Riviera Politics

Remember the election manifesto? "Five years on Torbay Council, seeing at first hand how it should not be run."

Mayor Bye has told Mr Hellyer: "Of course, there are problems. We are experiencing the biggest economic downturn since the war and town centre rents are too high." But he adds: "The real problem here is we have an extraordinary bunch of doom 'n' gloom merchants determined to highlight the downside rather than talk the place up."
What, like me? No, of course not. When I asked he said:
"For the record & on that occasion I was not thinking of you (honest)."
Phew! What a relief! I'd hate to be one of those pesky 'doom 'n' gloom merchants.

"I think Nick Bye is the best thing to happen to Torbay in a generation - and so do a large and growing number of the people who live here - and I would hate to think that anyone thought that I had any doubts."

"Kevin (Carroll) is one of the most dedicated and hard-working people I have ever had the pleasure of working with and I think he is a huge asset to Torbay and to the Conservative Party."

“Mr Hellyer has been at the centre of what became a media feeding frenzy. … it is sickening that someone who says they care about our town is busy rubbishing the place to the national press … he is a political activist, talking Torbay down for a few moments of fame is - frankly- shamefully hypocritical behaviour. Mark Hellyer isn't interested in making Torbay a better place, he is interested in making a name for Mark Hellyer."

"the NIMBYs make no viable alternative proposals and they tend to be people who have had their productive working lives, made their money, and have little interest in the young people, families and businesses trying to make a go of their lives in Torbay".

When I pointed out this was an ageist comment and that he should apologize to all those retired residents he stopped replying to my emails. Then I said I'd have to make a formal complaint, which would be a waste of time and money. Still no answer, still no apology.

After the standards board found in his favour (hmm, that was a fair hearing, wasn't it?) and notified the Herald Express before me (the clowns!), he accused me of wasting council taxpayers' money. Well, I'd almost forgotten about him, until he turned up at Plainmoor for the 'Night of Legends' evening. Lo and behold, he approached me with hand held out, which I instinctively shook. "Ah, the non-replier to emails," I said. Realising that I wasn't in a 'forgive and forget' frame of mind he turned away sharply, muttering under his breath "I did reply."
Except, of course, he didn't.