Swinbrook Village

This is a step too far on the part of the planners for Regents Park. I have simply chosen to copy the words of The Friends of Regents Park & Primrose Hill and urge you to log in to their website at http://www.friendsofregentspark.org/ if you feel have a view on this matter.

"SAVE OUR PARKLAND

There is a planning application to put 10 astro-turf five-a-side football pitches covering an area of nearly 5 acres, including concrete parking space and a clubhouse.

We will lose 60 trees and meadow area rich in insect life, a feeding area for Bats and a nesting area for Tawny Owls.

The Golf and Tennis school has been closed, so losing a well-loved facility that has been in the park for nearly 100 years.

The 1200 Friends of Regent's Park & Primrose Hill, together with most of the local amenity groups, are opposed to this project. To register your protest visit the website at http://www.friendsofregentspark.org/

The closing date for the petition has been extended, yet again. This has occurred because Westminster has been unable to validate the application due to certain sections of the proposal yet to be re-submitted by 31st October 2007."

My personal view is that these are not amenities for the public but aimed at the corporate market and will do little but detract from the ever decreasing 'wild space' of what is still a wonderful place to walk your dog in the centre of London.

There are plenty of sports pitches available. This is an investment too far and at the expense of the public who get much pleasure from the park as it is.

Not much time to write at the moment, but here's a quicky tip I picked up recently from a friend. She has been a Tory candidate, Mayor and now a local councillor.

As the silly season may be upon us soon, Cameloon is staving off an election and Brown must be tempted to go ahead, some of you may be wondering how to register your disgust at the second raters who will be putting their names forward come ballot time.

Do not spoil your paper by writing f…ing twit against a candidate's name. This can be construed as a vote for the sad bastard and help them along their way (honestly).

You need to register your protest in a vertical manner, thus encompassing all the incumbents, so that no one can be awarded your non-vote.

Take in your own thick black felt tip (pencils just do not state your case strongly enough) turn your ballot paper 90 degrees and start from the left writng "Rod was right - you're all a bunch of tossers", making sure that you cover all the candidates.

I will reciprocate by writing, "They made me do it - I'm off to France."