Regeneration. Are You Serious?

There was dancing in the streets last Saturday as music sounded out across the Market Place. It was the music of my youth with some good old rock'n'roll tunes well-known by anyone of my age. Dancers in fifties dress showed how to jive and a large American car with a picture on the dashboard of Elvis was parked nearby. What was it all in aid of? Well nobody, not even the market traders, seemed to know but the general consensus was that it was an attraction to bring custom into the town.

   There were large gaps in the market with several regular traders missing. They could have been on holiday or taken heed of the mistaken weather forecast that predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms, none of which occurred or they may even have taken their wares elsewhere. But it becomes more and more obvious as time goes by that something drastic needs to be done to regenerate the town centre. The proposal to move students into the town centre and build a supermarket on the existing college site defies belief in its logic and common sense. Another supermarket on the edge of the town centre will drive another nail into the coffin of existing small businesses.

    Here's an idea. Car parking charges in Ilkeston deter many people and lead to illegal parking on double yellow lines and pedestrian crossings. In neighbouring Broxtowe, the first 30 minutes on council car parks is free, thus encouraging shoppers. In Long Eaton, Erewash's other big town, there are free car parks at Asda, Tesco and Aldi all in the town centre. In Ilkeston the free supermarket car parks are away from the town centre with those in the middle of town being fee paying.

   If the council is serious about regeneration, then the time is right to review their charging policy. Invest by sacrificing some parking revenue, even if it is only on market days but don't kill town centre trade altogether by being blind to the effect of planning decisions. Those who take the decisions should learn from the success of Team GB in the Olympics. Investment in the right place is what is needed - it will provide its own rewards. Austerity has not worked, is not working and will not work.

The Sounds of Summer

   The clickety-click in the still air of a distant train speeding along the tracks; children laughing whilst at play in a neighbour's garden; the drone of a lawn mower cutting the grass; the buzzing of insects pollinating the flowers; the thud of willow on leather at a cricket match; the crash of thunder as the rain teems down; the bells in the church tower calling people to worship on an otherwise quiet sunny Sunday morning, a Brass Band playing in the park - these are the sounds of summer.

Radioactive

   There was an entirely different atmosphere this Sunday afternoon though as The Carnaby Rocks, Radioactive (pictured) and the Midnight Pumpkin Trucks entertained in an event called "Summer Sounds"from the bandstand in Victoria Park. I suppose one of the sounds I missed in those listed above was the noise of a rock festival but at least we didn't get the squelch of the mud so frequently associated with the likes of Glastonbury!

Entertainment

   Whilst attempting to complete the Latest Images page on Saturday night I had one eye on the television. On one channel we had The Voice followed by the Eurovision Song Contest. It seems the object of The Voice is for the wannabes to shout and scream as loud as possible and "put their interpretation" on some well known songs. That version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" was truly horrendous but the "coaches" offered their expert advice which most of the time amounted to "Yeah, well, er, like, it's great!" No doubt the winner will go on to overnight success but whether he/she will achieve the lasting success of someone like Engelbert Humperdinck I rather doubt.

   Now I saw Engelbert when he was still Gerry Dorsey and was only a support act but he learned his trade the hard way. Singing the UK's entry in the Eurovision Contest, he was unfortunate enough to be drawn first and fell victim to the political voting that has become a feature of the competition finishing near the bottom of the final scoreboard. He has a long and glittering career behind him but why on earth we, as a country, still participate in this farce is beyond me - why we still watch it makes me begin to doubt my own sanity!

   They say you can't have too much of a good thing but The Voice and Eurovision for Saturday evening viewing is too much mediocrity. How on earth did we allow our weekend TV programmes descend to this level? But whatever the programme, it seems there is more emphasis today put on dance routines, flashing lights and pyrotechnics rather than the songs. They could all learn from the likes of Don Williams (pictured) who just comes on stage, sits down, picks up his guitar and, backed by quality musicians, just sings his songs. That's entertainment!

Was It Magic?

There were a lot of children walking through the town this afternoon with their parents and carrying all manner of "sculptures" made with sausage shaped balloons. I don't know where they had been unless it was to do with the Magic Week at the Museum or maybe they had been to a party somewhere with a children's entertainer but they all seemed very proud of their balloon creations.

You Know You're Old When ....

You know you're old when the vehicle model you learnt to drive in is now a Classic Car.

The new football season kicked off today but it was back about the time that England won the World Cup in 1966 that I was learning to drive and my lessons were supplemented by driving around the District in a company car. That car was a black Austin A40 and the same model was on display this afternoon at Ilkeston Hospital's Annual Garden Party with many other Classic Cars. It certainly makes you feel your age!

Midsummer Happening

The Rotary Club's Annual Midsummer Happening was held in Victoria Park this afternoon and alongside the usual charity stalls and entertainment around the bandstand, there was also a display of classic vehicles, a traditional ice-cream salesman doing a good trade in the fine but showery weather, bouncy castles and a tent with a number of rescued parrots that was attracting a lot of attention. And a jolly good time was had by all.

Oh What A Circus

A camel, a zebra and several horses and ponies were grazing in a field close to Ilkeston this morning. They belonged to a travelling circus that has set up camp for a few days.

Posters have appeared all around town about the performances in Ilkeston but actually where the event is taking place is not even in the same county as Ilkeston. It's at the side of the Awsworth by-pass just over the border into Nottinghamshire and is probably in the Parish of Cossall.