Sunday Trading

   For the duration of the eight week period covering the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Sunday trading laws have been relaxed allowing large shops to open for much longer. Now there are rumblings within government wanting to make this permanent. Whilst I realise that some occupations require Sunday working such as the emergency services and transport workers, Sunday for many people, religious or not, is still a special day of the week when they can spend time at home with their families or enjoy leisure activities.

   For me the relaxation of Sunday trading laws would be the thin end of the wedge and before too long I can see office and factory workers being required to turn up for work on any of the seven days of the week. Already many sporting events traditionally held on a Saturday have spread over into Sunday but taking it to its logical conclusion, if Sunday were to become just another day in the week, I could see major football matches for example being arranged on a Tuesday or a Thursday afternoon so that the Sunday workers could see them on their alternative day off - if they were still entitled to one. No enough is enough, the legislation was altered to accommodate the Olympics and when the games are finished the law should return to its previous state - and stay there. Or is it going to be yet another broken government promise?

Black Ice

A partial thaw and sleet and rain removed most of the snow that was still lying but in the town centre this caused streams of water to run from the Market Place and Lower Market Place towards Bath Street resulting in large swathes of black ice. One unfortunate lady whilst visiting the public conveniences became a victim and necessitated the calling of a paramedic closely followed by an ambulance to take her to hospital.

Emergency

I'm taking a break from the Fair preparations today as there were scenes of an emergency on the Market Place this morning with police, fire, ambulance and paramedic vehicles in attendance all with their relevant personnel. Two smashed up cars were the cause of their presence but it was all in aid of a safety campaign and demonstration.

No-one was injured but it did help to fill a depleted market. Not so very long ago there would have been market stalls here and there would not have been room to stage such an event on a Saturday.

Not An Emergency This Time

Yes it's an emergency vehicle but on this occasion there was no emergency.

The fire engine was on Gallows Inn Playing Fields today and when I passed there were children crawling all over it. It was there taking part in the Waterside Festival which also featured the Owl Experience (link), a dog show, cheerleading, quad bikes, a fun fair, and lots of other attractions for all the family on this Sunday of the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Another Emergency

I read today about a car that had crashed into a telegraph pole on Wharncliffe Road last Wednesday and following on from yesterday's accident on Stanton Road I spotted two more emergency vehicles outside the Co-Op today. It may be a Bank Holiday weekend for many people but we should all be grateful for the dedication and experience of the emergency services who are on hand 24/7 everyday of the year.

Trouble For Someone

It's often said that a day can make all the difference and after yesterday's rain, today much much better but for some people it was most definitely not a good day. Walking home with the family this lunchtime after a visit to the museum, we heard an almighty bang as we crossed Regent Street. At the opposite end we could see a silver car at an angle so we rushed up the street to see if we could be of assistance. When we reached the top we found another vehicle underneath but others who had rushed to help had found the driver of that black car was not seriously injured and the two occupants of the other one, although trapped, had also said they were OK. The emergency services arrived within minutes so as we could do no more to help we left the scene. Later we found that both the driver and the passenger in the silver car had been taken to hospital - not a good start to the Bank Holiday weekend.