In a Parliamentary debate, MPs called for restrictions on free local newspapers produced by local authorities at taxpayers' expense.  Greenwich Council distributes Greenwich Time, at a cost of over half a million pounds to local residents, and even claims it is an award winning publication - which is probably would be in any propaganda competition.  It is said that all content is 'checked' by the Council Leader Chris Roberts and it is virtually unheard of for anyone but Labour politicians to feature in print.  So I was delighted that the government is to refer the matter to independent investigation.  For too long this rag has been used to propagate Labour political spin while commercially run newspapers and magazines such as SE9, are struggling with falling advertising revenues and readership.  I am pleased that the Conservative Shadow Minister Caroline Spelman indicated her concern before Christmas on just this point.  I look forward to the end of this one sided insult to journalism and saving local taxpayers a significant sum of cash.

See the report in Newsshopper here

The Government has, today, ordered local authorities to reduce their salt gritting of roads by 25% until Tuesday - despite the fact we are expecting further heavy snow to fall over the weekend.

This is a total disgrace and proves the government had not prepared adequately for the serious outbreak of bad weather.  For once, we were warned that this weather was coming - so why were better preparations not made in time?  The whole country is coming to a halt despite the best efforts of individuals and organisations that are doing their best to maintain our daily life.  Coming on top of the longest and deepest recession in living memory, this could spell the final blow for thousands of small businesses and shops.  

UPDATE: Sunday 10 January (from BBC News)

"The Highways Agency has stopped treating motorway hard shoulders in England. Salt ordered from abroad is not due to arrive until 21 January.

But the agency's David Grunwell said the motorway and trunk road network was "running remarkably well" and that it had sufficient stocks for the conditions.

The AA said it raised concerns about salt supplies with the Local Government Association (LGA) before Christmas.

Spokesman Paul Watters told the BBC councils had reduced stocks by 250,000 tonnes during the past 10 years."

I rest my case.

It's certainly been a cold start to the new decade but what has struck me is that for all those who will find any excuse to get an extra day off work, plenty more deserve medals for their determination - and their kindness.  Many people have checked on neighbours, even helping them to clear the pavements outside their homes.  Many more have discovered the joy of sharing taxis from railway stations and car sharing to get to work.  But I think the thousands of people who work in essential services deserve most praise for keeping the country going.  Despite the disruption in most parts of the UK, here in London trains, buses and taxis are still running, mail and newspapers are being delivered, shops still have food, GP surgeries and hospitals remain open, and most businesses remain open. Yes, most services are disrupted or reduced, but the general mood is "Keep calm and carry on" - which is how it should be.

However, once this long cold spell is over, I hope the authorities from Greenwich Council upwards will review their procedures.  Too many residents have felt cut off, not only in higher areas such as Shooters Hill but even close to the High Street in Eltham where I live.  The lack of gritting on pavements in high use areas has been appalling and many roads remain dangerous.  Do we have sufficient stocks of grit and salt, should householders be better prepared to muck in?  It never hurts to admit things can be done better and to learn from experience.

I was deeply disappointed that our petition for improved road safety measures in Montbelle Road amounted to nothing at last night's Council meeting.  The group of residents I invited along were left puzzled and bemused by the manner in which the issue was (not) discussed and now we've been told we must take the battle to Transport for London.  I have, today, written to TfL asking for an urgent site visit and will keep residents informed.  However, I was delighted that common sense has prevailed in Green Lane where proposals for cycle routes and decreased-on street parking have been thrown out.  Though the new proposals need further work, it is good to see that, sometimes, residents are listened to.

I was one of a small number of people in the public gallery last night for the first Full Council meeting since June. It was a rather limited agenda when one considers how many issues need tackling in this borough, but we have come to expect that in recent years.  Before the meeting I met delegations of residents who wished to hand petitions to local councillors on issues including parking around Avery Hill Park and traffic calming measures needed on Montbelle Road.

I was struck by the obvious discomfort of the Council leader who, when invited to say whether he has discussed any cuts to Council spending after the next election if he remains in charge, seemed unable (unwilling?) to answer the question.  For those who don't remember, after the last election Labour slashed £24 million in spending and introduced a swathe of new charges for residents.  

I was more impressed by the young lad, Danny Harris, who came to present a petition of over 140 signatures for a new skateboard park in Avery Hill Park.  He asked to address the meeting because he never received a reply when he submitted his previous petition.  The Labour Cabinet Member said she'd never received it, but was keen to make amends.  He spoke more eloquently than many of the elected members who spoke last night and with more conviction.  I have long said we need more facilities for young people in this area.  I was pleased to see Cllr Spencer Drury also call for the existing skateboard park in Horn Park to be restored (the only one in Eltham).

As usual, questions about the manner of treatment dished out to residents of the Ferrier Estate were handled with a mixture of evasion and denial.  And we were told that Greenwich has had great success in getting kids to go to school - despite having one of the highest truancy rates in the country!  No wonder so few residents bothered to watch 'democracy' in action last night.

I joined Councillor Eileen Glover and other members of the Eltham South Conservative Action Team at the Town Hall earlier this evening.  Eileen will be presenting a petition we collected after consulting residents of Green Lane on plans for a cycle lane.  Many are irritated that the plans have been presented as a done deal, others that little seems to be on offer to actually calm the traffic on that road.  With so many people out at work when we call round or else on holiday, to collect more than 100 signatories in about 10 days is a sign of how seriously people feel about this.

The battle of Eltham Green has been won!  I had a text message before 8am this morning to say that the Council have ordered the huge ditch dug across the ancient open space to be filled in and returned to its former glory.  My warmest congratulations to all those residents who stood with their placards and spoke to bus passengers and passers by since this stupid fiasco started.

Questions remain - why was this allowed to happen in the first place, who ordered it, why was the community not consulted (even notified) ot the plan and who was wasting money on such a project when we are told there is not the money to repair pavements across Eltham?  I shall watch with close interest to see whether or not the Green is returned to its original state and would be interested to know who will foot the bill for this complete waste of time.