Good news for all Arab speakers who do not speak English. And all Urdu and Chinese speakers who speak no English. If you live in Bassetlaw the council has put out a leaflet on the Christmas bins translated specially for you. Of course if you do not read English then you cannot be reading this.

But I bet my last pound that there are no Arabic speakers in Bassetlaw who do not speak English. Nor Urdu speakers, nor Chinese speakers.

Who exactly suggests that there are Arabic speakers in Bassetlaw who need information about the bins but do not speak English?  I offer a pint to anyone who can name one.  

As it is about the bins then the council must know. They must know because they will have had to translate the demand for a bin into English. So how many requests for a bin have there been in Arabic?  I am pretty certain that an Arabic speaker missing a bin would have found their way to my Carlton Road office and I do not recall them.

This comes after the government has rightly told public service organisations not to waste money on unnecessary translation. I cannot think of anything more ridiculous in Bassetlaw. Mind you, from what I hear of the last council meeting, it sounds like the great Bassetlaw public will need a translation into English as some councillors were struggling to make any sense in whatever council speak they were using.  

But I must also praise the council for their success in publicising the new Priory Centre. I have heard from the knockers and the ecstatic about the new shops, and in my view it is a welcome improvement.

I have a newly revamped website which is open to campaigners on local issues- the Warsop anti road hump campaign are going to be the first to use this facility. If you have a campaign on any local issue I will be happy to afford space:  take have a look at www.johnmannmp.com and tell me what you think.  

I have visited some marvellous Christmas events, none livelier than the Balmoral tenants and residents. Well done to them and everyone else organising Christmas festivities.

I was in Langwith Church last week and Misson Church this Sunday just gone. I congratulate all the churches for keeping our focus on the real meaning of Christmas and I have a few competing churches to consider this Sunday. Well done our churches and I wish you all a welcome break for reflection, for rest, for friends and most importantly for family.