One of Stony Stratford’s many claims to fame is as the place of origin of the term 'Cock & Bull Story', recognised throughout the English-speaking world.
This dates back to the late 18th/early 19th centuries, at the height of the great coaching era, when Stony Stratford (which is located on the old Roman Road of Watling Street, latterly the A5) was an important stopping-off point for mail and passenger coaches travelling between London and the North.
Travellers on these coaches were regarded as a great source of current news from remote parts of the country - news which would be imparted in the town's two main inns, The Cock and The Bull.
Stony Stratford established its place by being a place of welcome, a little town where travellers could kick off the dust of the road, lean back, have a beer or two, something to eat and, yes, a smoke. Now one jumped up little Town Council burgermeister, puffed up with righteousness, wishes to put an end to that idea of of being a place of welcome:
A Buckinghamshire town is considering banning smoking from its streets.Councillor Paul Bartlett has proposed a new bylaw to outlaw smoking in any public place in Stony Stratford. If the plan is approved by the town council, smokers who light up in public in the town could face on-the-spot fines.
"Stony Stratford is a historic town which is blighted by cigarette butts," said Mr Bartlett.
"The plan that I am trying to put forward is for smoking to be banned in public in the High Street, surrounding streets, and preferably elsewhere as well."
"Why should people be able to smoke in my face and spoil the environment?," he added.
I could observe that making smokers stand outside in the street rather than comfortably ensconced in the bar wasn't a great help. But it seems that Mr Bartlett wants it stopped because, you know, he doesn't like it. Forget about the damage it might do to the businesses in Stony Stratford - we can't let people smoke in Mr Bartlett's face now can we!
I despair, I really do. Sometimes I want to cry. However, there are Town Council elections next year - Mr Bartlett represents Stony Stratford South East. Given a candidate and a concerted effort we can be rid of this nannying fussbucket.
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2 comments:
They are simply giving up one tradition - extreme hospitality - for another - stocks and pillory.
Perhaps that's the idea - resurrect the stocks and pillory, demonize and allow the public to throw veggies and eggs at all the "filthy outdoor smokers" who can be incarcerated and pilloried by a new class of righteous tourism who will pay a premium price for the privilege of doing so - as their long-term solution for drumming up the tourist business.
As for the vindictive, spiteful, hateful and self-righteous council-member who dreamt up this idea (or was influenced or paid by a government/tax backed "charity" to introduce it) - let me guess - Labour?
He's an independent, Anon.
There'll be more on this. Trust me. ;)
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