bothered to turn up were actually disgruntled about. Reading the Facebook page it seems to be mainly free parking for council staff plus various other random stuff.

I'm all for protesting but I wonder how many of these non-taxpaying people would be willing to volunteer to work to keep local services going.

How do you know these were 'non-tax paying' people? Why would you think that?