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07/07/2008
Furthermore, the EEDA (East of England Development Agency) has reportedly refused the additional £½ million funding for the development as the political waters have now been so effectively stirred that such a blatant bail-out by regional government is now out of the question. In short regional government is desperately trying to distance itself from the cattle-market development, despite its central role in creating a monster that is literally eating the town of Bury St Edmunds.
As predicted by the Knights of St Edmund, the cost of Bury St Edmund’s own mini-Dome has spiralled upwards from £12 million to a new projected figure of £16 million. This is an increase of 33% since the last ‘readjustment’ of the estimated the cost of the building.
Why is the public building a disaster?
‘A venue of that size is unviable for most acts. The limited size and the fact that it is also run by a local authority make it unsuitable for many tours. This is because it does not make economic sense. In addition, many local authority venues are a nightmare of red tape and are infamous for their enthusiastic application of health and safety regulations or unreasonable demands for prohibitively expensive levels of security. Apart for some notable exceptions, the fact is, promoters avoid local authority venues if they can at all help it.’
‘Public building’ costs spiral
On the 1st of July St Edmundsbury borough council is planning to vote through another £4 million of your council tax money for the white elephant that will be the new ‘public building’ (sic) and centre piece of the cursed cattle-market development.Furthermore, the EEDA (East of England Development Agency) has reportedly refused the additional £½ million funding for the development as the political waters have now been so effectively stirred that such a blatant bail-out by regional government is now out of the question. In short regional government is desperately trying to distance itself from the cattle-market development, despite its central role in creating a monster that is literally eating the town of Bury St Edmunds.
As predicted by the Knights of St Edmund, the cost of Bury St Edmund’s own mini-Dome has spiralled upwards from £12 million to a new projected figure of £16 million. This is an increase of 33% since the last ‘readjustment’ of the estimated the cost of the building.
Why is the public building a disaster?
- Bury has several existing public venues for concerts, plays, recitals and gigs.
- The projected capacity for the building is 500 this is substantially less than the 1000 of the Cathedral or even the newly refurbished Theatre Royal and not much more than the present capacity of the first-floor of the Corn Exchange. Therefore, the capacity does not make sense.
‘A venue of that size is unviable for most acts. The limited size and the fact that it is also run by a local authority make it unsuitable for many tours. This is because it does not make economic sense. In addition, many local authority venues are a nightmare of red tape and are infamous for their enthusiastic application of health and safety regulations or unreasonable demands for prohibitively expensive levels of security. Apart for some notable exceptions, the fact is, promoters avoid local authority venues if they can at all help it.’
- Economics dictate that a limited number of seats effects ticket-pricing, as the cost each seat must off-set 1/500th of the cost of running the building each year. This suggests without public-subsidy the cost per ticket for events at the venue must be high in order to generate as much revenue as possible. This may well price many of the public out of the venue, unless subsidised, and, if subsidised, it will have to be paid for bythe council-tax payers of the borough for the rest of the life of the buildings.
07/07/2008
Under English criminal law a husband, quite correctly, cannot be compelled to give evidence against his wife. However, the rules are different in a civil proceeding such as with the judicial review of administrative decisions. In a civil case a party is required to answer any question put to them, with exception of those which might incriminate a witness. Failure to answer a question may lead to punishment for contempt and knowledge of this rule has undoubtedly kept Centros away from the Courts in the past (for instance over Greenwich with an at the court door settlement). Recently we have also seen the costs bill of Ashursts solicitors (also lawyers for the Johnston Press, owners of the Bury Free Press) slashed from £23 000 to £1500 in an related litigation involving the Centros development in Porstmouth. Furthermore, in another case concerning developments in Portsmouth, a High Court master recently ruled against the Council on a point of evidence (further details to follow).
In addition, the High Court may issue mandatory orders (the former writ of mandamus) which compel a public officer to take steps. So how could a chief executive of a council, giving evidence on a former officer’s conduct, be able to do so when the officer whose conduct is under examination is his wife? Moreover, what employee of the borough of St Edmundsbury is going to give evidence against the wife of his boss?
Now the Knights of St Edmund more than most appreciate medieval culture, however, the imposition of this modern neo-feudal elite in the 21st century on Bury St Edmunds is unacceptable. This neo-feudalism does not have the checks and balances that the original enjoyed. For example, no more can the people of Bury drag robber barons in chains through the streets of the town and decapitate them in the market square. No more can a valiant and true Knight, challenge a member of this elite to mortal combat and take their castles, lands, women-folk and titles as a prize. In short, this neo-feudalism is just old fashion feudalism with all the fun bits removed.
Many rivers to cross: Husband of previous chief executive takes wife’s job
Even the Knights had to pinch themselves at the announcement that St Edmundsbury borough council had appointed Mr Rivers the husband of the previous chief executive Ms Deborah Cadman to her former job. Mr River’s appointment came after a £25 000 recruitment process paid for by the council taxpayers of Bury St Edmunds. It should be noted that in the not-so-distant past the borough and county council would simply return job applications from relatives who wished to fill a local government post previously held by a member of their family. Already the Bury Free Press has tried to spin the appointment with ingenious reporting and editing, for example the remarks attributed to Councillor Nettleton (see BFP 27.6.08).The implications are obvious:
Ms Cadman was one of the three officers who signed the development agreement with Centros and knows what was in the secret clauses that were kept from elected councillors. As seems likely, St Edmundsbury council is going to answer for its relationship with Centros in court at some stage, with St Edmundsbury having been cited as a party to be served in a judicial review commenced in the High Court in London, coincidentally on June 27th 2008. It will be interesting to see if witness summonses are issued in this case (or any ancillary litigation – including a European challenge). Could Mr River be compelled to testify regarding his wife’s time at the helm of St Edmundsbury as a Centros Champion and regarding directions she issued?Under English criminal law a husband, quite correctly, cannot be compelled to give evidence against his wife. However, the rules are different in a civil proceeding such as with the judicial review of administrative decisions. In a civil case a party is required to answer any question put to them, with exception of those which might incriminate a witness. Failure to answer a question may lead to punishment for contempt and knowledge of this rule has undoubtedly kept Centros away from the Courts in the past (for instance over Greenwich with an at the court door settlement). Recently we have also seen the costs bill of Ashursts solicitors (also lawyers for the Johnston Press, owners of the Bury Free Press) slashed from £23 000 to £1500 in an related litigation involving the Centros development in Porstmouth. Furthermore, in another case concerning developments in Portsmouth, a High Court master recently ruled against the Council on a point of evidence (further details to follow).
In addition, the High Court may issue mandatory orders (the former writ of mandamus) which compel a public officer to take steps. So how could a chief executive of a council, giving evidence on a former officer’s conduct, be able to do so when the officer whose conduct is under examination is his wife? Moreover, what employee of the borough of St Edmundsbury is going to give evidence against the wife of his boss?
Keep it in the family: the rise of neo-feudalism
Bury politics is dynastic. The Conservative council is led by John Griffiths (aka Son of the Great Leader or ‘Buba’), the son of the town’s former Conservative MP Sir Eldon Griffiths (aka The Great Leader or ‘Boss Hog’). Now the post of chief executive is apparently become the hereditary fief of the house of Cadman-Rivers.Now the Knights of St Edmund more than most appreciate medieval culture, however, the imposition of this modern neo-feudal elite in the 21st century on Bury St Edmunds is unacceptable. This neo-feudalism does not have the checks and balances that the original enjoyed. For example, no more can the people of Bury drag robber barons in chains through the streets of the town and decapitate them in the market square. No more can a valiant and true Knight, challenge a member of this elite to mortal combat and take their castles, lands, women-folk and titles as a prize. In short, this neo-feudalism is just old fashion feudalism with all the fun bits removed.
You get what you vote for
The only way real change can occur in Bury is at the next council elections in two years time. It is now that people should be considering or approach those who are prepared to stand as independent candidates in each ward of the town at the next election. The only way that things will change is when a group of capable independent councillors are prepared to come forward and challenge the mainstream parties in the borough council and tough enough to face down the officers. This is not a matter of party politics but one where we need candidates that will put loyalty to Bury St Edmund’s before loyalty to party. Local government is not glamorous but until enough candidates of ability and integrity come forward then there will be just more neo-feudalism. 28/06/2008
Despite the council claiming this information is covered by commercial confidentiality, the Knight’s of St Edmund identify these three individual council officers as all those who read this semi-secret agreement and signed the people of Bury St Edmunds up to the cattle-market development, which will blight the town for 150 years. Not a single elected councillor ever read the full agreement that they voted for.
Deborah Cadman has been booted upstairs to the East of England Development Agency, the shadowy quango that played a pivotal role in the decision to sell off the Manor House museum and build 7000 new homes in Bury St Edmunds. Here she can carry on making decisions to bankroll the cattle market scheme and Centros again – a point that no councillor yet seems to have picked up on. Will it take councillors being made individually liable for costs and damages before they pay attention to what is being done?
It was Deborah Cadman who sought to head off local concerns about the heritage aspect of the agreement and ordered her staff to insure there were no heritage issues that would prevent the development.
Jerry Massey has gone to Norwich to hone his talents on yet another medieval city that clearly needs its guts ripped out by developers. It was Mr Massey’s council team that incorrectly calculated the anticipated cost of the public venue, whose cost is now spiralling out of control and is now seriously suggesting the privatisation of all council car-parks in the town to cover the short-fall in his miscalculation.
Furthermore, it was Jerry Massey and his deputy, Mr Fuller, who then sought to deceive the Planning Committee and people of Bury St Edmunds by claiming that Mr Alan Thomas wrote the archaeology report for the cattle-markets development’s Environmental Impact Assessment.
Unfortunately for these borough officers and the unquestioning Planning Committee before making our FOI request the Knights had had the sense to contact the EIA contractors WSP Environmental, who denied employing an archaeologist to write the EIA in the first place, and also directly contacted archaeologist Mr Alan Thomas and established that he did not write it.
In short we know the information given as a reply to an FOI request was deliberately misleading and originated from Cadman’s instruction to her officers to ensure local concerns about heritage issues should not hold up the project. Therefore, complaints were made to borough solicitor Joy Bowes whose ‘investigation’ produced a post-dated letter from the project manager of WSP Environmental who now changed her original story and claimed that Alan Thomas had undertaken the writing of the archaeological section of the EIA. This was news to Mr Thomas.
Moreover, this flatly contradicted WSP Environmental’s earlier statement “that no archaeologist or member of the Institute of Field Archaeologists” had written the archaeological section of the EIA. Mr Thomas is both a qualified archaeologist and an IFA member, yet his name appears no where in the list of authors of the EIA and strangely the archaeology section of the EIA report looks absolutely nothing like the other archaeology reports that he has written for WSP Environmental. For example, it does not have the same lay-out or his name on the front cover as the others archaeological EIA reports he produced for the same company.
This not only is breach of both national and European planning law but goes against the specific advice of English Heritage’s Inspector, which had been made to Mr Massey in writing at the beginning of the development process that heritage issues had to be properly addressed before planning permission was granted.
The Knights of St Edmund therefore have Cadman, Massey and Bowes bang to rights on the grounds of covering up their original failure to either follow planning law or the English Heritage Inspector’s specific written instruction. This was because a cabal of unelected officers were following a secret agenda, which was even kept from (most of the) elected councillors, in order to push through the cattle-market development irrespective of the law of the land or the will of the people of Bury.
Concerns over these issues were then taken to the Secretary of State in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Successive Ministers were informed that these were not chance events or a local problem, but were typical of the deliberate corner cutting which arises whenever Centros targets a local authority. The Minister has repeatedly avoided addressing these issues and concerns and a result she now finds her self being taken to court over irregularities with the sister scheme to the cattle-market in Portsmouth.
Don’t worry, the Knights of Saint Edmund nor the people of Bury St Edmunds are not going to forget Ms Cadman or Mr Massey in a hurry, but as Christians we believe it is our duty to seek to save unrepentant sinners for the redemption of the souls. As far as the Knights are concerned this is democracy we are fighting for and there is little point in sending young men and women to die in Basra or Helmand for democracy, when those of us left behind are not prepared to fight for democracy in our own town.
Deus Lo Volt!
You can run but you cannot hide
The departure of the borough’s chief executive Deborah Cadman and former chief planning officer Jerry Massey leaves only a single council officer, the borough solicitor Joy Bowes, fully informed of the content of the partly-secret agreement between Centros and St Edmundsbury Borough Council.Despite the council claiming this information is covered by commercial confidentiality, the Knight’s of St Edmund identify these three individual council officers as all those who read this semi-secret agreement and signed the people of Bury St Edmunds up to the cattle-market development, which will blight the town for 150 years. Not a single elected councillor ever read the full agreement that they voted for.
Deborah Cadman has been booted upstairs to the East of England Development Agency, the shadowy quango that played a pivotal role in the decision to sell off the Manor House museum and build 7000 new homes in Bury St Edmunds. Here she can carry on making decisions to bankroll the cattle market scheme and Centros again – a point that no councillor yet seems to have picked up on. Will it take councillors being made individually liable for costs and damages before they pay attention to what is being done?
It was Deborah Cadman who sought to head off local concerns about the heritage aspect of the agreement and ordered her staff to insure there were no heritage issues that would prevent the development.
Jerry Massey has gone to Norwich to hone his talents on yet another medieval city that clearly needs its guts ripped out by developers. It was Mr Massey’s council team that incorrectly calculated the anticipated cost of the public venue, whose cost is now spiralling out of control and is now seriously suggesting the privatisation of all council car-parks in the town to cover the short-fall in his miscalculation.
Furthermore, it was Jerry Massey and his deputy, Mr Fuller, who then sought to deceive the Planning Committee and people of Bury St Edmunds by claiming that Mr Alan Thomas wrote the archaeology report for the cattle-markets development’s Environmental Impact Assessment.
Unfortunately for these borough officers and the unquestioning Planning Committee before making our FOI request the Knights had had the sense to contact the EIA contractors WSP Environmental, who denied employing an archaeologist to write the EIA in the first place, and also directly contacted archaeologist Mr Alan Thomas and established that he did not write it.
In short we know the information given as a reply to an FOI request was deliberately misleading and originated from Cadman’s instruction to her officers to ensure local concerns about heritage issues should not hold up the project. Therefore, complaints were made to borough solicitor Joy Bowes whose ‘investigation’ produced a post-dated letter from the project manager of WSP Environmental who now changed her original story and claimed that Alan Thomas had undertaken the writing of the archaeological section of the EIA. This was news to Mr Thomas.
Moreover, this flatly contradicted WSP Environmental’s earlier statement “that no archaeologist or member of the Institute of Field Archaeologists” had written the archaeological section of the EIA. Mr Thomas is both a qualified archaeologist and an IFA member, yet his name appears no where in the list of authors of the EIA and strangely the archaeology section of the EIA report looks absolutely nothing like the other archaeology reports that he has written for WSP Environmental. For example, it does not have the same lay-out or his name on the front cover as the others archaeological EIA reports he produced for the same company.
This not only is breach of both national and European planning law but goes against the specific advice of English Heritage’s Inspector, which had been made to Mr Massey in writing at the beginning of the development process that heritage issues had to be properly addressed before planning permission was granted.
The Knights of St Edmund therefore have Cadman, Massey and Bowes bang to rights on the grounds of covering up their original failure to either follow planning law or the English Heritage Inspector’s specific written instruction. This was because a cabal of unelected officers were following a secret agenda, which was even kept from (most of the) elected councillors, in order to push through the cattle-market development irrespective of the law of the land or the will of the people of Bury.
Concerns over these issues were then taken to the Secretary of State in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Successive Ministers were informed that these were not chance events or a local problem, but were typical of the deliberate corner cutting which arises whenever Centros targets a local authority. The Minister has repeatedly avoided addressing these issues and concerns and a result she now finds her self being taken to court over irregularities with the sister scheme to the cattle-market in Portsmouth.
Don’t worry, the Knights of Saint Edmund nor the people of Bury St Edmunds are not going to forget Ms Cadman or Mr Massey in a hurry, but as Christians we believe it is our duty to seek to save unrepentant sinners for the redemption of the souls. As far as the Knights are concerned this is democracy we are fighting for and there is little point in sending young men and women to die in Basra or Helmand for democracy, when those of us left behind are not prepared to fight for democracy in our own town.
Deus Lo Volt!
27/06/2008
The curse in action: the blessed martyr’s been busy!
Cattle-market is at least 34 weeks behind schedule
The on-going contractual dispute between Centros and builders Taylor Woodrow has seen the opening date of the cattle-market development put back by some 34 weeks. Agents have informed the Knights that there is often virtually no-one on site and that if Taylor Woodrow were really going all out to finish the development then more workers could be brought in to finish the project. The dispute and delays are only adding to the spiraling costs of the development which the Council Tax payers may well be picking up.ASDA threatens cattle-market’s profitability
The new ASDA planned for Bury is a serious threat to the profitability of the whole cattle-market development. The loss of trade to a store that prides itself on good value will directly impact on the rents that the cattle-market can expect to command and undermine the whole economics of the cattle-market development. The deliberate feet dragging over ASDA’s and other retail planning applications in the town it is the public have gained the impression that an allegedly free-market Conservative council is trying to protect the cattle-market development’s rental income from potential rivals by means of the planning process.East Anglian Daily Times leaks Public Venue’s financial crisis
A secret internal council memo was leaked to the EADT. This reveals that Jerry Massey has suggested to councilors that the privatisation of Bury’s council car-parks is one of four options being considered to plug the short fall for the cattle-markets ‘public venue’ (sic). The outfitting costs for the venue are estimated by Massey at £8 million but given the increase cost of the original build this estimate is treated with considerable skepticism by many, who anticipate the same trajectory of spiraling costs will over take this budget as it did the cost for the original building and thereby increase the shortfall.Former-Councilor Ames bang on target
The much respected local former councilor and local School teacher Mr Ames was bang on target when he recently condemned the cattle-market development. Mr Ames was never a keen supporter of the development and became disillusion in being turned in to a rubber stamp for officer’s decisions, which he could not in conscience support. The Knights welcome his more combative attitude.Secretary of State in High Court over Centros Scheme
The cattle-market’s twin of evil in Portsmouth has landed Hazel Blears up before a High Court judge. The confirmation by her of a compulsory purchase order by Portsmouth City Council is being challenged by a statutory appeal. In a bizarre twist to this story, Portsmouth City Council insisted that they also share the dock with the motor-cycling minister. Portsmouth City Council Tax payer’s money is being squandered because some Council Officers wish the Portsmouth Council to become defendants in High Court proceedings against the minister.Judge slashes Portsmouth's City Council/Centros/Johnston Press lawyer’s bill
The revelation that Portsmouth City Council, Centros and Johnston Press all share the same lawyers, Ashursts, was pretty shocking. However, the £23 000 expenses demanded by Ashursts from Mr Mark Austin, for daring to bring this statutory appeal, were described in court as ‘extraordinary’ by the High Court judge, who ordered Mr Austin’s liability be limited to £1500. The Solicitors Journal is currently investigating this extraordinary use of defence expense claims to apparently intimidate a litigant the day before he was due to face them across a court room.Centros knocked back in Dumfries
Centros have seen their plans in Dumfries in Scotland fail following Miller Group pulling out of the unprofitable retail development sector and selling their share in Centros-Miller. The Scottish connection is now severed.Local campaigns in Wells and York start up against Centros developments
Proposed new Centros developments in York and Wells have sparked new campaign groups by the outraged citizens of these ancient cities. This means that there are currently local community-based campaigns against Centros developments in Bury St Edmunds, Lancaster, Portsmouth, Wells and York.Credit crunch hits Portsmouth development
Portsmouth newspaper the News on the 29th March 2008 ran a major feature highlighting major problems with Centros’ development in Portsmouth that call in question the future of the entire scheme. These include problems arising from the credit crunch which even Steve Bryson had admitted were a problem affecting Centros in statements released on the 17th March 2008. However, the Bury Free Press has chosen to shut its eyes and run puff-pieces implying that no such problems exist with the cattle-market.Collateral damage: Johnson Press
Johnson Press has suffered from the fall-out from the curse of St Edmund. They are in deep trouble with their flag-ship title the Scotsman. Furthermore, it is noticeable that in Bury St Edmunds the Johnson owned Bury Free Press, which sold land to Centros for their development and therefore has a clear financial interest in the success of the development, has been its most vocal supporter. By contrast the Johnson owned The News in Portsmouth has backed away rapidly from its previous support and its policy of refusing to print articles critical of Centros and Portsmouth City Council. The first newspaper to break the news of the Curse of St Edmund was the Edinburgh Evening News north of the border and six weeks later Johnson Press bought out the Edinburgh Evening News to effectively silence damaging criticism of both Centros and the Miller Group.Collateral damage: John Lewis
John Lewis group’s flag-ship store at Centros’ development in Portsmouth is rumoured to be in doubt as a result of the retail recession massively cutting the group’s business.Debenhams shares remained cursed
Since it became Debenhams PLC with an issue price of £2.50 to £1.95 the cattle-market developments principal unrepentant sinner has seen its share price slashed to 45p. An enormous loss compared with the original share issue value. The retail recession offers little comfort for Debenhams PLC but the Knights prefer to see the hand of the Saint at work against those who wish to impose the cattle-market on his town and people. 14/02/2008 - Valentine's Day
THE CURSE OF ST EDMUND AND DEBENHAMS’ WEDDING DRESSESMODERN FOLK TRADITION IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND CLAIMS:
One of the most remarkable signs of on-going Curse of St Edmund and its effects upon Debenhams is the growing belief in the north of England that “it is bad luck for a bride to buy her wedding clothes from Debenhams”.
This belief was first recorded in York at the end of September 2007. The informant was a young lady in her 20’s who comes from Leeds who is planning to get married in 2008. Her view reflects a growing view in the north of England that it is unlucky for a bride- to-be to shop for a Wedding Dress at Debenhams.
"BONFIRE GUY FAWKES are usually dressed in old rags, a pair of shoes with holes in them and dirty trousers that no-one wants anymore. But on Coronation Street, the bonfire Guy was dressed up in style. In a haunting replay of Richard Hillman driving the Platt clan into the canal back in 2003, David Platt sabotaged his sister’s wedding by driving his car into the canal as Sarah and Jason were exchanging “I do’s” at the altar. His evil plot to ruin his sister’s life then took a step up when he dressed the Guy Fawkes in Sarah’s wedding dress. ... Oh, he’s evil that David, but such good fun to watch. The newlywed Mr and Mrs Grimshaw went on their honeymoon to the Lake District to get away from deranged David but were soon back on the cobbles when the heat from their marital passion failed to warm them both up."
(From “Coronation Street Monthly Update” Dec 2007: http://www.ujnews.com/html/StreetDec07.shtml
Another ‘Corrie’ website reveled in how:
"Sarah (Tina O’Brien) has arranged to have some wedding pictures taken outside the church as they missed out on the actual day, and gives Jason (Ryan Thomas) her wedding dress to take to the dry cleaners. Much to David’s (Jack P Shepherd) delight, Jason accidentally leaves it in the cafe. David wastes no time nabbing the dress dragging it through muddy puddles and throwing it over the Morton’s bag of cast offs for their Guy Fawkes"
Ultimately, the Debenhams dress was placed on a particularly satanic looking Guy Fawkes effigy and burned before the “whole Street” and millions of viewers for November 5th.
The fact that the Coronation Street script writers chose to incorporate a Debenhams wedding dress into the storyline shows how far the belief that Debenhams clothing is some way cursed or supernaturally blighted has grown. More seriously, those who put their trust in the Divine and the powers of the Saints will see the workings of Providence. Either consciously or unconsciously, the script writers may be seen as allies and servants of the Blessed Saint.
This striking story line and the associated belief were discussed by people present at a lecture given by the Folklore Society in November 2007 and the matter is being reported to editor of Folklore. Nor are complaints over Debenhams clothing confined to soap operas or academic discussion. A growing number of dissatisfied customers are making public their complaints about Debenhams and its service on the internet, quite apart from the complaints circulating in the north of the country and the former Viking lands.
The story holds that when in 869 St Edmund sheltered beneath Hoxne Bridge he was betrayed by a passing bridal party who saw the glint of his spurs reflected in the water. The treacherous bridal party informed the Danes who discovered the Saint and martyred him in the village. As he was taken away St Edmund cursed the bridal party and the bridge over which they crossed. To this day on their wedding days all bridal parties avoid the Goldbrook Bridge as a route to the church, no matter how a long a detour is necessary. Obviously, the bride in the Dark Ages would not have been wearing a Debenhams wedding dress but the resonance of the power of the Saint spreads across the ages.
Image from : http://www.suffolkcam.co.uk/hoxne25052002.htm
Deus lo Volt!
THE CURSE OF ST EDMUND AND DEBENHAMS’ WEDDING DRESSES
MODERN FOLK TRADITION IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND CLAIMS:
“IT’S CONSIDERED BAD LUCK FOR A BRIDE TO BUY HER WEDDING DRESS FROM DEBENHAMS”
One of the most remarkable signs of on-going Curse of St Edmund and its effects upon Debenhams is the growing belief in the north of England that “it is bad luck for a bride to buy her wedding clothes from Debenhams”.This belief was first recorded in York at the end of September 2007. The informant was a young lady in her 20’s who comes from Leeds who is planning to get married in 2008. Her view reflects a growing view in the north of England that it is unlucky for a bride- to-be to shop for a Wedding Dress at Debenhams.
CORONATION STREET’ FEATURES A CURSED WEDDING DRESS FROM DEBENHAMS
Such is the strength of the belief – or as we would prefer to see it an example of Saint’s power or Providence – that the motif of a cursed Debenhams wedding dress featured in a sub-plot of veteran TV soap “Coronation Street” in the autumn of 2007. Normally, Coronation Street scrupulously avoids ‘product placement’ but the case of the blighted wedding dress purchased from Debenhams by one of the characters became a saga in itself. In the story, the Debenhams dress became embroiled in various evil actions and disasters for the characters. Coronation Street websites carried excited summaries of the events such as:"BONFIRE GUY FAWKES are usually dressed in old rags, a pair of shoes with holes in them and dirty trousers that no-one wants anymore. But on Coronation Street, the bonfire Guy was dressed up in style. In a haunting replay of Richard Hillman driving the Platt clan into the canal back in 2003, David Platt sabotaged his sister’s wedding by driving his car into the canal as Sarah and Jason were exchanging “I do’s” at the altar. His evil plot to ruin his sister’s life then took a step up when he dressed the Guy Fawkes in Sarah’s wedding dress. ... Oh, he’s evil that David, but such good fun to watch. The newlywed Mr and Mrs Grimshaw went on their honeymoon to the Lake District to get away from deranged David but were soon back on the cobbles when the heat from their marital passion failed to warm them both up."
(From “Coronation Street Monthly Update” Dec 2007: http://www.ujnews.com/html/StreetDec07.shtml
Another ‘Corrie’ website reveled in how:
"Sarah (Tina O’Brien) has arranged to have some wedding pictures taken outside the church as they missed out on the actual day, and gives Jason (Ryan Thomas) her wedding dress to take to the dry cleaners. Much to David’s (Jack P Shepherd) delight, Jason accidentally leaves it in the cafe. David wastes no time nabbing the dress dragging it through muddy puddles and throwing it over the Morton’s bag of cast offs for their Guy Fawkes"
Ultimately, the Debenhams dress was placed on a particularly satanic looking Guy Fawkes effigy and burned before the “whole Street” and millions of viewers for November 5th.
The fact that the Coronation Street script writers chose to incorporate a Debenhams wedding dress into the storyline shows how far the belief that Debenhams clothing is some way cursed or supernaturally blighted has grown. More seriously, those who put their trust in the Divine and the powers of the Saints will see the workings of Providence. Either consciously or unconsciously, the script writers may be seen as allies and servants of the Blessed Saint.
This striking story line and the associated belief were discussed by people present at a lecture given by the Folklore Society in November 2007 and the matter is being reported to editor of Folklore. Nor are complaints over Debenhams clothing confined to soap operas or academic discussion. A growing number of dissatisfied customers are making public their complaints about Debenhams and its service on the internet, quite apart from the complaints circulating in the north of the country and the former Viking lands.
ST EDMUND’S CURSE ON THE BRIDAL PARTIES AT HOXNE BRIDGE
For the Knights of St Edmund these are not mere random events or accidents but represent the working of the power of St Edmund against those who would despoil his town. For those who have eyes to see, we point to the long established tradition of St Edmund’s curse upon bridal parties at Hoxne in Suffolk.The story holds that when in 869 St Edmund sheltered beneath Hoxne Bridge he was betrayed by a passing bridal party who saw the glint of his spurs reflected in the water. The treacherous bridal party informed the Danes who discovered the Saint and martyred him in the village. As he was taken away St Edmund cursed the bridal party and the bridge over which they crossed. To this day on their wedding days all bridal parties avoid the Goldbrook Bridge as a route to the church, no matter how a long a detour is necessary. Obviously, the bride in the Dark Ages would not have been wearing a Debenhams wedding dress but the resonance of the power of the Saint spreads across the ages.
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| Hoxne plaque showing St Edmund hiding under Goldbrook bridge being betrayed by the Bride and wedding party. |
Image from : http://www.suffolkcam.co.uk/hoxne25052002.htm
Deus lo Volt!
21/01/2008
Deus lo Volt!
CURSE OF ST EDMUND DRIVES MILLER GROUP FROM TOWN
HAIL THE VICTORIOUS KING!
A third of the forces of darkness have been smashed by our King and most beloved holy martyr, St Edmund of East Anglia! The Scottish builders, Miller Group, one of the three companies cursed by the Knights of St Edmund at his feast day on the 21st November 2005, have thrown in the towel and sold up their half of Centros Miller to their partners Delancey Estates Ltd.KNIGHTS CELEBRATE A FAMOUS VICTORY
Not since the battle of Fornham on the 17th October 1173 has St Edmund so spectacularly routed foreign invaders from the field of battle. The Knights, as mere instruments of St Edmund’s holy justice, fell upon their knees to give thanks to the Lord God and St Edmund for this crushing victory and celebrated that a sinner had repented. There is no question that Miller Group’s have sought salvation and turned from wickedness as a direct result of the curse laid upon them. It also means that the link between the Bury Free Press, Johnston Press and the cattle-market development has now been irrevocably broken.GOD LOVES A SINNER WHO REPENTS
The Miller Group’s withdrawal from the blasphemous cattle-market development is just the start, with Christian charity we wish the Miller family well and will be writing to inform them that the anathema laid upon them will now be lifted, as we have promised. We hope that their repentance is truly sincere and that they are perhaps wiser as a result of the Saint’s punishment, evidenced by the family’s recent internal discord and divisions.A BATTLE IS WON BUT THE WAR CONTINUES
With a third of the enemy now quit the field of battle, only two recaltant companies remain, Debenhams PLC and Centros Miller-Delancey Estates Ltd., who sadly continue to wallow in their sinful disdain for the Saint and their anti-democratic conspiracy against the people of his town. This allows the Knights to redouble our efforts on the two remaining despoilers of the Saint’s town, which greatly assists us in our struggle on behalf of the holy martyr and the townsfolk of Bury St Edmunds.REJOICE!
This is a great victory. It is right and proper to celebrate with much Wassailing and the beating of swords on shields. This is a vindication the Lord God, the blessed martyr St Edmund, his Knights and the good folk of Bury St Edmunds. It will go down in our town’s long history as the beginning of the end of the cattle-market development.Deus lo Volt!
14/12/2007
The price of Debenhams shares have plunged yet further in value in the run-up to Christmas, reaching a low of 80p as of Tuesday December 11th 2007, as a result of the Curse of St Edmund.
As a consequence of this Providential intervention, the Knights of St Edmund will be launching “Operation Jacob Marley” to call Debenhams to repentance at selected branches of Debenhams around the UK. It will be reminder of their past actions, a reminder of the curse and its effects at the present time and a warning of the even more serious consequences to come. As the Knights warned in November 2005, nothing built upon the cursed Cattle Market development will ever prosper.
Operation Jacob Marley will include the following:
Only if Debenhams repents of its sacrilege in joining the cursed Cattle Market scheme, renounces its sin and acts to respects the wishes of the people of Bury St Edmunds will the effects of the Curse be relieved.
REPENT DEBENHAMS FOR THE CURSE OF ST EDMUND IS UPON YOU THIS CHRISTMAS
KNIGHTS OF ST EDMUND LAUNCH “OPERATION JACOB MARLEY” TO INFORM SHOPPERS OF THE CURSE AND DEBENHAMS EMPLOYEES OF THE CURSE AS DEBENHAM SHARES PLUNGE
As the Knights of St Edmund warned, the wrath of God and the Curse of St Edmund has descended upon Debenhams this Christmas time 2007-2008.The price of Debenhams shares have plunged yet further in value in the run-up to Christmas, reaching a low of 80p as of Tuesday December 11th 2007, as a result of the Curse of St Edmund.
As a consequence of this Providential intervention, the Knights of St Edmund will be launching “Operation Jacob Marley” to call Debenhams to repentance at selected branches of Debenhams around the UK. It will be reminder of their past actions, a reminder of the curse and its effects at the present time and a warning of the even more serious consequences to come. As the Knights warned in November 2005, nothing built upon the cursed Cattle Market development will ever prosper.
Operation Jacob Marley will include the following:
- The Knights of St Edmund will conduct Christian prayers to call Debenhams to repentance and renounce their plans to desecrate the sacred town of Bury St Edmunds
- The Knights of St Edmund will hold prayer meetings outside selected Debenhams stores urging the company to repent
- Leaflets will be given to shoppers urging them to join in prayer and informing them of the operation of the Curse of St Edmund
- Debenhams employees will also be sent the same message in the hope that wiser counsel will prevail within the company before it is too late.
Only if Debenhams repents of its sacrilege in joining the cursed Cattle Market scheme, renounces its sin and acts to respects the wishes of the people of Bury St Edmunds will the effects of the Curse be relieved.
14/12/2007
Reports of a serious split within the Miller Group about the future of the company have received extensive coverage.
See for instance:
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/business.cfm
http://business.scotsman.com/economy.cfm
http://business.scotsman.com/management.cfm
http://ukpress.google.com/article/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/11/20/cnmiller120.xml
http://business.scotsman.com/management.cfm?id=1829422007
http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2007/11/19/56843/
http://www.business-sale.com/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/
http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284
http://www.theherald.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1844613.mostviewed.familyfirm_feud
Keith Miller was quoted “We’re hugely disappointed that this has been taken into the public arena. It has damaged our family reputation. It is damaging to our business.”
As the Knights of St Edmund warned at the time and since, destruction of property is among the effects of the curse of St Edmund upon those who desecrate the liberty of St Edmund. As the Knights warned, the real question is not whether the Curse works, it is on how many generations will it fall?
The fact this dispute has broken out suggests that at least some of the Miller family may be aware of the seriousness of their situation and that the effects of the Curse of St Edmund cannot be escaped. Doubtless the collapse of in the value Debenhams shares has had an influence. Similarly, one cannot escape the suspicion that the growing exposures of the behaviour of Centros Miller in Portsmouth, Bury St Edmunds and elsewhere has shaken confidence to breaking point.
Even the Bury Free Press (part of the Johnston Press) was forced to comment on the row within the Miller Group family, and even a spokesperson from St Edmundsbury Borough Council was claiming the row wouldn’t affect the Cattle Market “in anyway whatsoever” (not that they would be allowed to say anything else).
But these events – together with the collapse of Debenhams shares - are further evidence of why the only hope for the Miller Group is to abandon the Cattle Market development, pack up and go back to o Scotland.
CURSE HITS MILLER GROUP FAMILY
MILLER GROUP FAMILY MEMBERS BECOME AWARE OF THE CURSE IN THEIR MIDST
Once more the impact of the Curse of St Edmund can be seen at work on those named in the Ritual of Commination celebrated on St Edmund’s Day 2005.Reports of a serious split within the Miller Group about the future of the company have received extensive coverage.
See for instance:
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/business.cfm
http://business.scotsman.com/economy.cfm
http://business.scotsman.com/management.cfm
http://ukpress.google.com/article/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/11/20/cnmiller120.xml
http://business.scotsman.com/management.cfm?id=1829422007
http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2007/11/19/56843/
http://www.business-sale.com/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/
http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284
http://www.theherald.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1844613.mostviewed.familyfirm_feud
Keith Miller was quoted “We’re hugely disappointed that this has been taken into the public arena. It has damaged our family reputation. It is damaging to our business.”
As the Knights of St Edmund warned at the time and since, destruction of property is among the effects of the curse of St Edmund upon those who desecrate the liberty of St Edmund. As the Knights warned, the real question is not whether the Curse works, it is on how many generations will it fall?
The fact this dispute has broken out suggests that at least some of the Miller family may be aware of the seriousness of their situation and that the effects of the Curse of St Edmund cannot be escaped. Doubtless the collapse of in the value Debenhams shares has had an influence. Similarly, one cannot escape the suspicion that the growing exposures of the behaviour of Centros Miller in Portsmouth, Bury St Edmunds and elsewhere has shaken confidence to breaking point.
Even the Bury Free Press (part of the Johnston Press) was forced to comment on the row within the Miller Group family, and even a spokesperson from St Edmundsbury Borough Council was claiming the row wouldn’t affect the Cattle Market “in anyway whatsoever” (not that they would be allowed to say anything else).
But these events – together with the collapse of Debenhams shares - are further evidence of why the only hope for the Miller Group is to abandon the Cattle Market development, pack up and go back to o Scotland.
06/12/2007
Before the demise of the cattle-market, Wednesday would see the bar of this Greene King pub packed with farmers, stockmen and market visitors. The closure of the cattle-market killed off this mid-week trade and forced the licensee to change the business in order for the pub to remain a viable. The publican, Mr Bob Hitching, successfully developed live music evenings on Friday and Saturday nights aimed at an older clientele. These have proved remarkably successful and many weekends saw the pub packed with people young and old enjoying a wide range of live music.
As a result, Mr Hitching has had to give up the tenancy of this successful pub after more than a hundred and fifty years of it being held by his family. This is a major and very sad blow for the viability of the pub as a business. Curiously Greene King has actively encouraged Mr Hitching to quit rather than the brewery using their considerable local clout to challenge the removal of the music license.
The ideal property to provide the link between the car parking and the new cattle-market shopping development just happens to be the Rising Sun public house, which due to the single complaint and collusion of Greene King has now become unviable as a public house and shortly to become vacant.
The future options for this land-mark building is either a gastro-pub, if it remains in Greene King’s hands, or redevelopment ‘for mixed office, retail and residential use’, if acquired by Centros Miller, or one of its agents. However, the location makes it one of the most sought after pieces of real estate in the county and essential to Centros Miller’s planned development, because without adequate car-parking people will not shop at the new cattle-market development. Given the complete failure of Borough officers and councilors to anticipate and mitigate the impact on the town’s cultural assets and historic buildings of the cattle-market development, we may yet see the Borough Council giving permission for demolition of the Rising Sun to assist their contractual partners with their fly-by-wire development.
‘First they came for the £200, and I did not speak-up, because I thought it was better to pay up rather than argue when they knocked down great grandmother’s headstone with a JCB.
Then they came for the Moyses Hall, and I did not speak-up, because I am not going to West Stow to pay to see what I use to be able to see for free.
Then they came for the Manor House museum, and I did not speak-up, because I am not that keen on clocks, paintings and old dresses.
Then they came for the Rising Sun, and I did not speak-up, because I am not a fan of Country and Western or Rock and Roll.
Then they hiked my rent/ removed my license/ called in my loan/ made me redundant/ had my home or business subject to a compulsory purchase order/ treated me like a person from Portsmouth, and I wanted to speak-up, there was nothing and no-one left to speak for me’.
(With apologies to Pastor Martin Niemöller, a victim of the Nazis).
There is a house in Bury St Edmunds they call the Rising Sun….…..mothers tell your children not to do what I just done.
|
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| 16th century Rising Sun Public House |
An important public cultural asset
The family-run Rising Sun public house is a listed building within the town’s conservation area and one of the architectural jewels of Bury St Edmunds. It is a 16th century timber framed Inn with original mullion window frames, a high-arched coach entrance accessing a court-yard and wonderfully carved original Tudor doorhead and jams. For the price of a pint of IPA a happy half an hour can be passed exploring the internal framing and room layout evidenced in the pub’s two bar-rooms.Before the demise of the cattle-market, Wednesday would see the bar of this Greene King pub packed with farmers, stockmen and market visitors. The closure of the cattle-market killed off this mid-week trade and forced the licensee to change the business in order for the pub to remain a viable. The publican, Mr Bob Hitching, successfully developed live music evenings on Friday and Saturday nights aimed at an older clientele. These have proved remarkably successful and many weekends saw the pub packed with people young and old enjoying a wide range of live music.
Council’s sudden removal of music license
It was therefore an enormous surprise to every one when the Council suddenly removed the pub’s music license following a single complaint, especially given the length of time that the pub has had live music on Friday and Saturday evenings without complaint or trouble. Furthermore, an 800 signature petition protesting against the loss of the music license was simply ignored by the Borough Council.As a result, Mr Hitching has had to give up the tenancy of this successful pub after more than a hundred and fifty years of it being held by his family. This is a major and very sad blow for the viability of the pub as a business. Curiously Greene King has actively encouraged Mr Hitching to quit rather than the brewery using their considerable local clout to challenge the removal of the music license.
The effects of the cattle-market development
The timing of all this is very curious when seen in light of the cattle-market redevelopment by Centros Miller. The news from the site is that the major structural problem encountered by the builders is due to much of the land being made-up ground of backfilled chalk workings rather than solid chalk. This has prevented the construction of the planned underground car park at the Centros Miller development. As a result the cattle-market development is to be now served by a new multi-storey car park at the rear of the former Roys supermarket. The problem is access between this new multi-storey car park and the new shopping development planned by Centros Miller.The ideal property to provide the link between the car parking and the new cattle-market shopping development just happens to be the Rising Sun public house, which due to the single complaint and collusion of Greene King has now become unviable as a public house and shortly to become vacant.
|
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| Google map showing the location of the Rising Sun |
- This proposal was not part of the original planning application submitted by Centros Miller and the people of Bury St Edmunds were not informed about loss or the change of use of this major town landmark when Halogen undertook their much vaunted but completely unrepresentative consultation exercise.
- No Borough councilor from the wards blighted by these inappropriate developments sits upon the Borough planning committee and therefore cannot directly represent the interests of the hundreds of Bury residents affected by the proposed development of the multi-storey car park.
- Greene King likes to play up the company’s historic connections with the town when they are making money from it but, as their vandalism of the interior of the Dog and Partridge and now their abandonment of Mr Hitching and the Rising Sun demonstrates, they are less willing to face their own responsibility in preserving loyal tenants, their own historic public houses and the town’s historic land marks even within the town’s conservation area.
- The failure by the officers and planning committee to insist on an archaeological and historical building survey by Centros Miller before granting the original planning permission means that the Borough’s tax payers may find themselves once again picking up the bill for the preservation of the Rising Sun as they have for the Roundhouse on the cattle-market.
- The multi-storey car-park was pushed through the Borough planning committee in September 2005, irrespective of the sixty-eight objections that have been lodged by the people living around it. This is because Borough officers told the elected members who objected that they could not vote, whilst the rest were brow beaten into accepting the argument that they have no choice but to grant planning permission or the development will fail and they will be sued. It remains a great pity that not a single councilor actually bothered to read the contract between the Borough and Centros-Miller before signing it.
- The use of its licensing powers to further the cattle-market development however, sees the Borough reach an all time low, but given the single representation in favour of the multi-storey car-park to the Borough planning committee came from Centros Miller a pattern appears to be developing. As to the single complaint leading to the loss of the Rising Sun’s live music license, many wonder if the night security guard at the cattle-market development site could really hate adult orientated rock; that much?
- These events leave many residents and family-run businesses in the town fearful and wondering who next will be sacrificed by the Borough Council to satisfy the insatiable demands of Centos Miller’s cattle-market development. It should be noted that this is not the first hundred and fifty year-old family-run business that Centros Miller snuffed out, remember Goddard’s pie-shop in Greenwich? The increased rents demanded by Centros Miller sadly drove it out of business at the earlier this year.
‘First they came for the £200, and I did not speak-up, because I thought it was better to pay up rather than argue when they knocked down great grandmother’s headstone with a JCB.
Then they came for the Moyses Hall, and I did not speak-up, because I am not going to West Stow to pay to see what I use to be able to see for free.
Then they came for the Manor House museum, and I did not speak-up, because I am not that keen on clocks, paintings and old dresses.
Then they came for the Rising Sun, and I did not speak-up, because I am not a fan of Country and Western or Rock and Roll.
Then they hiked my rent/ removed my license/ called in my loan/ made me redundant/ had my home or business subject to a compulsory purchase order/ treated me like a person from Portsmouth, and I wanted to speak-up, there was nothing and no-one left to speak for me’.
(With apologies to Pastor Martin Niemöller, a victim of the Nazis).
01/10/2007
At the time Debenhams was a privately owned company, but in May 2006 Debenhams PLC was floated upon the London Stock Exchange at a price of £2.50 to £1.95 per share. On 25th September 2007 those same shares are now trading at £0.90, a loss of £1.60 to £1.05 (or 64% of value) on every share purchased.
In the face of this financial disaster shouldn’t Debenhams share-holders be insisting that the directors lift the Saint’s curse by abandoning their role as the lead store in the cattle-market development in Bury St Edmund? We can assure Debenhams that should they walk away from the Centros Miller’s undemocratic desecration of St Edmund’s town then their worries will be at an end and they will be freed from the Saint’s curse and his righteous anger.
However, if Debenhams PLC wishes to carry on their blasphemous behaviour, then the downward spiral to final ruination at the hand of St Edmund’s righteous anger will continue. For Debenhams PLC the choice is stark, either repent and prosper, or remain cursed and face ruin.
Curse in action: Debenhams shares collapse under St Edmund’s curse
On the 21st November 2005 the Knights of St Edmund, their supporters and fellow citizens laid the curse of St Edmund upon three organisations – the Miller Group, Centros Miller and Debenhams, the lead store in the much hated cattle-market redevelopment. |
 |
| (Source: BBC Debenhams share prices for the twelve months ending 25/09/07) |
At the time Debenhams was a privately owned company, but in May 2006 Debenhams PLC was floated upon the London Stock Exchange at a price of £2.50 to £1.95 per share. On 25th September 2007 those same shares are now trading at £0.90, a loss of £1.60 to £1.05 (or 64% of value) on every share purchased.
In the face of this financial disaster shouldn’t Debenhams share-holders be insisting that the directors lift the Saint’s curse by abandoning their role as the lead store in the cattle-market development in Bury St Edmund? We can assure Debenhams that should they walk away from the Centros Miller’s undemocratic desecration of St Edmund’s town then their worries will be at an end and they will be freed from the Saint’s curse and his righteous anger.
However, if Debenhams PLC wishes to carry on their blasphemous behaviour, then the downward spiral to final ruination at the hand of St Edmund’s righteous anger will continue. For Debenhams PLC the choice is stark, either repent and prosper, or remain cursed and face ruin.
01/08/2007
'If a scheme is going to happen then you need a champion in the council - and that can be either a councilor or an officer'.
So concerned were the Knights of St Edmund by the implication of what Mr Laker had claimed representatives from the knights contacted the then relevant minister, Ms. Ruth Kelly MP, and asked her where in UK planning law the words "champion" actually occurs (everyone else has to queue up for planning permission). Ms Kelly in a deft move washed her hands of our letter by passing it down to her regional office in true Pontius Pilate style and we received a letter in civil-service speak noting our concerns from Cambridge but not answering any of the key questions raised.
Weaker souls may have balked at this apparent bureaucratic en passé, but the Knights of Saint Edmund, fearing in the Lord and trusting in the just cause of our blessed saint and martyr, responded by launching Operation Heretic.
The objectives of part one of Operation Heretic were three fold:
http://archive.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk/2002/7/18/260365.html
http://archive.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk/2002/7/18/260402.html
http://worcestershire.whub.org.uk/home/standard-news-comms.htm?id=106094&WT.svl=106094
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/6121188.stm
Mr Green was subsequently found not guilty claiming 'naivety' and it was in fact a gift "for charity".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/6135904.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/6126234.stm
Mr Mark James has also been recently been accused of misrepresenting opinion in the town about the Carmarthen cattle-market development, in a letter to Charles the Prince of Wales. The good folk of Carmarthen are also battling an unwanted development of a Debenham superstore in the heart of their historic town had lobbied the Prince as his subjects. Being a good sort HRH wrote raising the issue with CEO only to be told everyone in Carmarthen was committed to the project. Uproar duly broke out with angry Welsh and English inhabitants equally outraged at the misrepresentation of the towns view by Mr Mark James. This did not stop him being pronounced the top chief executive of all Welsh councils. Curiously every single council officer involved in Centros Miller Boston development has now left Boston council.
http://www.lancastergreenparty.org.uk/2007/05/03/keep-lancaster-special/
The Greens had campaigned against the Centros Miller development in the town and now with twelve councillors hold the balance of power on the hung council. The knights offer praise to the Lord and the blessed Edmund for this great victory. The knights offer their heartiest congratulations to the good folk of the noble city of Lancaster and all those who battle the forces of darkness within the Duchy.
According to a report received from the knight's sources in the fair city, the day after his defeat, ex-Cllr. Ian Barker was seen down on his allotment burning documents - got to stay carbon neutral! Lancaster Civic Society is a member of the developer front organisation English Historic Towns Forum and Johnston Press PLC own the Lancaster Evening Post and Lancaster Guardian as well as numerous Newpaper titles in the county.
Cllr. John Griffiths, chairman of the cattle-market redevelopment working party, leader of the Conservative group and leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council
2nd August 2006 East Anglian Daily Times, page 13.
JEREMIAH 6:15 "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD".
ROMANS 12:19 "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the LORD".
We are the champions!
On the 11th April 2006 managing director of Centros- Miller Mr John Laker stated:'If a scheme is going to happen then you need a champion in the council - and that can be either a councilor or an officer'.
So concerned were the Knights of St Edmund by the implication of what Mr Laker had claimed representatives from the knights contacted the then relevant minister, Ms. Ruth Kelly MP, and asked her where in UK planning law the words "champion" actually occurs (everyone else has to queue up for planning permission). Ms Kelly in a deft move washed her hands of our letter by passing it down to her regional office in true Pontius Pilate style and we received a letter in civil-service speak noting our concerns from Cambridge but not answering any of the key questions raised.
Weaker souls may have balked at this apparent bureaucratic en passé, but the Knights of Saint Edmund, fearing in the Lord and trusting in the just cause of our blessed saint and martyr, responded by launching Operation Heretic.
The objectives of part one of Operation Heretic were three fold:
- Identify Mr Laker's "champions" in local authorities where Centros Miller had previously undertaken development projects.
- Identify any irregularities in the project or problems with the project where Centros Miller had previously untaken a development, taking special note of persons who had "eased the way", relevant heritage issues and how they had been bypassed and how local opposition.
- Identify the consequences which follow from becoming a Centros Miller champion.
Champion of Kidderminster - dies
The late Cllr. Mike Oborski was the man who worked so hard to push through the demolition of the 19th-century listed Piano Building in Kidderminster, which somewhat fortuitously and inexplicably burnt down shortly having been listed. As yet no-one has been arrested for this arson attack. Mr Oborski, a fervent Polish and British patriot and the Liberal Party Councilor, passed away in February. He had boasted of being proud of the new cinema-complex and shopping centre built upon the site of the now burnt-out and demolished Piano Building development, courteously of Centros Miller, in the face of fierce local opposition.http://archive.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk/2002/7/18/260365.html
http://archive.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk/2002/7/18/260402.html
http://worcestershire.whub.org.uk/home/standard-news-comms.htm?id=106094&WT.svl=106094
Champion of Boston - in court about a brown envelope
The present chief executive of Carmarthen Council and former chief executive of Boston local authority, where he over saw the long delayed Centros Miller shopping development in that city, Mr Mark James has been busy in court after Mr Green, a multi-millionaire property developer, tried to pass via Mr Mark's secretary £5000 in £20 notes in a brown envelope marked 'strictly private and confidential'.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/6121188.stm
Mr Green was subsequently found not guilty claiming 'naivety' and it was in fact a gift "for charity".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/6135904.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/6126234.stm
Mr Mark James has also been recently been accused of misrepresenting opinion in the town about the Carmarthen cattle-market development, in a letter to Charles the Prince of Wales. The good folk of Carmarthen are also battling an unwanted development of a Debenham superstore in the heart of their historic town had lobbied the Prince as his subjects. Being a good sort HRH wrote raising the issue with CEO only to be told everyone in Carmarthen was committed to the project. Uproar duly broke out with angry Welsh and English inhabitants equally outraged at the misrepresentation of the towns view by Mr Mark James. This did not stop him being pronounced the top chief executive of all Welsh councils. Curiously every single council officer involved in Centros Miller Boston development has now left Boston council.
Champion of Lancaster - removed by the people
News reached the knights that Cllr. Ian Barker, council leader, leader of the Labour group and five of his colleagues were swept from power in a Green Party landslide on Lancaster Council.http://www.lancastergreenparty.org.uk/2007/05/03/keep-lancaster-special/
The Greens had campaigned against the Centros Miller development in the town and now with twelve councillors hold the balance of power on the hung council. The knights offer praise to the Lord and the blessed Edmund for this great victory. The knights offer their heartiest congratulations to the good folk of the noble city of Lancaster and all those who battle the forces of darkness within the Duchy.
According to a report received from the knight's sources in the fair city, the day after his defeat, ex-Cllr. Ian Barker was seen down on his allotment burning documents - got to stay carbon neutral! Lancaster Civic Society is a member of the developer front organisation English Historic Towns Forum and Johnston Press PLC own the Lancaster Evening Post and Lancaster Guardian as well as numerous Newpaper titles in the county.
Champion of Bury?
"The scheme has considerable cross-party support so it could be argued the council as a whole is acting as "champion" for this development".Cllr. John Griffiths, chairman of the cattle-market redevelopment working party, leader of the Conservative group and leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council
2nd August 2006 East Anglian Daily Times, page 13.
JEREMIAH 6:15 "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD".
ROMANS 12:19 "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the LORD".
28/09/2006
Watch the film of the procession and act of Commination in Bury St Edmunds which took place last November (from Youtube.com)
Watch the film of the procession and act of Commination in Bury St Edmunds which took place last November (from Youtube.com)
Welcome to our website
Welcome to the new web-page established by the Knights of St Edmund. This page has been set-up as part of the on-going campaign against the cattle-market development that is taking place in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. Until now the propaganda battle for the development has been one-sided. The developer Centros Miller has employed media consultants, a public relations company and the local press to argue for their vision for the future of Bury St Edmunds.Despite the media campaign, on the three separate occasions that the people of Bury St Edmunds have had a vote on the development they have overwhelmingly rejected it.
In the course of opposing this scheme masses of information have become available that reveal major problems with the development. It is the intention of this web-page to put before the people of Bury St Edmunds and the rest of the country the facts about this development. However, unlike the politicians, council officials, press officers, consultants, developers and civil servants who insist this development must go ahead, the public have nothing to gain only something precious to lose and that is one of the most distinctive, remarkable, beautiful and historic towns of Europe.
Unless Centros Miller Ltd, Miller Group and Debenhams do not abandon all plans they have for the Bury cattle-market and vow to leave the town forever, before close of business on Friday 18th November 2005, the Knights of St Edmund will unleash the curse of St Edmund against them.
The Curse is now operational: See: http://www.eadt.co.uk/ (East Anglia Daily Times 21/11) and http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/