A SUMMONS AND A SHAMBLES
Following our pieces earlier this week, we have had scores of complaints from families forced to queue for ages to get into the Dartmouth Park Firework event.
Some also made the connection between the shambles at Dartmouth park and the summons issued to a Sandwell councillor for non payment of his council tax.
For those who did not make the connection the missing link was Cllr. Richard Marshall.
It was Marshall who failed to pay his council tax until he got a court summons and it was Marshall who disorganised the council firework events.
According to the Express and Star, Marshall blamed problems on the stupidity of West Bromwich folk who according to him insisted on queuing despite being directed to other entry points where there were no queues and the fact that Birmingham and Walsall had no similar events.
With these explanations Marshall directly insults the intelligence of Sandwell people and tries to evade responsibility by blaming others. Was it “the dog” or “the gerbil” who ate Marshall’s council tax bill and reminders and made it necessary for his own council to issue a summons against him?
The reason for congestion at Dartmouth park was Marshall’s decision to charge for entry.
Why was there a charge there, when the event in Smethwick park was free? It can’t be anything to do with Marshall being a councillor from the Smethwick ward.
Sandwell folk are bright enough to distinguish pork barrelling from flying pigs, Cllr. Marshall.
What we would also like to know is why council leader Cllr Steve Eling knowing Marshall’s council tax lapse promoted him to the Sandwell council cabinet and allowed his identity to be concealed when enquiries were made about the council tax summons?