Waste of taxpayers' money

I just did the same as mollie – read this whole thread. Seems to me some people agreed with the OP, some sort of kind of disagreed but not very strongly, one or possibly two asked for a link, and there was a variety of slight digressions about tax and ads on buses and suchlike. I can't find any bullying. I don't know what the deleted posts said. This probably doesn't matter.

Come back, margaretm74. I know how you feel. Been there. Came back though and i'm glad I did.

mollie

Yep, knew it, Janeainsworth got there first... now, if I had a delete button...

She obviously felt bullied and harangued. Whether we agree or not is beside the point.

I'm wading my way through this long thread after reading the bullying thread, I wanted to see for myself what had happened. In response to JessM asking for evidence from the EA annual report, I read through the latest one online and of course it's not there. But I've just looked at the DM report and they are referring to events that happened in 2009 - long before the current state of affairs so really the DM is digging up dirt to throw at the EA when it's already being criticised. I've only read the first three pages of this thread so apologise if someone has already mentioned these facts ...

I agree janea*

I'm afraid I disagree. I don't think margaret was bullied. Some people disagreed with her, that's all.

She isn't the first and won't be the last. Such a shame that some choose to misinterpret posts, sometimes wilfully! What happened to Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby?

I have been on the receiving end of someone quite deliberately misquoting me and when I said so refusing to apologise. When I said she had twisted what I said my post was deleted! She clearly had. I know how Margaret feels but wish she had stayed and stuck it out.

The word "homophobia" should never have been used in this thread. The OP had no trace of it. Once that word was mentioned, the thread went downhill.

Hope you come back margaret.

If you do look back in Margaret I too hope you will return xx

It's possible she may still look in as it's not a closed forum. If you do, margaret, I completely understand how you might have felt bullied. Some posters do come across as patronising sometimes, and seem to almost wilfully misconstrue folks' comments. But then I guess any forum will be a microcosm of types of personality - bit like a children's playground. So sad that she felt pushed into leaving.

That's a shame. Hopefully she will come back in the future, under a new name, and will be forewarned and better able to deal with the bullies.

I tried to PM her last night but I was too late.

Has she left officially? Is it too late for us all to PM her and beg her to stay?

What a sad indictment of Gransnet that really is.

I for one am sorry to hear that, Charleygirl, I wish her well, but I'd rather she came back.

That's a great pity, margaret made some good contributions to the forums...

Blimey!

Just to let you all know that Margaretm74 who started this thread has bowed out of GN permanently because of the way that she was bullied and felt to feel a total fool by some members. As she said, life is too short to be treated this way.

Take your point about the legal obligation to consult, jess, but rather like referenda, it is perhaps taking democracy too far, especially when the results of the consultation are ignored anyway.
Nellie completely agree with you about the value of parks and gardens in urban spaces.

Gransnet obviously squandered their money turning the logo rainbow coloured for the Sochi games. I think they should keep the rainbow look.

And companies who support local projects and minority groups?

Well all that spending on nice things like parks, arts and libraries is heading out of the window - Osborne's cuts are only half implemented as yet.

And you have the chance to vote them out if you don't like the way they spend your money.

I can understand councils doing it. It's their job to support local projects.
Different altogether.