It's Called A Fait Accompli....

Chaucer House, in Chestnut Grove, Southend, has been converted from a women’s refuge to general accommodation for the borough’s homeless. However, some residents in the area have voiced concerns.

Which they would have voiced a lot sooner, if they'd only had the chance to do so.

They are upset they were not consulted and claim the new facility is attracting antisocial behaviour, excessive rubbish and parking problems.

Given the issues they cause in the high street, it's hardly surprising!

Traci Dixon, group manager for Support Services at South Essex Homes, said: “We have arranged a meeting to discuss these issues.

Why didn't you arrange one to discuss the conversion? Because you knew the rough ride you'd get!

“We will also use this opportunity to reassure the community that, while we feel there is no need for concern or alarm, any antisocial behaviour reported to us will be investigated and managed appropriately.

“Alongside these general concerns, issues around car parking and rubbish at Chaucer House have also been raised by residents which we are looking to resolve very soon.

“We would encourage local residents to attend this meeting - being held on Tuesday, November 28 at 7pm in the Civic Centre - to discuss any issues they may have.”

The usual do-gooders infest the comments to accuse the residents of NIMBY behaviour, but they didn't object to the women's refuge, as pointed out in a comment rebuttal:

I wonder where Traci Dixon lives..?

Cyclist Vs Dog Walker...?

Adam Trimingham, who was a reporter at The Argus for 30 years and still writes for the paper each week, was riding along the cycle lane close to the King Alfred leisure centre in Hove when a dog ran out and he was badly hurt.

Well, I'm conflicted now!

No, Actually, They Didn’t…

Really? Well, no.

He had been drinking since 11am and then, at The Railway pub in South Street, Lancing, he threatened to burn the barmaid’s house down and was asked to leave.

When he refused, bar staff called 999. When he eventually left, they rang the police back to tell them he had gone so no officers attended.

So the complainant cancelled the call. Not the police's fault.

He continued on to the Andreas kebab shop. There staff also called 999 after Hearsey got into a scuffle and a window was broken. En route to respond, officers were diverted to a cardiac arrest at Lancing Railway Station as the closest emergency service to a potentially life-threatening situation.

So a potentially life-threatening incident took priority over the night's latest abusive drunk. Not the police's fault.

Meanwhile, Hearsey, still spoiling for a fight, carried on to The Farmers pub. When staff refused to serve him he threatened to cut a barmaid’s face off. Again the police were called – but again they were called back later when he left and no police officer attended.

So the complainant once more cancelled the call. Yet again, not the police's fault.

At 8.15pm Mr Creasy called police to report an intruder was attacking him. Finally officers did arrive, then after advising Mr Creasey to lock his doors, they responded to earlier reports from Andreas kebabs and The Farmers and went in search of Hearsey, but did not find him.

Cracking 'journalism' there, 'Argus'.

The Answer Is Simple: Bar Them From Ever Applying For A Taxi Licence

A visually impaired woman had her confidence “shattered” after a Boro Cars driver refused to take her guide dog.

Yup, you guessed it:

Hidayat Qahar had agreed to collect Rosie Pybus from Middlesbrough railway station, knowing she had an assistance dog. However on arrival, he refused to let her dog Kane into the vehicle and drove away, leaving Rosie stranded for 20 minutes until a replacement turned up.

And incredibly, once court proceedings were ongoing, Ms Pybus claims Qahar was sent to pick her up again, this time without her guide dog.

Not only that, but he decided to attempt to pull on the cloak of victimhood, as usual:

She says she was made to feel “uncomfortable and shocked” when he went on to discuss how the incident could lead him to losing his job.

I'd have felt delighted & vindicated, but that's just me. The cab firm seems to be only too well aware of the potential PR issue:

Boro Cars spokeswoman Christine Bell said: “Such behaviour will not be tolerated by Boro Cars. We provided key evidence to Middlesbrough Council to assist them in their prosecution of their licensed driver who no longer works at Boro Cars.

“We have also reminded all of our drivers of their responsibilities as private hire drivers and always try to help our customers with assistance dogs by providing larger vehicles that are more spacious and comfortable for the customer and their dog.”

So, what did our toothless 'justice' system hand out?

Qahar, 29, of Monkland Close, central Middlesbrough, was prosecuted at Teesside Magistrates’ Court last week after Rosie had complained to Middlesbrough Council over the May 4 incident, following advice from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

He pleaded guilty to an offence under the Equality Act 2010 and was fined £40 with a £30 victim surcharge and ordered to pay £200 costs.

Pathetic. How about a lifetime ban on applying for a cab driver license? Not just in the borough - all across Britain?

Surely This Should Have Been 'Consecutively'?

Bourdon-Pierre, of Udimore Road, Rye, and Smith of Piltdown Close, Hastings, were found guilty unanimously by the jury.

Sentencing them, Judge McCreath, said: “I accept the defendants are regretful at what they did, but I am unable to accept they are remorseful in the true sense. After all they spent the trial trying to persuade the jury they were acting in self-defence and the victims were to some extent responsible.”

Smith cried in the dock as the pair’s sentence was read out. Both were given eight years for manslaughter and three years for GBH, to run concurrently.

Nice to hear a judge tell it like it is for once...

None Of Those 'Reasons' Excuse Him...

Reasons given in court for not sending him into immediate custody was that the 23-year-old had been bullied at school, suffered with depression and anxiety and found it difficult to stand up for himself.

So what?

District judge Simon Cooper said: “I have come to the decision an immediate prison sentence would utterly destroy you.

“What you did was vicious and savage but little would be achieved in the long run by sending you into custody.”

What exactly was achieved by you sending into immediate custody someone who didn't give you the respect you think you deserved?

Still, I suppose we should be grateful you didn't hand him a fishing rod.

Well, A Change Has Come Now, Sitey....

Mairuf, 19, of South Norwood Hill, racked up thousands of YouTube views with her rendition of Sam Cooke’s classic ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’.

...perhaps it should have been a cover of 'Jailhouse Rock' instead.

...her gang robbed at least 11 victims in a terrifying crime spree, with younger muggers - including a 14-year-old boy - looked up to her as ‘big sister’.

Mairuf’s mother, who wore a black headscarf, wept bitterly as her daughter was jailed for two and a half years at Inner London Crown Court.

Relatives of the boy, now 15, screamed abuse at Judge William Wood, QC, after he jailed him for three and a half years.

Ah, the pussy pass in effect - he gets an extra year for possessing a different set of genitalia, despite the fact that she took a lead role!

Any charges for the contempt of court?

The judge ordered them out of court and said: ‘I do not believe that the public would not approve of a word that I have said, it is appalling to think that the families would not consider this sentence long enough.’

Well, this member of the public approves, wholeheartedly! But why no contempt of court charges for the scum's followers?

While family members of the youths including mothers and sisters wept in the public gallery, teenage friends of the robbers started taking pictures on their phones in court and shouting ‘free the gang, free the team.’

Police were called to the court in south London to quell the disturbance and clear the court.

But not arrest anyone? FFS!

Two 16-year-old boys were also part of the large gang of moped-riding thugs - many of whom are still at large. The four youths were all convicted of conspiracy to rob after a trial.

Nor was that the only little wrinkle in this sorry tale:

One of the 16-year-olds was sentenced to four years and the other had three and a half years added to a six-year stretch he is already serving for manslaughter after killing a man by throwing a flare into his car 'for fun' while he slept inside.

 Yes, if you think that sounds familiar, you'd be right. And once again, the family & friends showed just what sort of 'people' we're dealing with...

Judge Patricia Lynch said the teenagers' actions had been "for fun", and she jailed Hobbs for nine years and the younger co-defendant for six years.

As the 16-year-old's lesser sentence was read out, there was a shout of "f------ soft spot corrupt bitch as far as I'm concerned" and "disgusting" from the family of Hobbs, who were sitting in the public gallery, directed at the judge.

And again, no arrests? 

Well, It'll Help To Teach Them About Commuting!

Mr Boyle, 43, concluded: “We know that the council is fearful of legal challenge if it does do something but we regret to inform you should that something be these proposals, it will guarantee a legal challenge from parents in the areas affected, as we sincerely doubt that they meet the test laid down in the School Admissions Code that catchments be ‘fair, clear and objective’.

“These proposals are trumpeted as enabling greater certainty, but that neglects to state the bald facts: in order to guarantee choice and certainty for the majority, our children are to be denied choice, denied access to schools in their community, denied the chance to go to secondary school with friends in their community, denied the chance to face this most important choice to date in their lives full of hope and expectation and instead contemplate 7am starts and earlier in schools miles away from their friends and miles away from their homes.

“This is not fair; they are kids, not commuters.”

So, it's OK to treat commuters like this?

But....won't your kids grow up to BE commuters? Better they get used to it, then!

Oh, 'Daily Mail', Don't Ever Change...

/facepalm

It's lynx.

Errr, Well, Yes...

...that would be the smart thing to do. Even with today's police.