Letter in the Sidmouth Herald 27 Sept.2002

"I am in blood, Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er."
Macbeth [III,  iv,  136]

It was both timely and gratifying that Noel Rogers should commend my talents in the letters column on September 13. Gratifying, because he so clearly applauds my ability to be sufficiently unpleasant to bureaucrats that from time to time they awake from slumber perchance to take notice of public opinion or good advice. I do not recall any particular achievement associated with Mr Rogers' years as a councillor but maybe I missed it.

Timely, because my embryonic campaign addressing how Devon County Council specified and is operating People's Network library computers will highlight the need for better management. The machines have been set up so that much time is wasted and they can be used only to a fraction of their potential. The waste of resources is probably only some £20,000 to £50,000 of capital and ongoing excess running costs. This is so small compared with the sums regularly reported in the Herald as being the proceeds of various local fund raising events, fetes and coffee mornings that it is clear that I should take up baking cakes and selling raffle tickets instead of pursuing logical analysis and invective in the long term and wider public interest. Nevertheless we may expect ritual condemnation from councillors of anyone who dares question officialdom as a part of the closed loop of cosy self congratulation and double-speak that is now embedded in local government.

People ask me why I bother. What does it really matter if everything from traffic signals to library computer systems reek of expediency and mismanagement? Why not just pay the Council tax bill with good grace? It is not often that a Conservative politician of the intellect of Boris Johnson (whose day job is to edit the Spectator) agrees with and quotes a reprobate labour supporter such as Peter Mandelson. Yet on Radio 4 last week, Mandy was commended for being right about one thing - that if you want anyone to take notice within a society that has given up caring about anything, you have to keep shouting until you are sick of the sound of your own voice. The Press have an important role here and long may it continue.

It seems safe to assume therefore that whilst the majority of Sidmouth people may neither know nor care about any issue of importance to the wider world, I may choose to continue to highlight the lack of ability that is evident amongst some of those in public life. I was called many things during a short and undistinguished career that encompassed aspects of science and public policy. The one that has remained with me is that of a regrettable necessity. I could have made more money and had a comfortable life as a clever but compliant old softie but I doubt it would have been as memorable or ultimately as useful.

As they say, 'C'est la vie et bonne chance'.

DR STEPHEN J WOZNIAK

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