It's holiday time again, and this year I'm checking out the south-west of England.
It really is typical, while I am away, 'President' Blair decides the time is right to throw away our constitution, make peace with Mr Brown to maybe call for a referendum on the Euro. For some reason, I have a feeling that this will turn into a vote of confidence in Europe in general, only this time I will not be 'conned' as I was by Mr Heath in the '70s. At that time we voted on whether we should stay in the European Economic Community (EEC) or not and we all know what happened from a pure 'economic partnership' to the current European Union (EU). At the same time, that well known activist, Mr Hain, agrees to the draft (aka final) European constitution which will allow all and sundry to make decisions without taking into account national interests – why should it, when the United States of Europe is but a few years away. This really is not surprising when I get the impression that more and more decisions are make by unelected ministers (Lord Falconer springs to mind).

Opinion polls suggest that most do not want the Euro and - horror of horrors – Ian's (or is it Duncan?, I am never sure) Conservative party is making inroads into the 'Teflon' party, so the referendum will not be about the Euro, it will be about Europe and the Conservatives will be caught without a leg to stand on. Support Europe and thus the Euro, the United States of Europe and take most decision making from Parliament to somewhere across 20 odd miles of water, with 'local' decisions being made by regional parliaments. Whoops, the process has already started! It looks as though not only will New Labour and the Lib-Dems continue to do about turns, but the Conservatives will be forced to find the way to carry out a similar process. It really is not surprising the general public do not trust politicians, is it?

Meanwhile back down in the South-West, even in mid June, the roads are fairly clear, the foreign tourists are in greater numbers than Berkhamsted, but that is to be expected. The unexpected thing I have found is the apparent lack of effective recycling facilities. Oh, yes, the signs to the 'recycling centre' are in evidence, only it looked more like a waste tip and the gates closed (mid afternoon during a weekday!). The owners of the cottage we are staying at, say they only recycle newspapers and glass. I asked if the Council promote the idea (like Herts/Dacorum do) and they told me that the collection boxes did arrive for a couple of weeks last year, only to disappear and not returned. This is in a County that is actually holding the annual 'recycling and waste conference' as I write these words.

Down in the nearest Town, about the size of Tring, they also had a supermarket built in the middle – but it has one and a half hours free parking although no charges are made if exceeded, just clamped. The supermarket also paid for road improvements to send most traffic around the centre. Businesses can buy annual parking permits, £70 to park all day in the district, £50 for all day in the town and £40 for parking during the holiday season only. I noticed a fair turnover of vehicles in this free car park and the pay/display one across the road, rapidly filled up after mid-morning.

Most of the towns shopping 'roads' have been reduced to single track although the finish, being the same colour as the footpaths, has resulted in a number of claims against the Council for twisted ankles. It only needs two delivery vehicles to park and problems rapidly arise

The area was described to me by one businessman as 'low income' and relies on the tourist trade to survive. The problem is that it does not attract high spending visitors and most come either to the holiday camp or are attracted by the superb countryside, coast and walking areas.

This means that unlike us, they have to look after their environment. For example, although building goes on, I did not see one ‘direction sign’ to developments either near or far!