Just as a matter of interest -?

When are Rochdale's next council by-elections? And are 'all' wards up for grabs ??

That's a bad do. Pity you can't all register your total and absolute disapproval sooner to this bunch of wallies you seem to have acquired. I was thinking Charly could put up for Smallbridge, Salty for Castleton, Hinch for Wardleworth - well you are a good mixer when all said and done. Take over as independents and smash a few boats. Clear out the rats and the incompetent with the bilge water. Sounds wonderful doesn't it. Pity -. Hey up - never mind eh!

I'll stand as an Indie if you could pay my deposit Atlas?

The deposit is peanuts Mr Indie man - it's the rest you will need to awaken the dead, the indolent, the apathetic and the 4 horsemen. All would be required to hasten your much needed victory. Let me know when you have the rest and we will talk.

there is no deposit for local elections you need 10 residents to sign up. sorry Ray my 2 attempts at independance for Castleton are my last ones, although i beat the Tories last time, you are correct that the main problem is raising peoples interest. my feeling at the moment is that the 'can't be bothered party' will win unless the shower of self interested party members do summut really bad like stopping so called virtual reality TV and that's not going to happen whilst they can hit the poor and needy without meaningful challenge from voters. meanwhile back at Tesco's prices continue to go up daily.

Just as a matter of interest if elections are not until 2014. Why not form a party of independants with an interest in Rochdale gather together to stand against the main parties.

I get the feeling that the main parties just play at politics rather than have the full interest and the heart of the town. The main parties do not have my interest because they do not need my vote for another years or so. The only time they want my interest is at election time and also they have no interest into speaking any other time of the year before an election.

If for example if I was a councillor I would have the interest and listen to the voters all through the year who could hire or fire me if they wish.

Same old councillors with the same old problems and I cannot see what has changed since the last election.

Still the same old bickering and each main party blaming each other as usual while the poor old voters of the town and the young still have to suffer.

Also the the fact we cannot still attract more main businesses to the town to give us more employment.

Also that the main parties have not moved on in over twenty years.

teamplayer2 wrote:Just as a matter of interest if elections are not until 2014. Why not form a party of independants...

'A party of independents' is an oxymoron!

And standing in this town as an independent is a waste of time I'm afraid. Frank was a very good candidate, well known and well liked in the ward, and last time he stood I put a substantial amount of money (not beyond the limit allowed before the activists start jumping) behind his campaign and though we tripled his vote and beat the Conservatives, it was still nowhere near enough to win.

And with that all we are left with are the 4 Horsemen? And their master on the gray horse.
A sad indictment on the town and its inhabitants. Perhaps a period of civil unrest might prod sufficient people to realise that things MUST change if the town is ever to become a suitable living space again. Very sad.

That's the trouble put a ribbon (of any colour) around a pig and they'll vote for it in certain wards.

I’m with you Atlas with civil unrest, disobedience, in the Ghandi style. Unfortunately our generation of demonstrating on marches and rallies has long since given way, in my case, to a despair that the current targets of rich politicians, of all creeds, would get more upset if X factor or I’m a celebrity no count, is replaced with political programmes to inform and enlighten.

How about organising a protest, at a well known superstore, with 10 or more customers filling trolleys with items which have increased in price over a week and all getting to the check outs at the same time and refusing to pay because it is more expensive than last week? Be warned though I fear the wrath of the customers behind being far in excess of any brought about by governments actions against the less well off.

Oh well off to Wigan for lunch at ‘Spoons’, got to spend our heating grant before David Clegg (sic) brings in means testing for us poor sods who made work an ‘ethic’. (only joking Prudence Tempered, and yes with our bus passes)

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/76911/a-woman-was-sexually-assaulted-as-she-walked-home

The sad thing about the news story of a woman being dragged onto waste land and sexually assaulted by an asian, about 5ft 6in tall, of slim build with short dark hair and a small moustache, wearing a black zip up jacket and dark coloured trousers, as she was walking through the town, is, that it's just normal and unremarkable.