What Charles didn't see

Those locally will know that the Prince of Wales visited Rutland and Oakham today with all the usual self congratulation from the Country Council and their talk in the press how much interested he shows in the area, after all the last time he was here was just a mere 13 years ago. You have to love our Country Councilors for their idiosyncrasy and eccentricity when making comments to the press.

Like most people, I think it is nice that the Royals fly the flag for Britain and all that. In Charles case I like that he is politically interested in the country and especially environment and what it means to future generations. Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to list the things in and around Oakham that I'm sure the Prince was kept away from or wasn't told about, so here is a shortened list:

• The destruction of the habitat of various forms of wildlife, including birds of prey, owls, woodpeckers and various small mammals, around Oakham.

• The destruction open spaces in Oakham, where people once walked there dogs and children played.

• The willful destruction of farming land to allow for the urbanization of Oakham and the threat of more it being used for development in the future.

• The destruction of playing fields by developers, which was sold to them by Rutland Agricultural Society, who you would have thought would try and protect the environment.

• The destruction of local communities that have existed for hundreds of years in the expansion of Oakham, destroying a way of life for many in those communities.

• The over stretching of public services such as doctors and schools by over development with poor infrastructure planning. 

• The loss and the threat of loss of emergency services in the town, starting with the sale of the police station. 

• The closure and sale of the Oakham Post Office (The for sale/let sign was even removed to hide the fact the Post Office has closed during the Royal visit).

• The slow decay to the High Street as we know it by the opening and development of more supermarkets in the town.

• The appalling lack of front line hospital services within 10 miles of the town. The nearest Accident and Emergency unit being in Leicester over 20 miles away.

The list goes on and on. I wonder what he would have thought about some of the people hands he undoubtedly shook today if he had known all that. I'm sure a man with his credentials and views would be applauded at some of the things that is happening to the beautiful market town he visited today.