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Wednesday 11 April 2007

Cliftonville's Secret Society

This morning, quite by accident, I uncovered the existence of a top secret organisation based right here in the heart of Cliftonville. A local Mafia branch, perhaps? Maybe a small Al Qaeda cell? No, these would be relatively easy to track down, I suspect. The one in question goes by the name of The Cliftonville Residents' Association.

Of course I'm delighted to hear of its existence, but what is its function? Where and when does it meet? Who are the committee members? And, crucially, how is it that, having lived
in Cliftonville for seven years, the Resident's Association has hitherto failed to make itself known to me?

Well, no I admit I haven't gone out of my way to seek them out. But on the other hand, I really don't think I should have to.

  • Is there a Cliftonville Residents' Association notice board displayed prominently and proudly in the heart of the town for all to see? If there is, then it can't be prominent enough.
  • Is there a simple but informative and user-friendly website that celebrates its (no doubt) hard and worthwhile work in the community? Well, Google doesn't think so.
  • Have I had so much as a single newsletter or other piece of communication dropped through my letterbox in seven years? I'll be charitable and say that if I have, then the dog got to it before I did.
If any of these things are already in operation, then I stand corrected.

I do hope that someone in the upper echelons of our Cliftonville Residents' Association reads this. This is not an attack on you, merely an expression of disappointment that your work clearly goes on unnoticed by the majority. Cliftonville needs a Residents Association that listens to residents.

How on earth can they contribute if they don't know you're there.


1 comment:

Emma said...

I,m not a member but know very well of its existance.I've had regular newsletters through the door and they do seem to be trying to improve the area.