Creating and nurturing the BIG SOCIETY

It is even more gratifying that he has banned his Ministers from referring to us as the "third sector" and has openly recognised that we,the people,are the "first sector",who will inevitably play a vital role in re-suscitating our ailing economy and restoring our nation to its former glory.This is the duty of each and every one of us,irrespective of all our myriad differences.We all share this common bond of playing a major role in re-building our local communities,brick by brick,doing whatever it takes.

Many of you will remember vividly what John F.Kennedy said so long back,"ask not what your country can do for you,ask what you can do for your country".A spirit of philanthrophy and giving has to be the order of the day.Only then can we emerge victorious from the awful financial pit we have fallen into.It is a gigantic task but not insurmountable.

Never mind,the whys and whens!Forget the post mortem.Let's just focus our energies on turning the situation around and pull out all the stops to get us firing on all cylinders.

We have a fantastic opportunity to promote volunteering and make communities realise that united we stand,divided we fall.It's literally that simple!Not exactly rocket science.

Listening to his speech at the Creative Campus,at the Liverpool Hope University,along with many interesting submissions from eminent speakers,it struck me that we need not wait and watch for results to trickle in from these Vanguard communities where these innovations are being actively trialled.

They are completely different from each other in every way possible---for example the sparsely populated area of Eden Vale,the City of Liverpool and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Even so,we have our own local needs and are the best judge of what really matters to our own community.The co-alition government have got one thing right --WE,THE PEOPLE will decide what we wish to nurture and build on or cut out completely from our own communities.We cannot be deemed owners in one breath,and,in the next breath have others dictate to us what we can or cannot do.Totally decimates the building of the BIG SOCIETY.

We Harrovians are raring to have a go at shaping our own lives,based on dynamic support from the grass-roots level,along with much needed help and finance promised by this new government.We are blessed to have our own MP and Minister for Civil Society,Nick Hurd,who can assist us in steering our efforts effectively and most productively.These are challenging times with exciting opportunities.

I was particularly impressed by David Cameron's third strand for the BIG SOCIETY---COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT---Neighbourhoods with "oomph",ready to galvanise local residents and help shape their world.Furthermore,he sounded the clarion call for de-centralisation---devolving power to LOCAL COMMUNITIES,allowing LOCAL activists,LOCAL Councillors and others to take charge of the running of their own parks,libraries,housing developments,,neighbourhoods and even making their local police accountable---all very nuch what we Harrovians relate to most naturally.

This brings me very neatly to the question of hanging onto one of our prime assets ---the Harrow Magistrates'

Court ---come what may.It serves a very important function in our community and is additionally a Grade 11 listed building.Part of our LOCAL heritage.

Ken Clarke has stated quite openly that he feels spending £60,000 on repairs for these buidings would not be a worthwhile proposition.It is quite ludicrous that the Consultation is only until September 15.Most of those who have the power and knowledge to fight this out on our behalf are away on summer holidays.We need an honest and fair appraisal.The consultation has to be seen to be completely transparent,totally objective and made with the best interests of the LOCAL POPULATION at heart.

Of course,if the Justice Secretary decides that finding £60.000 for the repair of our Magistrates'Court is beyond him,I appeal to all Harrovians to please donate just 50 pence each to the Harrow Magistrates' Court Fund which we will set up shortly via this newspaper and send in the collection to the Justice Secretary to cover the shortfall.We don't mind ---so long as we have our LOCAL COURT SERVING LOCAL CITIZENS!

No sane person would deny that saving money is surely important with the huge deficit we face but this closure would be a completely false economy.He has not factored in the cultural implications to a very diverse population.Even worse,we already have a huge headache coaxing witnesses to attend cases even in Harrow itself.As it is,only 65% of witnesses show up.

Can you imagine what a mockery it would be if we closed shop on our own door-step and went off to Brent or Hendon---both causing considerable inconvenience and expense to many who cannot face this move---only to find we have a huge drop in witnesses attending.What a travesty of justice and a waste of taxpayers valuable pounds ,at a time when we are so cash-strapped!

Valuable Police time and that of other supporting staff such as Social workers would be foolisly squandered only to have the case dismissed and victims feel totally cheated.What a field day for the perpetrators of crime!One can see the fear of crime rearing its ugly head again in our borough once more if local folks do not get local justice.This would be unthinkable and intolerable..

Reducing debt is equally important as building a stronger,more united,more "together",caring,sharing society---according to our Prime Minister.So let's listen to what HARROVIANS decree for our Magistrates' Court.WE know what's best for us.We NEED our Magistrates'Court and will do everything possible to stop the doors being shut in our faces.

Let us all start a Citizens Campaign to let Ken Clarke know exactly how we feel and what we demand as our right.We must do our bit to save this prime asset from being prized out of our hands and lost forever more!Our population do not deserve to be penalised like this.WAKE UP HARROW AND SAVE OUR COURT.TIME IS RUNNING OUT FAST!!