Joining us on our table was our local MP, Gerald Howarth, who had been holding a surgery for his constituents that morning.Here is an extract from the article:
Nepalese
‘must stop’
By Pete Castle
January 27, 2011
PUBLIC services are in danger of being "overwhelmed" by a recent influx of Nepalese immigrants, according to the area’s MP.
Gerald Howarth, who represents Aldershot and Farnborough in Parliament, has made an extraordinary plea to the prime minister to deal with an issue he said was of "grave concern" in the area.
In a letter sent to David Cameron on Tuesday, Mr Howarth said the problem related to the inward migration of Nepalese people as a result of the 2009 High Court ruling that gave all Gurkhas the right to settle in the UK with their dependants.
“This has had a very significant impact over a very short period of time and it is now estimated that 10% of the borough of Rushmoor’s population of approximately 90,000 is Nepalese,” said Mr Howarth in the letter.
"This issue is of deep concern to the local authority and its leader as services are in danger of being overwhelmed by this influx, as are those provided by the NHS, Citizens Advice Bureau and local schools."
Mr Howarth told the the Prime Minister that 'GP practices are struggling to cope' and new arrivals were causing 'immense tensions within the community.'
"The tensions are exacerbated by the difficulties encountered by the Nepalese in integrating into the settled community, particularly given their low levels of literacy and limited understanding of English," he wrote.
"I have a constructive proposal and would appreciate the chance to put it to you."
Speaking to the News and Mail, Mr Howarth said he was hoping to speak to Mr Cameron to put his idea forward. He said he was responding to comments received from constituents 'in words of one syllable' that expressed disquiet about the situation and that immigration had been the 'number one issue' at the general election.
"It is my duty to speak up on their behalf," Mr Howarth said. "As one man told me, they are trying to create a little Kathmandu. It is a change in the character of our towns and people are entitled to express a view on it".
"It has got to stop, we can't accept any more," Mr Howarth said.
But theMP's intervention has been seen by some as inflammatory.
Controversial stuff and has certainly stirred up a hornet's nest with the Joanna Lumley brigade.
Personally I find it hard to comprehend how we can let people of any nationality settle in this country without basic reading, writing and speaking skills in English. Without that integration is almost impossible.
I must applaud Simon Hollis, Chairman of FFC, for his efforts to secure the clubs partnership with UK based Nepalese side Sahara F.C. and his policy of welcoming the local Nepalese youngsters to the excellent Farnborough Youth set-up which is comitted to the development of junior football in the Farnborough and the surrounding area.
Whilst on the subject of football, having read my earlier blog (rant) on the woes of English football, Simon Hollis approached me and asked if he could print it in the match day program.
Published - at last!
Mind you after my point 2 "Ban Johnny Foreigner from our game", I am more nervous than ever when walking home from the ground. Without taking a massive detour I have to skirt a very dark and isolated area that is affectionately known as by the local Covies as "Ghurka City"!
Perhaps it's a good thing they can't read!
Anyway, back to gardening. On Sunday Janice and I attended the Hampshire Potato Fair, a rivetting event involving closely scrutinizing over 100 varieties of seed potato before making a choice of what to grow this year. I know how to give a women a good time!
There were a number of other stands pedling various other gardening sundries and as I approached one of them, low and behold I spotted a bottle of Kibosh. I immediately engaged the chap in attendance, telling him of our success "up the plot" with the product.
"Are you staying long?" he asked, I could do with you telling that to a few prospective customers. I duly hung about and was able to assist in a couple of sales.
Turns out he is the MD of the the company marketing Kibosh. I knew his face was familiar - he was the man on the promotional videos of the product that I had watched a few months earlier.
He told me that he has got to change the name because "Kibosh" is still the registered name of some obsolete product from many years ago. It is now going to be known as "Kurtail" but he has been told he can't even say formerly known as "Kibosh".
As the young allotmenteer was quick to point out "Kurtail" doesn't have the same permanence as "Kibosh".
It ain't half good though!
Hey Ho!
