Opinion: ‘Walking into a PR problem’

Whenever I see the words ‘public consultation’ I struggle to stifle a snort of derision.

The phrase sounds like it’s empowering Mr and Mrs Ordinary but in reality it is little more than a box-ticking exercise and the powers-that-be will just go ahead and do what they want anyway.

But I suspect health bosses might be heading for some choppy PR waters after a public consultation into a planned move of the walk-in centre from Thorpe Road to the City Hospital in Bretton.

So far more than 60 per cent of residents who responded have given a firm thumbs-down to the plan.

And as we basically ripped up life as we knew it when just 52% of people voted for Brexit (a minority of those eligible to vote) then that should be that.

Except it is, of course, just a consultation and doesn’t bind health chiefs.

I expect the move will go ahead anyway although their PR people might have an uncomfortable few days.

For the record I favour the move. It makes sense to me as it may well help reduce the pressure on A&E. Mind you it doesn’t make as much sense as improving the current woeful access to GPs.

Your guess is as good as mine as why we have these public consultations.

Perhaps we should be consulted about them?

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Never mind listed building status, it’s time we had listed crisp status.

It was a dark day at Thornton Towers when we heard the devastating news that KP Foods are scrapping their Brannigans brand.

The roof-of-mouth burning roast beef and mustard flavour was a particular favourite.

It has hit Mrs T particularly hard as they were her crisp of choice.

I was a fan too and I share her devastation. I just have to imagine Mr Walker pulling the plug on his cheese & onion variety for my blood to run cold.

Although I say it myself I am a crisp connoisseur. I know I’m not alone as we Brits snaffle up six billion packets a day.

England’s first major crisp factory was built in neighbouring Corby and it was from there that Golden Wonder launched that wonder of the modern world - the cheese and onion crisp.

Doctors and nutritionists might want to look away but never mind anything Gordon Ramsey or Heston Blumenthal can rustle up my perfect lunch is two thick slices of white bread, buttered generously and filled with the contents of a blue packet of crisps.

I’m also prepared to share my top tip - 10 minutes before you intend to indulge, put your packet in the fridge, or even better, in the freezer. You won’t regret it.

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I’m hearing reports that dentists in the Peterborough area are charging up to £7 a visit extra as a surcharge for PPE.If true, not only does the charge seem very high, but haven’t dentists been wearing masks since the year dot?

And when we visit the dentist aren’t we already paying for the provision of a sterile environment?

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A few weeks back I praised Stagecoach bus drivers because I had found them to be courteous and patient with cyclists, of which I’m one.

Sod’s Law then in almost exactly the same spot as the piece of excellent driving that had prompted my praise, I suffered the exact opposite. This bus driver overtook me as I was going round a parked car.
It was just before a bend and as a car appeared from the opposite direction the bus driver pulled in and missed me by inches.