I wonder how much thousands of these metal fixings cost? What is their purpose? It is not that they are cheaper than nails as there are already nails underneath them as can be seen http://static.flickr.com/36/122839962_595c089647_b.jpg here. Of course the beauty of privatisation is that this money can all be spent with a fencing contractor who pays for the metal fixings himself and just adds them to the bill that IBC pays with our money and in a lump it doesn't look that bad especially as one has to be an acountant to discover how much has been spent on any specific item. I know last time I objected to IBC's accounts about some buses one hundred thousand pounds had not been handed over for some reason that was never satisfactorily explained. I had an accountant help me then as he was questioning the costs of the Crown Pools which we had a referendum over and we rejected the idea of having the Crown Pools because of the fantastic cost so they were not built and we saved all that money. Errr something is not quite right there as it has been built and all that money has been spent. How did Jamie Cann explain that one? I must have missed his explanation or he didn't remember to say what he had been told to say about it or maybe he said it when I was as drunk as he was as I did get drunk as much as he did!

peterturtill@hotmail.com pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/

Now compare the above with the same shot taken sometime back below. There once was a single post http://static.flickr.com/36/122839962_595c089647_b.jpg and the fence beside it consisted of spars nailed to posts as can be seen from the old picture and not as below http://static.flickr.com/48/137066038_1d6f343b06_b.jpg and this is only one stretch of fencing that in itself stretches quite a way as can be seen by enlarging the pic below http://static.flickr.com/56/137066039_a44ab7d722_b.jpg (All the pics on my gallery can be enlarged from either the symbol or the side panel on the right.) This is costing thousands of pounds of community charge payers cash and it is being done to set a budget for next year. The more that is spent this year the more that can be asked for next year and so on.Of course the more money a council spends with a contractor the more the contractor can be expected to pay in kick backs normally but that sort of corruption doesn't happen in Ipswich where we are stuck in our ways of being honest and even with council housing repairs they always use OBO scaffolding who have been around for years and are a local firm whose bosses would be known personally to those who employ them. I suppose we should be glad we don't live in one of those corrupt towns one reads of from time to time. Just be glad this town is not corrupt and the millions of pounds being spent on Orwell Country Park and Braziers Wood is honestly spent money and nobody is getting massive back handers out of community tax money.

peterturtill@hotmail.com or peterturtill@yahoo.com

This Volvo convertable was not here at 3am when I took my dog for a walk and the Evening Star reports it was found ablaze at 6am Sunday 23rd April 06. It is in one of the laybyes on the road from Nacton Road to Bridgewood and a good 500 metres from ANY gate which are supposedly to prevent this happening. This occasionally happens on the estate I live on and there are no gates on my estate including my front gates which were stolen a couple of weeks ago. I naturally reported the theft to the police and as yet my report has not even been acknowledged yet alone had a crime number and that was a good two weeks ago. The car in the picture is only 2-3 year old as it is on a 55 plate and was being taken away when I took the photo.

I have finally managed to make contact with a volunteer on the disability access rights issue and he has given me a telephone number which I rung today and got the e-mail addy of Mr Andy Sheppard who I immediately mailed and as yet I am awaiting a reply. Tonight I was chatting with a man from my area who was also aghast at the mutilation of Bridgewood where he also spent his child hood some 30 years after me. The whole issue is rapidly becoming a scandal as nobody has yet been able to tell me why Bridgewood was not just left to Suffolk Coastal who had done a good job looking after it to date. I and everybody I speak to about it cannot understand why community charge payers money has been spent buying something which was already there and is not within IBC boundary. I can understand action with no reason if somebody is making money out of this but other wise the reason for spending many thousands if not millions of community charge payers money escapes me completely. Isn't it about time IBC explained their actions here? Pics here http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/

peterturtill@hotmail.com or peterturtill@yahoo.com

This is a screen shot of the Disability Access page on IBC's web site that I have just taken at 1am on 21st April 2006. Click on it to get a bigger pic that you can read of put the URL http://tinyurl.com/h5nlw into your browser and read it yourself. I mailed Graham Sharman some time back but the mail bounced as he is no longer doing the job. I was then given the most amazing run around as different people where put forward and they promptly passed it on until the circle was complete and I was advised to contact Robert Self who has already told me he doesn't do that job and the person who does is on leave. Just read through the folowing e-mails to see how everybody is ducking the issue. I cannot go to Sam Pollard who used to run the Country Park as he has moved on too.

-----Original Message-----From: Peter Turtill [mailto:peterturtill@hotmail.com]Sent: 19 March 2006 13:09To: enquiry@ipswich.gov.ukSubject: ATT Mr Heir CEO Ipswich Borough Council
Dear Mr Heir,
I am writing to you because my mail to Mr Sharman bounced. Please find below
the mail I tried to send him.
I am forwarding to you a number of photographs taken at Orwell Country Park and at Braziers Wood Road and Platters Place. I have raised concerns with Sam Pollard about most of these gates but they are still there and clearly in breach of the DDA.
Would you please look at these photographs and regard this e-mail as a complaint asking for action to be taken.Yours sincerely,Peter Turtill

http://static.flickr.com/47/114359879_e91de90c5c_b.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/19/114359876_6500033097_b.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/40/114359874_3abf7018b4_b.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/19/114343468_51c87890dd_b.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/43/114343466_41f26f91d0_b.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/50/111665899_24bfb08c49_b.jpg

From : <enquiry@ipswich.gov.uk> Sent : 20 March 2006 15:16:13 To : peterturtill@hotmail.com CC : bc.inspectors@ipswich.gov.uk Subject : RE: ATT Mr Heir CEO Ipswich Borough Council Inbox Hello,Thank you for your enquiry, unfortunately Mr Sharman does not work hereanymore and would have not been able to receive e-mails anyway. I haveforwarded your e-mail to Building Control Inspectors who I am sure will beof service. If you need to contact us, please call 01473 432953 (BuildingControl).
Thank youEnquiry DeskIpswich Borough Council

From : <access.officer@ipswich.gov.uk> Sent : 29 March 2006 09:55:38 To : peterturtill@hotmail.com Subject : Orwell Country Park access. Inbox Dear Mr. Turtill,I have received your email and photograph prints from the Chief Executivewho has asked me to respond. I will need to investigate the situation andcontact the appropriate Service Manager to see what can be done about thisissue. Somebody will be in contact with you in the near future.In the meantime if you wish to discuss the situation please do not hesitateto contact me.RegardsRobert SelfActing Access Officer.

-----Original Message-----From: Peter Turtill [mailto:peterturtill@hotmail.com]Sent: 11 April 2006 04:52To: access.officer@ipswich.gov.ukSubject: RE: Orwell Country Park access.
Dear Sir,
I have seen no improvement nor have I received any mail off you outlining how things are going to be improved here for disabled people. I must press you to take some action now please.Yours sincerely,Peter Turtill

From : <access.officer@ipswich.gov.uk> Sent : 13 April 2006 07:40:01 To : peterturtill@hotmail.com Subject : RE: Orwell Country Park access. Inbox Dear Mr.Turtill,Your mail has been forwarded to Andy Sheppard , the Service Manager whodeals with the country park. He is apparently on leave at present. When hereturns I will see him about your concerns.Regards,Robert Self.

From : Andy Yacoub <Andy.Yacoub@cexec.suffolkcc.gov.uk> Sent : 20 April 2006 10:57:47 To : "'Peter Turtill'" <peterturtill@hotmail.com> Subject : RE: Disability Discrimination Act problem. Inbox Dear PeterI've looked into this matter and the information I have for you is as follows:The Suffolk County Council Environment Department confirmed that the land you refer to is managed by Ipswich Borough Council (I know you knew this already) and as such the county's Environment Department have no influence over Bridgewood or Braziers Wood; the Environment Department did however make the Ipswich Borough Council Rangers team aware of your concerns; and n the absence of a current Access Officer at Ipswich Borough Council, you may wish to contact Brian Hammond who is chair of the Ipswich Access Group.? Brian's e-mail address is brian.hammond57@ntlworld.com?I'm afraid this is as far as I can take this from a county council point of viewRegardsAndy YacoubDiversity ManagerSuffolk County CouncilTel. 01473 264401Using BT TextDirect 18001 01473 264401Fax 01473 216843E-mail andy.yacoub@suffolkcc.gov.ukWebsite http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/EqualOpportunities/

From : Andy Yacoub <Andy.Yacoub@cexec.suffolkcc.gov.uk> Sent : 20 April 2006 14:06:24 To : "'Peter Turtill'" <peterturtill@hotmail.com> Subject : RE: Disability Discrimination Act problem. Inbox Dear Peter, I understand that whilst Ipswich Borough Council are without an Access Officer, Robert Self (01473) 432959 is looking after such issues in the interim.
Regards Andy Yacoub

Now I do believe Robert Self has just told me the access officer is on leave. Has the words 'up' and 'brewery' crossed your mind yet?

peterturtill@hotmail.com or peterturtill@yahoo.com pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/

Readers and correspondents may remember me posting this pic a few days ago and suggesting it may be a good idea to complain to the Countryside people. Well I did just that myself expecting loads of useful condemnation and action. I was sadly disallusioned as I seem to have been very often when asking for help from organisations who appear to be exactly what I need. Here is a response to my compaint below.

From : <Joanna.Houston@countryside.gov.uk> Sent : 19 April 2006 09:10:46 To : peterturtill@hotmail.com Subject : Fw: Website Feedback Form
Dear Mr Turtill,
Thank you for submitting a website feedback form.
I am sorry you have experienced problems using access land. However thissign does not belong to The Countryside Agency, it is owned and placedthere by the local authority which in this case I believe is Suffolk CountyCouncil. To clarify, The Countryside Agency mapped the land under theCountryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, however responsibility for accesson the ground always lies with the local authority.
The link below should help point you in the right direction.
Shortcut to:http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/Environment/PublicRightsOfWay/OpenAccessInSuffolk.htm
Regards,
The Web Team.

Yes I then had a look at the link they gave above and it says

"What you can't do on access land
Camping, cycling, horse riding, motor sports and the driving of any vehicle other than a mobility scooter or buggy."

So that is settled then except I have two dirty great gates to get my wheel chair over. They seem to have overlooked that minor point just as the Countryside people have over looked the fact it is not Suffolk County Council who are responsible. I would at least have expected them to pass the buck in the correct direction, IBC. I will persevere.

peterturtill@hotmail.com or peterturtill@yahoo.com pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/

pic by paul macgiveren.

There are notices about these at Nacton Shores put up by Suffolk Coastal and yet there is no warnings at Bridgewood where this beauty lays. Apparently they give off no scent and that is why so many dogs get killed by them as they cannot smell them and keep away. Bridgewood has always been teeming with these but fortunately they keep away from people and usually it is only dogs that get bitten and their owners think they have died from some mysterious bug or other as they do not see the snake bite. See my picture site for more by paul macgiveren taken recently. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/

http://static.flickr.com/44/130976398_39e00b506b_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/1/130976397_564fd2d790_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/44/130976393_7649d59310_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/48/130976392_8a97e24b04_o.jpg

Watch your children if they poke around in the brambles or other places these may be.

peterturtill@hotmail.com or peterturtill@yahoo.com

Well I couldn't get through these gates or every other one except one. That goes for every other disabled person too. There are many gates around Bridgewood, Braziers Wood and Pipers Vale and yet only one that I can get through and even then only because I have been given a RADAR key by IBC. My son wheeled me down to the river. It wass the first time I have made that journey for over six years. Boy was I disappointed. The place is no longer a wood and doesn't make the grade as a park either. The trees are missing in many places and some even just lay where they have been sawn down. The pathway in places is covered with some kind of wood chippings making it hard to wheel a push chair as well as my wheel chair. I still cannot understand why IBC felt driven to buy or lease this place and increase their spending of community charge money. They have many other parks that should be looked after better before they start taking on more. I can see why Mr Little is laughing as IBC is cutting down so many trees they can hardly complain if he does too.

peterturtill@hotmail.com or peterturtill@yahoo.com

This is Priory Park at 7am this morning when the light was better. I point out the yellow and blue coils in the background as this is where Ipswich Borough Council have complained that healthy trees are being killed to make way for new 'mobile' homes such as the others I pictured here. More pics here http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/
peterturtill@hotmail.com or peterturtill@yahoo.com

This pic was taken this morning 13th April 06. Now compare it with this one taken a few weeks ago http://static.flickr.com/48/112978708_7997e296ee_b.jpg just what is happening I do not understand. There are more new pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/
peterturtill@hotmail.com or peterturtill@yahoo.com

That's great. Open Access Land that my wheel chair had to be lifted over two gates to get to. The gates are chained so if there is a fire the whole lot can burn before the fire service get there. I suppose that would remove an awkward problem for IBC if this ancient woodland at Braziers Wood was to burn down so they could build the roundabout and roads without any need to consider the implications of destroying this ancient and protected woodland. Protected I hear you say? Yes it is protected and the protectors are IBC which is very much like putting a fox in charge of a hen house. Of course access is guaranteed to disabled people too. Who regulates the Disability Discrimination Act in Ipswich? Well again it is IBC of course. Anyhow if you wish to complain here are the addresses on the notice. www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk or 0845 100 3298 and www.suffolkcc.gov.uk or 0945 6066067 and if you want e-mail addresses of council officers involved then mail me as they get annoyed if I post them. Look here for more pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/ and hopefully somebody will feels as strongly about this issue as I do and folks will complain and start questioning council workers they see felling healthy trees. It is illegal and following orders is no excuse either.

peterturtill@hotmail.com or peterturtill@yahoo.com

This tree killing is happening now in Braziers Wood where I took this and many other pics today. You can see them here http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/ and see just what is being done to an ancient woodland. It is being cleared for a road and roundabout to take traffic to and from the docks. Healthy trees are being killed everywhere as can be seen from my pics.

peterturtill@hotmail.com or peterturtill@yahoo.com

That is a strange way to look after a wood. Saw it down! This is a secret corner of Bridgewood that not many people see as it is up the lane leading to the static mobile home a family lives in. Not many people even know there is a dwelling there as well as Pond Hall farm. The lane runs along the back of the car parks in the direction of the A14 and it has notices saying Private. No Access and stuff like that but if you walk along it towards the A14 you will find this monstrous store of wood waiting to be made into fencing presumably. Or maybe more car bumper benders and rustic rubbish bins. It can be seen from the A14 if you do not fancy walking past a Private notice and of course it can be accessed from the truck park beside the garage on the A14. Now when Mr. Little wants to clear live trees from his land for caravan sites how on earth can IBC complain about it when they are doing exactly the same themselves. Today I was taken to Braziers Wood o the other side of the A14 and I photographed wholesale destruction of ancient woodland as can be seen from my flickr picture pages here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/ Look and weep but not at the quality of my photography or spelling:-)

petertill@hotmail.com or peterturtill@yahoo.com

Spragged completely. I got my pusher to fold my chair up and squeeze past this below

http://static.flickr.com/36/119848301_131b2267b1_b.jpg and we came across this 200 metres further on the same road. The road incidently is lined both sides with wooden fencing and I wanted to see where the wood for the fencing was coming from as I had seen freshly felled trees from the A14 and they were just ahead of where I got trapped. I could see lads riding motorcycles where I believe the freshly felled trees are but I was unable to get past the damned gate. I will try later this week to get the pics but those I did get today can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/

peterturtill@yahoo.com or peterturtill@hotmail.com

These gates are at the opposite end of the new footpath I believe but I am not sure as I cannot get past these monstrosities. Many cross country wheel chairs are more like golf buggies and just how they are supposed to get past these I cannot imagine. However my County Councilor has replied to my mail saying she (Susan Maguire) is going to look into this and she has printed off some of my pics to show around to those responsible. I also saw some 'suits' looking at the post in the ground at the Bridgewood end of this path which I presume goes past the hump. Alas I do not yet know where it leads too and this is virtually my back yard.
peterturtill@yahoo.com

I see the Scouts are also into storing boats as well as renting out to caravanners. They are to be congratulated for raising funds this way and showing enterprise. More pics here http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/

peterturtill@yahoo.com

The Scouts seem to be getting commercial now. This was the scene at Hallow Tree today (Saturday 1st April) and when I asked I was told the other caravan sites were too dear so they had paid to camp at Hallow Tree. Click http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipswich/
peterturtill@yahoo.com