Thank you to Cllr David Williams

and the Leader for allowing this letter the light of day.

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Dear Leader

A letter for possible insertion.

Cllr David Williams of Penyffordd is to be congratulated on educating Leader readers on the voting system for school governors. Whilst I do not speak for Cllr Cindy Hinds I'm sure Cindy would look favourably on David and herself having one pick each for governors rather than the two "Independents" that Cllr David Williams is currently pushing for.

Cllr Williams say my digs are predictable. I think not, I have had letters published on over 10 different topics.

My other point with regards so called " Independents". Flintshire County Councillor prospective Independents stand then if elected vote for leaders etc of their own group.

At Penyffordd Community Council level we do it the other way around. The local big "Independent" persuades the sick, the old aged, those not interested, etc to stand as a block vote of 10 out of the 12 seats. Nothing is required by most except a photograph and perhaps turn up on the day to vote. My wife Lisa and I produced our own leaflets at a cost of £150 and walked around 1500 houses and managed to get half of the Independent block vote in last May's elections. Some readers may think my complaining is just "sour grapes" others may come to the conclusion like myself that there is something rotten in a political system that encourages the moribund to stand at no effort at all.

Colin Hughes

Penyffordd District

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One of course can't say everything one wants to say to get a letter published. Economies have to be made to increase the likelihood of publications.
1. Lisa walked for 4 days with a swollen ankle to deliver leaflets
2. David in his previous letter purveys the image that all councillors work together for the good of the village. This did not come shining through when Cllr Colin Bithell and Cllr Joe Bell decided to question planning for the Multi User Games Area AFTER they had given the nod for its approval adding an extra layer of agro that was not needed.

To the Printers

With our election material. I had fancied Colin Bithell's sheet and have copied its style. Previously Lisa had rung up Colin's printer to ask prices and times. Bit vague on prices but because it was election material they would put it through in 2 days. We mention we have digital copy on a CD Rom.
What I thought would be a doddle has gone to being complicated and expensive. Colin Bithell who stands to loose £60,000 over 4 years if not elected has done some investing.
Cast coated A4 white paper with a spot of colour for his photo. I'm sorry Colin but you look the typical untrustworthy politician with that smile.
The professional photo, the design and printing are quite an eye watering sum for pieces of paper that may be read by a third of the recipients.

So the cast coated paper and the colour photo are gone lol

The visit to the printers was an experience we will like to forget. I used to have my breakfast on this little council run trading estate 20 years ago. The printers is opposite. We turn up 1.15pm, three or four staff are sitting around looking very disinterested. No reception area just printing equipment and boxes everywhere. Takes 5 minutes to find someone to talk to. I have a little look around. They have a Heidleberg printer that does A3. We used to do printing and I always fancied one, lovely to watch, poetry in motion. The engineering that allows a sheet of paper to be picked up and a dot of ink applied to within a thousandth of an inch still makes me marvel. Of course a modern printer for a computer now does the same. Printers are sold at a loss so they can get you to buy the ink

Someone gave me an offset litho once. It was due I think for the scrap yard. Then they found us some work, letterheads and business cards too. There started an unhappy apprenticeship in the black art of offset litho printing.

Any way back to the printers. Our man descends from upstairs and we go across to his offices. Very nice but not very concentrated on getting our job done. I give my CD to the design chappy. He can only see the photos. he cannot open our files which have 4 hours of work on.
He has also had his personality removed like the workers in the printers.

We come away brain scrambled. We can't believe how crap we have been looked after.
I get home and find I can give it to them in pdf format which they will accept.
They will however will not be receiving our little order.
No interest in having our business at all.

keywords: Penyffordd Local Elections May 2008