Boxing Day - A Good Provincial Decision

In 2004 the provincial NDP doggedly stuck to their Sunday shopping laws on Boxing Day and the result was a collapse of sales for that day for many retailers.

I know some people might want a return to the days of yore when everything was closed on Boxing Day but the fact of the matter is that with use of the Internet, shopping happens even on Christmas day. The restrictions on Boxing Day hurt a whole host of smaller retailers who don't have a huge presence online.

Some employees might not be happy with the decision but to what extent do they want the government to restrict when they can work and what is open and closed? It used to be that with Sunday shopping restrictions that even Blue Bomber games were taboo. Do we close restaurants as well? Movie theatres?

I think the decision on retail hours is a good one.

The provincial laws for full time work have not changed. People still get the same amount of time off in hours in a week. There will be still time for families. Some in fact may take the time to go shopping as a family.

The Throne Speech

I took a while to absorb the whole speech as given by the NDP government of Greg Selinger. It is the last time we should be going through the pomp and circumstance of the legislature opening prior to an election. The only other big, can't miss event ought to be the budget from here on in.

The Throne Speech by tradition has been the way for the government to welcome back the legislature and indicate what ideas will guide them through the session. The promises can often be vague and they are not costed out.

One of the big promises made is that every Manitoban will have a doctor by 2015. It is a huge promise to make and an obvious one to promise ahead of an election. Around 15% of Manitobans don't have family doctors. The province doesn't indicate just how many people they will have to hire and how much it will cost.

It seems that their first commitment though is to ensure that the present system of doctors will have fewer patients as they introduce nurse practitioners.

On the face of it, I have no problems with this. It should have been done years ago. My view is that we still don't have enough staff to do these in the short term. This is a promise that is probably at the very least 2-3 years in the future. Quick Care service could be a cost saver but we have to see the budgets for it.

The province has promised an air ambulance as part of another health initiative. There are couple of things to consider in terms of buying, leasing or contracting a service. It could be be pricey, not the least of which because they are considering a pad somewhere at Health Sciences Centre. My guess that the idea of a helipad at HSC will be pulled off the table right away but we'll see.

Helicopters are sexy nowadays as the city gets ready to put their police chopper in the sky. They are considering putting a helipad on the soon to be converted Post Office building just for that purpose. I think that some engineers forget that there once was a helicopter pad up there and was not used because of the winds that almost sent a chopper into the streets of Winnipeg.

Another health promise is a bus that will travel to remote areas to offer primary health care services. There are too little details with this one to see if it will duplicate or complement services already in place.

One promise that I think all parties should support is a mental health court. If there is one thing that could address a certain issue, save money and prescribe the right treatment, it will be this. Don't delay this one. There is support from health, social services, the courts, the police, families and all political parties for this. If there was one indication of a need is when someone with Alzheimer's ended up charged and put in jail.

The economic promises include the nebulous looking for efficiencies, capping healthcare administrative spending and programs to encourage business. It is hard to take a cap on spending serious when the NDP government ended the legislation on a deficit. The present deficit is $565 million. The ideas on eliminating that deficit are very light. I suspect we won't hear any real ideas if any on ending it before the election.

There is a lot of crime stuff in the throne speech. There are more jails being built all over the promise. The long term costs of those remain unknown as well.

Overall, there are a lot of spending promises, not a lot of cutting or indications of where the money will come from.

Let's be honest: at some point the deficit will have to be addressed. The government is not doing that now and by 2015, we could be heading for a another down cycle and have absolutely no cushion against that.

There were no bold or visionary promises. It seems a caretaking budget in a lot of ways.

A few exciting or bold promises a government might contemplate:

1. Lowering the voting age to 16.
2. Changes to the Sunday shopping hours.
3. A casino and hotel for south of the Assiniboine River including a sports book.
4. Eliminating education from property tax.
5. Index the income tax rate for inflation.
6. Sell the Manitoba Liquor Commission or deregulate sales.
5. Create a Manitoba Police force.
6. Allocate 1% of sales tax to the municipalities.
7. Introduce term limits of three consecutive terms for provincial and municipal governments.
8. Make a commitment and a financial plan to moving as much of the province as possible to geo-thermal heating.
9. Allow for three to five 24 hour private health clinics associated with hospitals and their ERs in Manitoba.
10. Allow for bars to be open the hours they want in conjunction with more inspectors and police enforcement.

There are certainly additional economic, social and health ideas that could be contemplated.

Lastly, get a grip on spending. If money is to be spent, be sure that there are savings associated with it or that it meets a critical need that makes the province better for it. Letting the deficit escalate removes any flexibility or choices we might have in the future.

Free Press Apologizes - Michael Ignatieff

The Free Press has issued an apology for the Michael Ignatieff editorial in the last few minutes.

They might have to correct their correction because they write the link as "mistsake."

Here is what the apology says:

A Free Press headline Monday and an editorial Tuesday wrongly said that Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff accused the Conservatives of attempting to split the Filipino vote in the Winnipeg North byelection.

In fact, Mr. Ignatieff was asked: "The race in Winnipeg North, there’s been some speculation that the Tories are running Julie Javier... because (she) might siphon off Kevin Lamoureux’s strong Filipino vote allowing the NDP to win. What do you think of that speculation?

Mr. Ignatieff replied: "Let’s not insult the voters of Winnipeg North, let’s give them a real choice — the right choice is Kevin Lamoureux. Let’s have a straight-up fight. Let’s not have any political games here. Let’s give the voters of Winnipeg North a clear choice. Kevin Lamoureux has 20 years of public experience... Kevin Lamoureux is the kind of guy who goes down to McDonald’s and holds clinics to help citizens with their problems and he’s been doing it for 20 years. He’s the kind of guy Winnipeg North needs in the House of Commons and everything else is a bunch of games and we’re not here to play games, we’re here to win."

I commend the Free Press on correcting what was written.

I hope it makes its ways to the print edition as well.

The Great Canadian Talk Show - National Post Story

National Post picture.

The national post has a story on the cancellation of The Great Canadian Talk Show.

Of interest to note:

Graham Thomson, the college’s dean of business and applied arts and a non-voting executive member of the board that canned the show, acknowledged that the Winnipeg Free Press contacted president Stephanie Forsyth, but denied any outside influence. Ms. Forsyth declined to comment.

“As I understand it, the president did get a communication from the Free Press,” he said, later adding that he believed the communication came from editor Margo Goodhand. “There were some concerns about Marty having taken shots at the Free Press ... I believe that the concern about the show was voiced by the president to one of our vice-presidents who is on the board.”

I have no idea what the Winnipeg Free Press involvement was but it looks like the college is acknowledging that someone from the paper was not happy and contacted the college to have something done about it.

The Free Press Gets It Wrong - On Michael Ignatieff

Quite simply the Winnipeg Free Press should apologize.

Here is their editorial today:

Egg on Ignatieff


Does anyone know what Michael Ignatieff is talking about?

The Liberal leader was in Winnipeg on the weekend campaigning for Winnipeg North candidate Kevin Lamoureux when he accused the Conservatives of fighting dirty by running a Filipino candidate in the riding.

Voters, he said, deserved "a straight-up fight" and not "a bunch of games." He was apparently referring to speculation that the Tories were trying to weaken Mr. Lamoureux's support by running Filipino Julie Javier in a riding that traditionally supports the New Democratic Party and which has a high number of Filipino residents.

Once again, does anyone know what Mr. Ignatieff is talking about? Is he really suggesting that the Conservatives should have fielded a non-Filipino candidate to make it a fair fight for the Liberal contender? Is it his view that Ms. Javier is a fake candidate who has cynically offered her name to spoil Liberal ambitions and ensure an NDP victory?

Mr. Ignatieff's comments were an insult to voters in general and Filipinos in particular. To be fair, it doesn't look like he anticipated the question, but the leader of an institution like the Liberal Party of Canada should be smarter on his feet. In the big leagues, you're only allowed so many stupid mistakes

The problem is that the Free Press was wrong. Dead wrong.

The correct version was put forward by the Free Press's own reporter:

Winnipeg North Tory candidate Julie Javier issued a press release yesterday evening saying it’s "regrettable" that Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff suggested her candidacy is a game designed to sway Liberal Filipino voters.

That’s not exactly what Iggy said, nor did he accuse the Tories of vote splitting, which is what we said in a front page headline Monday.

Someone in editorial made a huge mistake and even Conservative bloggers are distancing themselves from the Free Press comments.

Ignatieff talks a good talk about getting away from identity politics, asks for a fight on quality of the candidates and suggests that the press is trying to frame the fight inappropriately. This is a good sign. As for the Winnipeg Free Press? Terrible. Opinion of an exchange is healthy, but do make sure that it has foundation in fact.

Here is a further follow-up on the story.

Do the right thing Free Press and apologize for a major gaffe.

Update November 17: The original reporter has further shed light in the print edition of the paper.

However, I have seen no correction in the editorial pages where the comments on Ignatieff were made.

This is what Michael Ignatieff said today in a letter to the editor:

An editorial in the Nov. 16 Free Press distorts and misrepresents statements I made during a recent stop in Winnipeg North, where I was campaigning for our Liberal candidate, Kevin Lamoureux.

The editorial claims I criticized the Conservatives' choice of candidate for Winnipeg North. I did not.

I was asked by the media if I thought the Conservative party was running Julie Javier to take votes from our Liberal candidate, long-serving MLA Kevin Lamoureux. I dismissed the question out of hand. As I said, the people of Winnipeg North are not interested in political games, they're interested in a clear choice.

Here's exactly what I said: "Let's not insult the voters of Winnipeg North, let's give them a real choice. The right choice is Kevin Lamoureux. Let's have a straight-up fight. Let's not have any political games here; let's give the voters of Winnipeg North a clear choice."

I stand by what I said.

MICHAEL IGNATIEFF

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

I can only assume the Free Press stands by what they wrote in the editorial despite the transcript that is plainly available.

Ikea Part 4

I am a little confused about tonight's meeting on IKEA by the Assiniboia Community Committee tonight. A delegation from MMM will be meeting the councillors tonight to ask for an opening onto the north of Sterling Lyon Parkway. The picture above is of that opening.

The construction is almost complete on the roadwork there but I am still confused about how the approach into the north part of the parcel of land will go.

In my response to the poor condition of the road along Sterling Lyon, my city councillor Paula Havixbeck forwarded my concern to 311 who called me to tell me the number of the person to speak to at the contractor. That wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I contacted my councillor. I figure she would check in with the city official responsible for inspecting the city owned street and get back to me.

I don't know why I had to do this through 311 nor that I should speak to the contractor directly. I am not a city official nor do I have authority to tell the contractor whether the work meets standards or not.

In any event, I called MMM who are the contractors for the work being done. I was told that there is still $1 million worth of work to do on Sterling Lyon Parkway but that they believe the road will stand up to winter. I am not an engineer so I have no way of ascertaining that fact.

MMM was prompt and pleasant enough but I am a little disappointed that my councillor hasn't taken up the cause herself. I am still concerned that the road is a little rough in places.

While I had MMM on the phone, I asked about site preparation. It looks like the Clarke trucking dept and the old Zirino's building will be knocked down soon. I was told that the old owners are clearing out the last of their stuff and that heavy equipment is ready to tear everything down.

In effect, we are close to having both north and south of Sterling Lyon cleared and ready for work on IKEA construction.

The big question is whether Target will be joining IKEA at the site.

The All-Weather Northern Road

From Norway House to east-side First Nations



The boreal forest of the east side of Lake Winnipeg

The First Nations communities on the east side of the province had a news conference to push for an all weather road to help their communities, especially on water. Wasagamack, St. Theresa Point, Garden Hill and Red Sucker Lake chiefs asked that their communities be connected to Highway 373 just north of Norway House.

A longer road up the east side of Lake Winnipeg was rejected as it is 168 kilolmeters longer. I have not heard if the province has rejected ever doing it though since there are still communities there in need as well.

The estimated costs to building the road travelling east-west is over $1.4 billion.

To date, the province has not put a formal application before the federal government for help.

While the province has announced funds to build the road themselves, they manage to make this same announcement over and over again without actually doing anything. It is like of like they announce study after study on a road to Nunavut without actually putting spades in the ground.

The issue of the Bipole III continues to be a question as well. If the intention is to some day to put a road up the east side then the outright rejection of Bipole III seems to be more of a waste of money.

As has been pointed out, Bipole III requires some sort of permanent service road to ensure that initial construction and repairs can take place. If a road is to be built some day at the behest of the communities there, how is it different from Bipole III?

If the province believes that Bipole III is bad, then a road up the east side is bad as well.

I believe that the road to the east communities is a good one but after 10 years, you figure the province would have gotten off their duffs and put in a formal request to the federal government to help do some of the heavy lifting.

I expect that all we'll hear for several more years is more announcements.

Centennial Park Condominiums

It was inevitable that the Oak Point Subdivision CN Line that travelled through River Heights would be developed. Once the rail tracks were pulled out, the surrounding streets had some control over what went in but resisted any and all plans.

People wanted to leave it as green space. However, that would have entailed an expensive purchase from CN and then a permanent maintenance program by the city thereafter. I expect that the neighbourhood would have resisted even elements of that if it included putting posts along the lanes to prevent people on Centennial Street and Lockwood Street from parking their cars on the property.

Anyone who travels through River Heights knows that the land is now used to park extra vehicles for those who live on the streets backing out onto the land.

It was probably thought that stubborn resistance to doing anything had won out. Parcels of land on the commercial strips were sold off on Academy Road and Grant Avenue so that any plans for a bike route or other transit corridor were effectively blocked.

If the surrounding streets had pushed for a bike path strongly, it is likely that they would have got it and saved a major aspect of the green space behind their homes. Instead, resistance to that and other ideas pervaded. It is hard not to link the resistance to keeping the parking when it is so prevalent.

Eventually, the opposition to doing anything was overuled by a majority of council. John Orlikow opposed developing anything on the land but didn't propose anything either. The rest of council decided that it was a case of not in my backyard and approved a few projects for condominiums.

The first was between Corydon and Grant Avenue. I will talk about this one later on. The second was between Kingsway and Corydon.

Tentatively called Centennial Park, it will consist of bungalow-like condos as seen in the picture above. The developers have said there will be 62 units with 38 going up in the spring of 2011.

A bike/walking path is planned for the land as well with 600 trees and shrubs.

The price on average will be about $250,000 per unit.

The sign for the variance change on Kingsway was vandalized this past spring. It is likely the neighbourhood still hasn't embraced this project but for people looking to live in the area, it could be an inviting opportunity.

New York Times Manitoba Immigration Article

New York Times photo:

The province has become an unlikely little outpost of multicultural living on the northern prairie. Winnipeg has four Filipino newspapers and a large Hindu Diwali festival.

Credit: John Woods for The New York Times

This weekend the New York Times has published a story on Manitoba's provincial nominee program. The story has a remarkable photo slide show that should be seen and read along with the captions.

The article written by Jason Deparle is a contrast article between Canada and the U.S. and it singles out Manitoba as a place seeking out immigrants and doing it successfully.

This experiment in designer immigration has made Winnipeg a hub of parka-clad diversity — a blue-collar town that gripes about the cold in Punjabi and Tagalog — and has defied the anti-immigrant backlash seen in much of the world.

As the article has pointed out, there is no political party in Canada that can be described as anti-immigrant.

One family is detailed in the story:

“From the moment we touched down at the airport, it was love all the way,” said Olusegun Daodu, 34, a procurement professional who recently arrived from Nigeria to join relatives and marveled at the medical card that offers free care. “If we have any reason to go to the hospital now, we just walk in.”

“The license plates say ‘Friendly Manitoba,’ ” said his wife, Hannah.

“It’s true — really, really true,” Mr. Daodu said. “I had to ask my aunt, ‘Do they ever get angry here?’ ”

The story refers to Winnipeg's lunch bucket blue collar feel. Guess they didn't get to the ballet.

However, you will find few articles world-wide that are so favourable about a Manitoba policy that has been in place since 1998.

Polo Park 10

Kim Chi restaurant

The latest news in Polo Park is that the Kim Chi restaurant is open. It is the seventh location in Canada for this Korean restaurant chain based in Quebec.

Hollister is looking for staff including a model for their imminent opening. BCBG is also looking for staff this coming week.

Since June, there have been several new stores that have opened.

Spareparts

L’Occitane

RW&CO

Stockhomme

Skechers

Stores that are gone are:

Explore Store
Randy River
Addition-Elle

The Angry and Fearful NDP

Increasingly, we are seeing more aggressive and nasty NDP attacks both on the official and unofficial levels. The TV and print ad campaigns have attacked Hugh McFadyen. This has been the official party response.

The unofficial response is to attack the media for not cheerleading their party. They lash out at the CBC, CJOB and Kick-FM. They fill the comments columns of Free Press and Sun with angry and fearful responses.

The bloggers of the NDP personalize and attack the Tory leader by calling him Hughie. They set up anonymous blogs to attack radio hosts and make accusations that could see them in court. I tried to pose a question on one of the blogs about whether the NDP planned on protesting any of the political shows on campus radio elsewhere across the country and within Winnipeg and was ignored. It would seem their concern was just for The Great Canadian Talk Show.

CBC reporters are referred to as:

individuals posing as reporters but are really just douche-bags

The NDP in Saskatchewan were thoroughly spanked for acting like spoiled brats for their fear and loathing campaign.

I believe some in the NDP are unaware of what a negative ad is. These ads fall into that category. I have explained before and will repeat again: contrast ads are negative ads.

There isn't anything wrong with negative ads but don't deny that you're doing them by referring to the truthiness of them. And don't pretend that that your unofficial campaign isn't making claims and namecalling in support of the NDP.

My guess is that this is likely to backfire if it continues to be over the top as it seems to have been over the last months.

No one is going to appreciate the claims that the NDP government will pay for a stadium no matter how far the cost will rise. Even a Blue Bomber fan is likely to have issues with that.

I suggest the official and unofficial campaigns cool it on the NDP front and maybe the party should come up with an exciting and perhaps, visionary policy platform.

Latest On The Great Canadian Talk Show

I spoke to Dean of Students Graham Thomson this afternoon for an explanation about the cancellation of The Great Canadian Talk Show.

In short, I said that the station seemed to have a good student representation on the show and I asked whether the show should have been given an opportunity to demonstrate that.

I put forward that there was a few shows on Kick FM that were run and operated by volunteers and asked if they were all in trouble.

Thomson indicated he was taking notes from all the people who called and he explained what the radio licence called for. I pressed him on that and said I wasn't sure that the show didn't meet a lot of the requirements of student participation and could have done more if the college had given the opportunity.

To close the conversation, Thomson indicated that he thought Marty Gold would have the opportunity to re-apply for a radio slot. In other words, it looks as if an appeal might be happening.

I have not heard confirmation of this but it could mean that the show with some tweaks could be given the opportunity for a come back. I await further information.

Exchange District Developments

The site of a new grocery at 223 McDermot Avenue. The All City Modern Convenience store appears to be going up in a former clothing store. Talia Syrie, is the co-owner. She also owns the Tall Poppy restaurant on Main. The store will be 1400 square feet.



The Woodbine Hotel is 466 Main Street. Next door at 468 Main Street will be a new gym run by Lindsay Hamel. It is the red brick building. The space will be 800 square feet.



Looking back at 120 James Avenue. Plan in place is to tear down the warehouse and build 60 condos with underground parking



The four story building in background is 128 James Avenue. The plan is to 10 condos there and commercial development. Also talked about is a four story addition.

A flurry of activity in the Exchange District lately.

There is likely to be a continued attraction to building condos and apartments in the east Exchange area in the next year or two. It has reached something of a critical mass to attract other condo dwellers and the like. More restaurants and other amenities are likely to follow.

It is probably a good idea to stand out of the way for most of what is happening but at the same time, I think the province and the city should look at what they might like to have near the museum for future use or for the city for administration. While it seems impossible now, space could be at a premium in a few years in that area.

I would like the province to commit to a science museum for the province's 150th birthday. More on that later.

Brit Cafe Moves to Dylan O'Connors

The Brit Cafe in the foreground. Dylan O'Connor's Irish Pub in the background



The Brit Cafe is closing its location on Portage Avenue and moving to Dylan O'Connor's across the street. The Mann family of England have been involved in retail and restaurant work since immigrating to the city in 1998. Mon, dad and four kids are all involved in the restaurant and store.

I remember one of their earliest incarnations was the Raging Brit store on Academy Road at Lanark Street.

In recent times, the family has run both the Brit Cafe and Dylan O'Connor's Irish Pub side by side. However, the prospect of consolidating the two businesses was just hard to ignore.

First, the family had to clean up Dylan's which had a reputation for motorcycle gangs, underage drinking and by my recollection...brawls. The Mann's have been changing the crowd, the look but not the unique tastes and attractions of the place.

If anyone can change the atmosphere there, it will be this British family who managed to get their restaurant noted as the top British restaurant in Canada by The Daily Telegraph in the U.K.

Best fish and chips if you can make it to this St. James treasure.

Hope the Brit name is carried on some place in the Irish pub.

Co-Op Radio and Community Radio in Manitoba

Winnipeg has three community radio stations.

They are:

CKXL-FM at 91.1 FM. It is a French Canadians station established in 1991. It is owned by a non-profit organization that received assistance from various levels of government to provide an alternative to the CBC French channel.

NCI Radio Network at 105.5 FM. It was established in 1971 and is owned by a native non-profit organization. In 2009, NCI started a new station aimed at urban music lovers. Despite the strong First Nations focus, the station is aimed at a wider youth audience.

CJNU-FM at 107.9 FM is the only co-op station in Winnipeg at present. The station established in 2006 is aimed at a senior audience and plays nostalgic pop classics from the 1930s to 1970s.

At present there is no co-op radio aimed at public affairs in Winnipeg. To find that, we must look further afield to Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

Anyone interested in co-op radio focused on public affairs, please contact me.

November 11

It is a small thing once a year to remember those that served their country. Both sides of my family served during World War II. Some came home, some didn't.

Hope everyone takes time today to remember.

Bring Co-Op Radio To Winnipeg

I think it is time to bring co-op radio to Winnipeg.

We already have one co-op radio station in Winnipeg at CJNU. There are a number of radio co-ops in B.C.

With the death of The Great Canadian Talk Show, it is obvious the city needs a co-op radio station.

I know nothing about operating a radio station but we have many people in the city who do.

I propose that we form a co-op with the goal of a 24 hour radio station for the city. I would be willing to be a co-op member and help any way I can.

Please leave a message if you might be interested in doing this.

University of Winnipeg Part 3

What does the University of Winnipeg have that the University of Manitoba doesn't? The answer is a bar.

Today the university announced that the old bus depot will house Canad Inn's Garbonzo's Pizza as well as a medical clinic and the university bookstore which is reported to be 6000 square feet. Hopefully, they will have more university apparel for men. Take a look at their website and they don't have anything listed for guys? We don't buy university clothes?

There used to be a few Garbonzo's Pizza restaurants in the city but they have retrenched to their Canad Inn location on Pembina Highway.

I am curious as to why they didn't build a Tavern United at the university. It seems a sports bars set-up might be a better fit. Certainly the beer prices are better at Tavern versus Garbonzo's according to their website.

This restaurant/bar could be a good thing as long as they try to fit into a university setting and keep the price points within the student budget. If Garbonzo's doesn't work out, I'm sure the university will have others lined up for the spot.

Once again, good work to the University of Winnipeg is their ongoing renewal.

It didn't help them in the latest Maclean's ratings though. They dropped from 8th to 10th. However, they rank very well in western Canada.

MACLEAN'S RANKINGS - UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG


SUBJECT
Overall Ranking...10th (Canada)...3rd (Western Canada)
Student Services...3rd (Canada)...1st (Western Canada)
Reputational Survey...5th (Canada)...1st (Western Canada)
Student Awards...7th (Canada)...2nd (Western Canada)
Social Sciences & Humanities Grants...8th (Canada)...1st (Western Canada)
Operating Budget...9th (Canada)...4th (Western Canada)
Library Acquisitions...10th (Canada)...3rd (Western Canada)

The Great Canadian Talk Show's Replacement

Tristan Field-Jones, host of Musings on Politics

The program Musings On Politics has been selected to replace The Great Canadian Talk Show in the 4 pm to 6 pm timeslot. It is hosted by Tristan Field-Jones.

It appears that Rick Baverstock, the producer of Kick-FM is trying to ensure the timeslot remains civic minded.

It is a lot to ask of the program to fill so many hours. Here is their webpage.

In the meantime, Red River College has announced a person as the contact in regards to the station and the decisions made. That person is KICK board member Graham Thomson at 949-8377 or gthomson@rrc.mb.ca . He is the Dean of School of Business and Applied Arts.

Sterling Lyon Parkway - A Rough Patch of Road

The Sterling Lyon Parkway, looking east from Shaftesbury just before it was twinned. By the way, all that woodland beside the road...is gone.

I am not the only one who has noticed it. Here is a brand new stretch of road and it is not concrete but asphalt. It is also rough, uneven in places and looks like a crappy job.

I have phoned the councillor to see if she has driven down the stretch as it has just opened. They probably think it is good enough. It certainly doesn't feel good enough given that traffic is only going to increase as IKEA goes up in several months.

Any inspector see this yet?