As surely as night follows day, as soon as the New Year
dawns, the resolution bandwagons start to roll, and whether they are qualified or
not, there’s always a queue of politicos ready to jump on them.
This year was no exception with Tameside’s councillors
recommending a clampdown on ‘fast-food’ outlets and ‘burger-vans’ in an effort
to tackle childhood obesity.
Apparently, the problem is now so serious that has
necessitated that no less than two of Tameside council’s eminent bodies; namely
The Personal and Health Scrutiny Panel and The Technical, Economic and
Environmental Services Scrutiny Panel to be joined together to look at fast-food ‘take-a-ways’
and ‘street trading’ in the borough!
Now forgive me for being cynical, but could this be the
very same council whose planning officers have just approved the building of a
‘drive-through’ Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet at Denton Rock?
Admittedly, KFC maybe one of the least unadulterated of the fast
food purveyors, but the Colonel’s fingerlickin 'deep-fried chicken is still
inflicting thousands of calories from its secret recipe on a new generation of arteries.
But, according to the many ‘dietary experts’ residing on
the council’s Panel of Stooges; eating deep fried non-free-range chicken in a
non-recyclable paper bucket is now preferable to ordering a burger in a bun wrapped in a napkin. The flying butty van, as far as Tameside councillors are concerned, is
‘verboten’!
There's no denying there appears to be a growing cohort of
children who have developed bad eating habits and a taste for junk food that is
high in fat and unhealthy carbohydrates. However a reduction of physical exercise in
the absence of dietary modification also contributes to weight gain.
Therefore, if councillors must get involved, they might
be better employed asking why
their planning department keep permitting the opening of
so many fast food joints and their licensing people continue to issue so many
licences, to burger vans. They might also ask why compulsory school sport is in decline.
They could also ask why nearly three-quarters
(72%) of children do not take part in the recommended hour of daily activity outside
school hours, preferring instead to spend long periods in front of the television or
playing on their games console.
Perhaps councillors should spend more time educating rather than dictating, - telling their
constituents that there are other
options. Also, look at reducing the cost of fruit and vegetables, so everyone
can benefit. For instance, why not strike a deal with the boroughs allotment owners and allow
them to sell their surplus wares on the ‘green market’?
Alternatively, they could butt-out and just concentrate on running
council services; because when you look at the councillors in question, many of
whom seem ideal candidates for membership of Weight Watchers; to attempt to direct the
eating habits of their constituents, not only seems arrogant in the extreme,
but is a typical example of a local council exceeding its remit, with its councillors imposing
their prejudices on all and sundry.
Have these 'Fat Controllers' heard of freedom of choice? Maybe it's not enough for them to merely dictate which dustbin we must scrape our plates in, now it seems they want remove the right of
people to choose their own food too! – Now there’s a dangerous idea! Perhaps
councillors would like it better if they took a leaf out of ‘Iceland’s' book and
created a council food delivery service where they could run a fleet of
specially equipped vans with pre-prepared approved meals, consisting of
flavour-free, politically correct and nutritionally balanced, portion
controlled slush and deliver it to all Tameside residents – Breakfast, Dinner and Tea!
If Tameside councillors really must get involved with
dietary matters, then when it comes to the bit where they start trimming the
fat, they only need to look inward; they could save themselves a fortune assuming
someone with a steady nerve is doing the looking and trimming.
Perhaps it's a job for the boroughs much maligned burger
van operators?
Have these 'Fat Controllers' heard of freedom of choice? Maybe it's not enough for them to merely dictate which dustbin we must scrape our plates in, now it seems they want remove the right of
people to choose their own food too! – Now there’s a dangerous idea! Perhaps
councillors would like it better if they took a leaf out of ‘Iceland’s' book and
created a council food delivery service where they could run a fleet of
specially equipped vans with pre-prepared approved meals, consisting of
flavour-free, politically correct and nutritionally balanced, portion
controlled slush and deliver it to all Tameside residents – Breakfast, Dinner and Tea! 
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