As I was driving to work this morning, with the sun reflecting off the rolling green fields of crops lazily swaying in the slight morning breeze, it reminded me of what a lovely borough Swale is. It's very easy to buy into the criticism and negativity thrown at the borough, and in particular Sheppey, but the truth is, we live and work in a really lovely part of Kent.
Let's take Sheppey as an example. Yesterday I went for a stroll (technically I was patrolling) along the Fleet in Sheerness. I wonder how many people in Sheppey, or even Sheerness itself know the Fleet exists. It's a wonderful little waterway, full of wildlife and, thanks to everyone involved, nice and clean. Who needs a 42" HD plasma screen TV with Spring Watch, when you can sit down there for half an hour and get the real stuff for free.
How many people have bothered to watch the sun setting over the water off of Sheerness or Queenborough? Do people even realise that Swale if one of the few area's on the UK's east coast where you can see that marvellous site. The artist Turner knew, which is why he used the area as the location for "The Fighting Temeraire" (ok before you all retort; I know he put the sun on the wrong side).
The point I am stumbling towards here is that we live in a beautiful borough, fantastic countryside, miles and miles of beaches, historic market towns, the oldest brewery in England, the oldest Abbey in England, the birth place of aviation, and so the list goes on. Lets all work together to keep our borough sparkling clean. Yes, we do the best job we can in dealing dog fouling, litter and all of the other problems caused by a minority of residents or visitors, but by everyone taking personal responsibility and looking after their own little patch of Swale, and more importantly not adding to the problems, we really can make Swale a cleaner, safer borough.
And on a different note...
Let's take Sheppey as an example. Yesterday I went for a stroll (technically I was patrolling) along the Fleet in Sheerness. I wonder how many people in Sheppey, or even Sheerness itself know the Fleet exists. It's a wonderful little waterway, full of wildlife and, thanks to everyone involved, nice and clean. Who needs a 42" HD plasma screen TV with Spring Watch, when you can sit down there for half an hour and get the real stuff for free.
How many people have bothered to watch the sun setting over the water off of Sheerness or Queenborough? Do people even realise that Swale if one of the few area's on the UK's east coast where you can see that marvellous site. The artist Turner knew, which is why he used the area as the location for "The Fighting Temeraire" (ok before you all retort; I know he put the sun on the wrong side).
The point I am stumbling towards here is that we live in a beautiful borough, fantastic countryside, miles and miles of beaches, historic market towns, the oldest brewery in England, the oldest Abbey in England, the birth place of aviation, and so the list goes on. Lets all work together to keep our borough sparkling clean. Yes, we do the best job we can in dealing dog fouling, litter and all of the other problems caused by a minority of residents or visitors, but by everyone taking personal responsibility and looking after their own little patch of Swale, and more importantly not adding to the problems, we really can make Swale a cleaner, safer borough.
And on a different note...
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