A General Election is coming soon. What will you do?

The Conservatives have been desperately trying to deliver Brexit as soon as possible, for the sake of the Conservative party. If it means a "No Deal" departure from the EU, that is fine by them, whatever it costs.

• Food and medicine shortages? They don't care.
• Sheep farmers exporting lamb to the EU hit by a tariff rise from zero to 48%? Tough.
• Break the law, break democracy, break up the United Kingdom? Fine by them.
• Exploit Her Majesty the Queen for their own ends? Yes, another line they will cross without a qualm.
• They have thrown out over 20 previously loyal MPs, including Churchill's grandson, who voted with their consciences against the madness of "No Deal".

Judging from headlines in the right wing media you might have thought that all 17.4 million who voted leave in the 2016 referendum were of one mind as to what they expected to happen when they placed their cross in the box on June 23rd.

They wanted to leave, no matter what the economic and social costs might be. They voted for a 'hard Brexit'.

Brexit Myth #2 If we leave with no deal at least we will have finished with Brexit

We are told that the country is desperate to 'get Brexit finished' and appears to believe that short circuiting any negotiations for a deal and instead coming out without one will somehow end the wrangling. Some people seem to believe that even if there are serious economic and social costs it will somehow be worth it to 'get it all finished'.

A recently published report from Derbyshire Dales District Council has shown that the air on Buxton Road Ashbourne has levels of pollution that are on average almost 20% above the suggested safe maximum. The pollutant in question is nitrogen dioxide (sometimes abbreviated to NOx) and is formed in vehicle engines, particularly older diesel engines. It is an internationally recognised hazard with EU legislation making 40ug m-3 the maximum long term exposure limit. It is associated with a variety of health conditions including respiratory diseases.

Both books are worth a read but it is to the rather less leisurely pursuit of trying to cross a busy road in Ashbourne, Derbyshire that this title refers.

All those with concerns about the climate emergency know that we should walk or cycle wherever possible in order to reduce the amount of pollution. However what do you do when to walk means you have to cross a very busy road? To drive would be safer for you and your family but that would make the journey of those who do not have that choice or who simply want to do 'the right thing' so much more dangerous by increasing the amount of traffic.

We request that Derbyshire County Council Highways Department urgently considers creating a pedestrian crossing on Clifton Road, Ashbourne. This road is frequently extremely busy and the single central refuge is inadequate to allow parents with children to cross the road in safety.

Ciick on the link to read the latest leaflets for your area

Ashbourne Focus 8 June/July 2019 pp4,1

Ashbourne Focus 8 June/July 2019 pp2,3

Matlock Focus 170 June 2019 pp4,1

Matlock Focus 170 June 2019 pp2,3

Matlock St Giles & Tansley Focus 168 pp4,1

Matlock St Giles & Tansley Focus 168 pp2,3

Litton and Longstone Focus 2 pp4,1

One of the problems for science teachers (I used to be a chemistry teacher) is trying to make complex ideas accessible without distorting the basic ideas involved. A poorly chosen phrase and you might need to spend an extra lesson or two trying to correct a misconception.

It is clear that in the wake of the success of the Brexit Party in the EU Elections that phrases such as 'clean Brexit', 'WTO terms' and 'No Deal Brexit' are being thrown out with no apparent thought as to exactly what they mean.

Here are some of the photos taken at the count. There are also a good selection on the Ashbourne News Telegraph website

It happens all the time in the Derbyshire market town of Ashbourne - two large vehicles meet each other in the narrow roads. It is usually the pavements that provide a way to pass each other (with pedestrians having to get out of the way) but on this occasion even the pavement didn't provide sufficient room and the two vehicles locked against each other causing traffic to back up through the town.