Eric Neal
County Councillor For Aldershot East
County Councillor For Aldershot East
We thought it might be interesting and amusing to publish 2 letters from Haddy Brennan which she wrote to the Aldershot Mail in reply to Mr Watkins published utterances.
Thank you Mr. Watkins in describing me as Aldershot’s very own Hetty Wainthropp in your letter Mail 5th Sept 2008.
I found a description from a TV guide of Hetty - Armed with little more than her pocketbook and her prodigious common sense; the Lancashire housewife-turned-gumshoe has proved that she can easily match wits with the best of them.
My friends tell me the only difference is I do not come from Lancashire.
Turning back to the core of your letter, you state that ‘she criticizes a local Councillor for having the cheek to have a go at Hampshire County Council’.
You are wrong, what I was more concerned with was the fact virtually every bit of evidence provided by this local Cllr to back up his complaint about HCC was incorrect.
Particular one point which I quote from his letter The News 21st August 'What we have seen from those at HCC is a failure to explain communicate and take everyone with them, as occurred in Ash Road and High Street’. As I said how can you take anyone with you and consult as this was an emergency repair? The sewers had collapsed in these roads and this local Councillor was Mike Roberts.
Mr. Watkins for someone who proclaims he does not trust politicians I find it strange you could not even bring yourself to name this local Councillor who supplied this incorrect information. Yet in your letter you had a swipe at Conservative County Cllr Roger Kimber and you named him?
I would have thought as a self proclaimed ’last of the independents’ you would have been shouting from the roof tops in condemning a politician who’s evidence was incorrect.
In fact it is the opposite you seem more upset with me for having pointed out the true facts, that is why you nick named me Hetty Wainthroppe?
Knowing just a little of the history of the local area, the sceptics amongst us find it most debatable if you are an independent at all, most likely a closet supporter of the Labour party.
But I do congratulate in recognizing we Ladies have much more commonsense than you men and in my case prodigious common sense.
Watch this space from further revelations from Hetty Wainthroppe’s pocketbook.
Hedy Brennan
Heronwood Aldershot
What did Hedy say above?:-
"The sceptics amongst us find it most debatable if you are an independent at all, most likely a closet supporter of the Labour party."
Mr. Watkins you are such a ‘dear’ describing me as Aldershot’s very own Hetty Wainthropp. So true to form I sent out Hetty’s teenage sidekick Geoffrey to do some detective work.
Well would did you find out Geoffrey?
Well Hetty it appears Mr. Watkins has worked in the taxi trade for some twenty years therefore you would think he should know what he is talking about?
Yes you would think so Geoffrey.
Mr. Watkins made reference to recent works in Victoria Road in his letter to The News 19th Sept ‘I have evidence to support failings of County Council’
He described these emergency repairs to the sewers and the erection of road signage for the diversion of traffic and the position of a temporary bus stop as the responsibility of Hampshire County Council?
He actual fact he went as far as saying HCC lack of concern in this particular matter verged on criminal negligence!
Really Geoffrey criminal negligence!
What a terrible ‘slur’ on the County Council and their staff.
I am sure Mr. Watkins in his letter objected to such comments? I am positive he said ‘why is it everything has to be turned into a slur’.
Yes he did Hetty but what can one say?
Geoffrey, Thames Water carry out sewer repairs and their staff erect the road signs, the local bus company decide if there is a need for a temporary bus stop and site it. Road closures and their advertising are down to Rushmoor Borough Council, which have a delegated responsibility and funding from the County Council to do this.
You are right Hetty as the law stands all the utility companies have the right to dig up the roads and are only required to inform the County Council of their intention. They do send in plans of road diversions etc for programmed maintenance for the County to comment.
Also if a member of the public complains about utility contractors etc working on the roads the County Council will of course send an officer to investigate but apart from that not much else. It would be prohibitively expensive for the County to supervise from start to finish every utility company’s operations on the roads; it would require hundreds of extra staff!
So what went wrong in Victoria road Geoffrey?
Well Hetty the first problem was the planned road diversion, which though agreed was not adhered to and than the diversion sign were removed by a person or persons unknown and found later damaged beyond use. 
What surprises me Hetty Mr. Watkins does not know this?
I am sure Geoffrey it is just a lapse in memory by Mr. Watkins, maybe he misunderstood or he was not told? I am sure it is nothing to do with the fact that some people say all this rubbishing of Hampshire County Council is a build up to the County elections next year.
Remember Geoffrey I have named Mr. Watkins the ’last of the independents’
But Hetty knowing just a little of the history of the local area, the sceptics amongst us find it most debatable if he is an independent at all, most likely a closet supporter of the Labour party.
Geoffrey Mr. Watkins is such a ‘dear’ so I think we need to close our pocket books.
Hedy Brennan
Heronwood Aldershot
