Worse than The Depression - says Maundy founder.

[annesingleton]

Originally Posted by kestrelx

Why are traders losing business because of her? She's not selling anything cheaper just giving stuff away to those in poverty!

Because she is driving businesses out of Abbey Street and taking over their shops with second hand tat shops.
Because her clientele can appear threatening to people and therefore people do not choose to shop there.
Because of the limited choice of business on Abbey Street which means that unless you want second hand tat you don't shop there.

[Guinness]

I agree... Maundy Grange is a blight. 'St Dorothy' is foolish, misguided and naive..but does not deserve the grief she is getting on here.

Her ideals are sound...someone with a few quid deciding to help the more unfortunate..ain't that socialism?

Thing is, the unfortunate are taking the mick out of her, I'm sure she intended something different than what Maundy Grange has become, but what can she do?

I suppose she could employ people, to means test each individual case. She could take photo's of people who already claimed, and refuse them a second time..She could check on how many jobs they had applied for since they last claimed. She could make them apply for jobs in Kendal, Skipton, Morecambe, and Chester etc.etc..Just like a real job centre.. Would this work???

Thing is, the government, with it's massive resources, still has major isssues in dealing with benefit fraud....what chance does some altruistic 77 year old with limited resources have.?

[MargaretR]

Common Sense: The Egotistical Altruist: A Walking Contradiction

"The Egotistical Altruist: A Walking Contradiction

The outspoken altruist takes pleasure (they will deny this) in placing themselves at the forefront of human kindness. Claiming slogans of self-sacrifice to be the only way, and rousing (false) courage develops an appearance of moral fiber, to which the altruist will thrive."

[kestrelx]

Originally Posted by garinda

There's nothing wrong with helping the needy.

That's why we created the Welfare State, some years after the Great Depression had ended.

Giving money, to someone saying they need money to pay a bill, then going outside to score drugs, as I've seen with my own eyes, helps no one.

Not the user, and certainly not the town.

Any criticism of the ex-nun's 'good works' risks a holy contract being taken out on you.

Be warned.

Luckily I'm already doomed.

So you hang round outside in a rain coat checking up on Junky's who obtain money from her under false pretences!

[garinda]

Originally Posted by kestrelx

Why are traders losing business because of her? She's not selling anything cheaper just giving stuff away to those in poverty!

They do sell things, at a whole range of premises, on both sides of Abbey Street.

A neighbour's forced to close, they move in, and take over.

Other traders do lose out, because of all the addicts who come from miles around for her handouts.

There are so many they are a real problem.

So much so the council removed benches, so they couldn't have a little sit, after getting high.

[superwhite]

Not many expressions of support; is that because AccyWeb members are a load of moaners or does it reflect the general feeling within the town? Picking up on comparisons with the depressions of the 30's has unleashed a barrage of complaints about the charity. These seem to include the effect on the local street scene, the attraction of undesirable elements in our society, from elsewhere and the encouragement of drug use/abuse. Perhaps our so called 'local' newspaper should do some investigative journalism and publish their findings to expose the problems and/or educate the local residents of any positive achievements/particular examples of good work that the charity has done/achieved. I can agree with many views that the overall street level impressions can be less than attractive, at times, but if that is the price we have to pay for helping the truly unfortunate - it may be worthwhile? It is obviously an issue, within the town. Until someone bites the bullet and seeks further information; we will not be able to judge the merits of the charity or its founder, based on factual evidence. Come on Observer, make the effort! Now is your chance to show us what a good local newspaper can provide in terms of journalism and a enterprising reporting service for the locality and for their readers.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by kestrelx

So you hang round outside in a rain coat checking up on Junky's who obtain money from her under false pretences!

If you're going to try and turn this very serious local issue, into another petty attack, I shall just have to ignore what piffle you're spouting now.

Keep to the subject being discussed .

[Retlaw]

I read that this person is 77 therefore she cannot have witnessed the difficulties of the Depression -would have been a babe I think. To compare today's problems with those of the 30's is blinkered to say the least - there is no country in the world that gives support to all as much as the UK does, no-one in Britain has to be truly in need as the State supports all its citizens.[/quote]
That means she was born in 1935, then she would have been old enough to have witnessed how her parents, & grandparents lived, and heard first hand accounts of the times, whilst she was growing up, she is just exagerating when she compares things to that era, because like many others living today, they have no knowledge of those times, so who's going to correct her. She doesn't need any excuses for what she said, just exagerated journalism to extract sympathy for a load of so called down trodden junlies, whose ailments are self inflicted, they should have been allowed to overdose, & clean up the gene pool.
There is no reason for the genuine needy to visit that place these days.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by superwhite

Not many expressions of support; is that because AccyWeb members are a load of moaners or does it reflect the general feeling within the town? Picking up on comparisons with the depressions of the 30's has unleashed a barrage of complaints about the charity. These seem to include the effect on the local street scene, the attraction of undesirable elements in our society, from elsewhere and the encouragement of drug use/abuse. Perhaps our so called 'local' newspaper should do some investigative journalism and publish their findings to expose the problems and/or educate the local residents of any positive achievements/particular examples of good work that the charity has done/achieved. I can agree with many views that the overall street level impressions can be less than attractive, at times, but if that is the price we have to pay for helping the truly unfortunate - it may be worthwhile? It is obviously an issue, within the town. Until someone bites the bullet and seeks further information; we will not be able to judge the merits of the charity or its founder, based on factual evidence. Come on Observer, make the effort! Now is your chance to show us what a good local newspaper can provide in terms of journalism and a enterprising reporting service for the locality and for their readers.

Oh but we can judge.

From personal experience the kid glove, kindly-kindly approach rarely results in someone managing to kick their drug habit.

Her methods kill.

She facilitates abuse.

You any idea how many drug addicts there were in Accrington, in the 1930's, that St. Dorothy says were so much easier than today?

Then it was no worky-worky, no eaty-eaty for everyone.

[Guinness]

Originally Posted by annesingleton

Because she is driving businesses out of Abbey Street and taking over their shops with second hand tat shops.
Because her clientele can appear threatening to people and therefore people do not choose to shop there.
Because of the limited choice of business on Abbey Street which means that unless you want second hand tat you don't shop there.

Hmm..again I'll state that I think Maundy Grange is a poorly thought out idea...but,

Care to name a single business that has been driven out?

Care to link a single occurrence of threatening behaviour, resulting in someone refusing to shop in the area?

I suggest you look at the other thread where many on this forum are saying that they furnished their first home with 'second hand tat'

[garinda]

Besides her terrible gaffe, about today being worse than in the Great Depression, another quote that's been oft reported that amused me, is that she's seeing more and more 'middle class people' coming in for food parcels.

No darlin', they're still junkies.

Just ones with the latest iPhones, designer trackies, and souped up cars.

There for you to give 'em stuff...they can flog.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Guinness

Hmm..again I'll state that I think Maundy Grange is a poorly thought out idea...but,

Care to name a single business that has been driven out?

Care to link a single occurrence of threatening behaviour, resulting in someone refusing to shop in the area?

I suggest you look at the other thread where many on this forum are saying that they furnished their first home with 'second hand tat'

There are two long established interiors businesses, that I know of, that closed because their staff and customers didn't like getting hassled.

It's also the reason Whalley's Maureen Cookson decided against taking over Gene Sutcliffe's.

You shop much in Accy?

I'm one of the few, who still do.

Spend thirty minutes outside the post office.

See if you like the pestering, hassle, and abuse you get from those off their heads, who are winding their way to the open arms of St. Dorothy,

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Guinness

Hmm..again I'll state that I think Maundy Grange is a poorly thought out idea...but,

Care to name a single business that has been driven out?

Care to link a single occurrence of threatening behaviour, resulting in someone refusing to shop in the area?

I suggest you look at the other thread where many on this forum are saying that they furnished their first home with 'second hand tat'

Thats crap using the fact people furnished homes wi second hand tat, I did meself, bought from second hand shops n friends that were selling stuff, The object was to avoid getting stuff on the never never, a good concept in my book that many now would do well to learn. As yer not around here now, yeh have really no concept of what occurs on Abbey St, pretty regular these days.

[kestrelx]

Originally Posted by garinda

If you're going to try and turn this very serious local issue, into another petty attack, I shall just have to ignore what piffle you're spouting now.

Keep to the subject being discussed .

I was merely commenting because you said you saw someone come out with money and buy drugs, so I assume if you have seen this more than once then perhaps you was staking the place out - if you get my drift?

[Mancie]

Originally Posted by kestrelx

I was merely commenting because you said you saw someone come out with money and buy drugs, so I assume if you have seen this more than once then perhaps you was staking the place out - if you get my drift?

No.. now this is were you go wrong...you have been told by Garinda what is acceptable to post and if you differ you will be dealt with