Last updated 16:04, Thursday, 13 March 2008

IT can be a tough, unforgiving old world in politics; just ask Alistair Darling, or Joe Milburn for that matter.

The Chancellor was lambasted for producing the dullest budget for years - for not pulling the proverbial rabbit out of the hat - while Allerdale council’s leader has only just survived a vote of no confidence in his ruling group.

They will feel that the criticism is undeserved, but that’s what happens if politicians are perceived to be indecisive.

So, good on Mr Milburn for speaking out this week in the face of criticism that he leads a secretive and slightly hamstrung council.

We’re pleased to see his commitment to Moorclose leisure facilities, the Derwent Forest project and Derwent Valley regeneration.
We’ve no doubt that, in the background, diligent progress has been made on all these schemes.

But what Mr Milburn and the council must understand is that people need to be kept better informed throughout.

It is not enough to point out that the council has an all-singing, all-dancing website as an example of its openness.

People need to see decision making out in the open, not done behind closed doors, and we shouldn’t ever have to go searching for the details.

We welcome Mr Milburn’s positive message. Maybe that no confidence vote was a wake-up call, after all.

CLEAR COBBLES MESSAGE
There was a telling moment at the end of this week’s public meeting about Workington’s Portland Square cobbles.

It came when a county highways engineer admitted  he had been unaware of the strength of feeling among townspeople  that the cobbles should be preserved.

Well, he’s got the message now and let us hope he passes it on to his county council masters.

The people of Portland Square have made their view clear - Save Our Cobbles!