Battle against flytipping

Whoever dumped them had obviously thought about what they were doing.

Unbelievably the tyres had not been just thrown from a van but neatly stacked on the side of the road.

Such care and attention to detail from the vandals responsible (who had probably been paid good money in good faith to dispose of them legally) was almost heart warming.

Now, wouldn't it be fine and dandy if the vandals responsible could go back and pick their nice piles of tyres up from the roadside where they have stacked them and take them to the tip like everyone else, thus making a better world for us all to live in.

I can smell the flowers and hear the birds singing already.

ST PATRICK'S FAIR: Yes, it's that time of year once again when all roads led to the St Patrick's fete, and huge crowds paid homage to the star attraction, James the goose.

James himself was looking his handsome best, complete with new blue ribbon.

Following last year's commotion James was much better behaved in his new location outside in the sunshine, where he was welcoming everyone to the fair.

In fact, the reason James was so unusually polite and exceptionally well behaved was a mystery until it dawned on everyone that his impeccable behaviour might just have something to do with the fact that chicken burgers were sizzling away merrily on a barbecue just a few yards from him.

He did create a bit of a fuss, however, when I tried to have a photo taken with him.

He must have thought the mayoral chains looked better than his ribbon and was having none of it.

The fete itself was the usual riot of frantic trading activity and fun.

Bottles, books. cans, raffle tickets, teas, cakes, burgers and thousands of bric-a-brac items that no-one in their right mind would want were bought and sold.

Trying to leave with cash left in your pocket was futile. (It suddenly struck me that father Cuddihy and his band of expert traders could probably sell the pile of old tyres dumped at Nash).

Children with painted faces were roaming around like the cast of The Lion King. And the sound of people enjoying themselves echoed around the hall As always the event was great family fun, raising more than £2,500 towards parish funds.

Well done everyone who made it happen. And thank you, James, for another great day out.

BLACK ASH PATH: Parents of youngsters using the pitches and play areas along Black Ash Path have asked me to appeal to dog owners in the area to show a little more sense and consideration when exercising their dogs. These areas are designed for children to play on, not for dogs to foul.

The dog wardens have been made aware of the problem and will be making regular visits to the area.

If necessary offenders will be prosecuted signs discouraging dog fouling are going to be re-erected in the area.

Please do not exercise your dogs in the areas used by the children and please clean up after your dog.

LYSAGHTS PARK: In case you thought we have forgotten, work is at last commencing on the multi- use games area (MUGA) at Lysaghts Park, Corporation Road.

The delay was caused by design changes to the cage system.

The cage being used at the park has been specially designed to minimise noise and withstand heavy-duty usage.

It is the first of its kind in the city and should be well used by our local youngsters, giving them somewhere to go and something to do in an effort to keep them out of mischief.

It should also be of great benefit to the fantastic work being done by Cromwell Youth AFC.

As far as the ward councillors are concerned it can't come soon enough.

Watch this space for further details 100 YEARS OF SERVICE: In a blast from the past the Corporation Road Carnegie Library recently celebrated 100 years of service to the community.

In a fitting ceremony children from St Patrick's School, along with their teachers, dressed in fancy dress reflecting the past century were greeted by library staff dressed in period costume.

It was a day the children will remember for a long time to come.

The children were read stories by me in full mayoral robes (if there was a fancy dress contest I wouldn't have come in the top ten the kids, teachers and library staff, costumes were that good) and poems by Goff Morgan, still the UK's only official town poet.

As if this cultural feast wasn't enough the children were then treated to a slap-up tea party.

What was more than obvious was that the Carnegie library has changed very little over the past century.

The quality of the building speaks for itself.

By pure coincidence I had only the previous day stumbled on the original key to the front door.

Unbelievably, it still fitted the lock.

The library staff had set up a fascinating exhibition of newspapers and photographs of events relating to the library over the century.

There was also a photograph of a strikingly handsome mayor who visited the library over 60 years ago who the staff and children thought looked like me. (Actually I was the only one who suggested he was handsome, the rest thought the resemblance ended in the fact he was fat and had grey hair and a moustache).

The children were fascinated that he seemed to be wearing the same cloak and chains that I was.