Hey Val - please salt our roads (From Bucks Free Press)

I rewrite Beatles classic for top councillor

11:14am Friday 17th December 2010 in Opinion By Steve Cohen

WELL done to householder Jeff Baynham for using the Beatles to fight his case for a new salt bin for his road in High Wycombe.

Jeff was stunned to find Bucks County Council wanted residents to stump up £450 for extra containers.

As the Bucks Free Press reported last week, the knockback inspired Jeff to change the words of Let It Be which we then sent on to officials at Transport for Buckinghamshire (TFB).

Jeff, of Hillary Road, wrote: “When you find yourself in times of trouble. Icy Roads? So TFB, Please put down a grit box, On the T.”

And so it continued. Now in honour of Jeff’s effort, I have rewritten a classic Beatles song as an ode to my good friend Cllr Val Letheren – the county council’s Cabinet Member for Transportation – to the tune of Hey Jude:

Hey Val, don’t let us down

Take our bad roads and make them better

Remember to send gritters down all our streets

Then you can start to make them better.

Hey Val, don’t be afraid

You were appointed to take care of us

But the minute you let our roads go to pot

Then we’ll have to dump our cars and catch a bus.

And anytime you hear a moan, hey Val, don’t be alone

Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders

For well you know it’s a fool who plays it cool

When Bucks is icy and everyone’s a little colder.

Hey Val, don’t let us down

So go tell your gritting team to put on their sweaters

Remember to salt all of our roads

Then you can start to make them better.

Na na na na na na, Hey Val.