Happy New Year

 Many people this week had a rainy and gloomy start back to work or back to school.  For those who have been able to enjoy some time off over Christmas, the first week of the New Year can feel a bit flat as people return to their normal routine.

The New Year can also be a time for reflection and an opportunity to look back over 2011 and all that it brought us.  The last year was a busy one in this country with a number of national events coming to mind.  We had two Royal Weddings with the whole world turning its attention to us for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Locally,  Dartford Park has been revamped and plans are underway to improve the town centre. Confirmation also came that the toll booths on the Dartford Crossing would be replaced with a new free flow charging system. We should not forget international events as well, including the ending of the dictatorships in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia  and the capturing of Osama Bin Laden.

Unfortunately however, not all of the last year’s events have been so positive.  The summer of 2011 will forever be associated with the rioting in London and elsewhere across the country and the mindless destruction carried out by some individuals.  In addition to this the financial problems both at home and in Europe have been of grave concern.

This new year brings us more financial uncertainty but also the excitement of the Olympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Once again the whole world will place us under its microscope and watch to see how we respond.   

I wish all readers a Happy New Year and look forward to working hard for Dartford in the coming year.