Today’s blog is an ‘Ode to a Railing’ – strange title I know, but you know I’m strange! But first, what lovely days we’ve been having here. I’m constantly sweating cobs as they say in Yorkshire, which means I’m hot.
It’s amazing how many different sayings there are in different areas, don’t you think. I know that our idioms are different to a lot of people that we know round here. When we come out with something, they go “eh what does that mean”. Of course to us it makes perfect sense. There are so many different terms for different subjects, I find it fascinating.
For instance, what do you call a narrow passageway between houses? We had one where I lived and it was always called the snicket. It was a short cut between two roads to save having to go round the houses. It’s a question that comes up often on Facebook. Other places call it a ginnel and all sorts of other names. I suppose it’s like not knowing a foreign language, when you don’t have a clue what it means. ‘Put wood in’t hole’ was another one, meaning close the door. The list is endless if you think about it. As usual, I’m digressing again, so I’ll get onto the proper subject.
Why an ‘Ode to a Railing’?
Visitors and residents to Cleveleys might have noticed that the grey safety railings at the back of the clock tower at the seafront have been missing for well over a year. It’s probably longer actually – they were knocked over in an accident. Accidents do happen of course, we all have them. But to take so long to get it repaired is plain daft.
It’s another accident waiting to happen although the council don’t seem to be too bothered about the risk of anyone else getting killed. The red barriers they’ve put up are fastened on with, wait for it. Cable ties.
Heaven help us if someone decided to get a closer view of the prom via the barriers, it won’t take much doing to knock cable ties out of the way, methinks.
Watch your Cornet
Can you imagine the scene? A car or whatever hits the red barrier with a gentle tap and flies through into the middle of ice cream eaters gathered there, along with oldies, children, maybe the market – you name it. There would be an explosion of ice cream into everyone’s faces and a lot of astonished people.
That’s to say the least – but seriously, it’s another accident waiting to happen. It’s just a matter of timing, a risk I wouldn’t take as a council. Insurers would have hysterics if they saw that cable ties were the only thing holding them up. They’d throw the book at them. But having said that, they’ll need a heck of a lot of big, heavy books to waken them up.
Magic Railings that belong to no one…
The Care for Cleveleys group has tried and tried to get something done about it, to deaf ears. Wyre Council say it’s highways – ask Lancashire County Council (LCC). They immediately say it’s nothing to do with us, and ask Wyre. So it gets batted like a table tennis ping-pong ball, first to one council and then the other. It’s enough to make you as dizzy as a cuckoo!
I wouldn’t mind, but let people in Cleveleys try to do anything for the town and the answer is always no. There’s always something to stop you making the town better, why I’m not sure but I have my theories. You would think any council in the land would be grateful for the community trying to improve where they live, instead of obstructing every single thing that’s put forward. But it’s always no with a daft excuse to go with it.
After all, in this case, someone has actually hit the barriers. Heaven help anyone who might be standing near to them next time it gets walloped – and it looks an eyesore. Drastic action had to be taken as it is dangerous – and always has been at the back of the clock!
Writing an Ode to a Railing
Anyway, it seems to have become something of a local legend has our barrier, with people taking up the cause. They too feel it’s very wrong to leave a weak spot in the fence. Unasked for, poems have been finding their way to us via the internet, pleading for the blooming thing to be mended before it’s too late and someone is killed. Which of course is where the Ode to a Railing comes in.
There were lots of them with first one and then another sending them in and so funny and clever they are too. Here’s a couple –
They’d been shared on Facebook then Jane decided to fasten them on the ‘safety barrier’ to see if that might get something done about it. They had a Cleveleys clean up on Tuesday morning, so they were duly fastened onto the barrier for all to see, to amuse people if nothing else.
There were more of course, but it would have looked a bit like poets corner gone wrong, so less is more in this case. We’re waiting for the bang from the council, so I’ll keep you posted.
And…. action!
The Gazette picked it up and sent a photographer and Becky, the reporter has been onto LCC for a ‘comment’.
One day they might gather that people round here have had enough of favouritism and procrastination with everything we do. Enough is enough!
Anyway, the punchline is that where months of chasing by all and sundry has failed, a nudge from the Gazette has at last made something happen. Apparently LCC are doing a site visit next week!
Other blogs you might be interested in:
- My Old Town
- Adventures with Spiders
- Bombarded with Sport
- Covid Virus and all that…
- Back to Blackpool
- A week off
While you’re here…
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