If someone can collar as many journalists as possible and the one councillor who is attending, make sure that the message that only one councillor attended, and his reasons for doing so, are broadcast as loud as possible. His reasons have to be positive or he wouldn't come at all.

It's easy to put words in journalists mouths and so a clear statement from MHAAG to say that you're surprised and disappointed that only one councillor attended a meeting with the residents and the interested parties, as it's given the impression that the Council simply aren't interested in what the electorate thinks. Don't take the gloves off, just loosen them a little. Say that all the information they wanted was available at the meeting, even if it's a little exaggeration. Make sure the press know that Akers-Belcher rejected the plan out of hand without any consultancy with his ward and show them the e-mail.

Once they realise that you have the ear of the press they'll be like flies round a honey pot.

I think it's called getting your revenge in first.

Thanks Spender.

If the bunker had a like button I'd hit it for this post.

Pleasure lads. When I lived in Worksop, we, as a volunteer group, were given the local theatre on a peppercorn rent by the newly elected Tory Council. They just wanted to dump the running costs, which were 30K a month. The sitting labour MP threatened Judicial Review but we faced him down and made him look a 'lovely lovely person'.

They hate negative publicity, they walk about all smug and 'we know what's best in the town,' but the best thing you can show is their self-interest, particularly when you've got an action group that outnumbers them.

We had an action group that opposed us and they were far more of an issue to deal with than the politicians. At the moment you have the press attending and reasoned argument will be reported. They aren't there so they can't respond. Go for your lives. If they do respond then the question 'where were you??' has to be answered. They're already on the back foot.

Don't go overboard on the non attendance thing. Disappointed and surprised is enough.

Good point Mr F. I'd save that one for later. Non-attendance is one thing after an open invitation but non-response is another. That just shows contempt. Get the message out tonight and later publicise all the messages that went out and weren't replied to, when the time is right. Don't fire all your shots at once. The best thing about e-mails is, as you know, they're admissible evidence.

It seems that they don't know what to say and can't agree so they're saying nowt and not coming out in public.

Good. Leaves the field open for the lads who're doing the good work.

In the general way of things, and I'm sure Mr Ripper is better versed in this than me, 5 mill isn't a staggering sum to raise for a development of this size and ambition.

There'll be grant funding out there as it's education, sports and leisure based as well although most of that funding has gone on the Olympics this time round but it'll still be rolling in when all of that is finished.

Brash arrived after the tour started but Lilley was there well beforehand and my only disappointment was he didn't take the tour but sat in the lounge. Now I didn't expect him to speak or answer questions but I would have thought if he was there prior to the tour he would have taken it, to see what Pools had on offer for the community, and listen to what people who were walking around were saying, surely that would have been beneficial for him(either way) at a later date when it came to the vote.