Kevin O'Keefe, DMBC.

Regarding: Sarah's Stitch-Up, Third anniversary.

Why should a chap keen on clean streets suffer so much persecution? The Council spreads, or condones, garbage on the streets 'awaiting collection' in the same manner that its dogs spread their waste, but often without 'collection', across every park and reserve within this potentially delightful Borough - yet why does it tend to react, when suggestions as to the way forward are made, like a bunch of spoiled children?

Here is one example, concerning an allegation of harassment by a prominent local politician: I rang Cllr Elizabeth Walker who agreed to meet-up, but was not present when I arrived at the scheduled time. I waited in the cold for an hour, pushed a little written evidence through her letter-box and returned a while later, speaking for a few minutes 'on her way to the shops' when she agreed to speak to the Conservative Constituency Office about my concerns. My letter in response to a visit [and subsequent call] by PC Hobbis of West Midlands Police includes: "Given the considerable time-lapse between that meeting and your call, Mr Hobbis, would you consider it likely that Ms Walker has spoken to her political associates? Is it possible that she has been 'encouraged' to indulge in her act of spite? Whilst some may consider the attempt at defamation of your correspondent's good character to be unfortunate, is it not possible and more important, given the current austere circumstances, that certain 'boys and girls' are Wasting Police' Time?" Isn't this an abuse of public monies? How can a chap be accused of harassment after making an appointment?

Local, senior, Members of the Labour Party behave in a similar manner; again campaigning for clean streets, I found myself in a Councillors' surgery with Cllr Tremaine Herbert, Cllr Mohammed Hanif and one of their associates. Later I had a letter from the Borough Barrister barring yours truly from future surgeries, inspired, apparently, by the alleged female Councillor at the meeting, on the grounds of harassment! But I've never been known to swear, the meeting was at least two-on-one and one of the Councillors was twice my size! Isn't this another abuse of public monies?

Worse, arguably, is the conduct of Officials; complaining that a lonely neighbour had chased a chap down the High Street, on two occasions, and ignoring my insistence that not only was it of indeterminate gender but also, most likely, smelled of dog, I found myself arrested, a week later, at the insistence of those same, female, Council Officials, on suspicion, again, of harassment! Abuse of position? Abuse of public funds? And why the hate?

D Austin

mail@dwaustin.net