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Tom Clarke

@essextc.bsky.social
71 followers 104 following 355 posts

Planner. Alternative/Indie fundamentalist. Allotmenteer. Chelmsford. Essex.

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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Actually, in effect most cafes do get the same protection if we’re talking about conversion to residential. Assuming they are within designated town centres the loss of a commercial unit wouldn’t be allowed. They would be less protected (some caveats) if in a random out of town location
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
I invite you to do some basic research on this, if you do I’m in no doubt you would retract your statement. As a wider point it makes financial sense to develop a park into a housing estate, and indeed just about everything else too. Doesn’t mean you should
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Good theory, but that doesn’t really explain the phenomenon in Essex whereby the particular clusters of leave/Reform strength are along the coastal/estuary fringes. Eg Thurrock, Castle Point have very little agriculture. Reform vote in the Essex cities is weak and Tories held very rural Braintree
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Fun fact. In the mid-90s you were more likely to hear M People or Fairground by Simply Red than Blur and Oasis
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
What's your concert history? First concert: Gerry & The Pacemakers Last Concert: Osees Next Concert: Public Service Broadcasting Seen Most: Blur
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Bo Ningen is a name I haven’t heard in a while. Saw them at probably around the same time
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
I see you are a councillor - could you imagine your licensing committee approving a music festival which proposes starting at 6pm and finishing at 3am? And what your residents would have to say to you about it? And if such a thing were allowed, there would be no infrastructure to get anyone home
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
I don’t think thats the reason. We have an al fresco culture on a localised basis but not nationally because many attempts to pedestrianise are torpedoed because it becomes politically toxic. Much of Europe has harsh winters but that doesn’t stop them
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Lorelle Meets The Obsolete were brilliant tonight. Great to have a Mexican band in Chelmsford
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Vape shops taken out of Class E meaning planning permission is required to open a new one
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
I don’t agree online is the primary factor. If that was true the centres in eg Netherlands would be failing, but they’re not. If you’re looking at politics, neither is the fabled free parking a magic bullet. Again, NL (and other Western European nations) do well without it
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
The Newcastle example justifies James’ point, no? It’s not actually 24-24 because the Lab loss to Reform is capped at 23 (1 is from Tory) and you have the 2 LD gains to consider. It’s close I grant you, but I’d chase the 26 not the 23
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Yes! Colchester also, and Saffron Walden. In Moulsham & Central it’s the second time in a year we’ve handed Reform’s asses to them
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
What about those of us in Chelmsford and Colchester who comprehensively rejected our new masters? Hope not hate in Essex’s cities
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Unnecessary gender comment aside, streetlights isn’t in the mainstream conversation when it comes to crime and safety…even in the place in which I live where they are indeed switched off
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Full brightness or turning them back on won’t make a bit of difference to the real big crimes people see in plain sight - shoplifting epidemic and proliferation of vendors of organised crime (vape shops etc)
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Why? Can they not afford the £2.90?
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
They came to our uni and a few of us went, they were good. Also saw them doing the ‘hits’ at a free XFM all-day thing. Probably wouldn’t have considered them otherwise
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Details were phenomenal tonight @radiocitysocial.bsky.social. Probably the best band I’ve seen this year
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
A very cold 2 degrees but sunny countryside Parkrun this morning as a ‘tourist’ at ARU Writtle. Next up, if I’m awake in time, will be one 20 degrees warmer where it’s possible to see dolphins
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Probably good to add that Meryl sold out in advance at our 100 cap Essex venue…
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Glad it’s not just me
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Bristol doesn’t need a leg-up and Wrexham has already got some Hollywood stars fighting their corner
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
I suppose for work purposes I should be neutral but for personal selfish reasons, with Chelmsford being absent, I say come on Ipswich!
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
It was great having Welly in Chelmsford for #IVW26 at Hotbox. Met some new people from Colchester (boooo!!!), it’s what it’s all about
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Belgrade is very under the radar for all of those. Real party city too. And very good value
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Reposted by Tom Clarke
Susan Lewis @susanangela.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
When you consider the amount of decent films that get made, but never shown beyond an independent film festival, and this gets wide release in multiplex cinemas, it shows how the world is ordered for sure!
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
We are such big fans of Melania in Chelmsford that her new film is being shown in our largest screen and a BIGLY number of tickets have been sold. Full house. Most popular film ever known
Seat map for Chelmsford Odeon showing every seat vacant for the Melania Trump film
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Yes. They played in Chelmsford way back in 2023 which clashed with me speaking at a RTPI event up north. The following week I missed Maruja in Chelmsford on Glasgow/Leith trip
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Yes they are decent. Saw them a couple of years back
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Green gain. Bookmark this
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Saw these last year in an 80-cap venue in Ipswich, and again on the ‘rising’ stage at All Points East. Won’t get those sorts of chances anymore
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
If people don’t use AI they won’t lose their job, am I right Chief Constable of West Midlands Police?
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
No view either way on a U16 social media ban but if it happens, the over 65s need to join them
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Started the year off the right way with Parkrun and a good chat about obscure bands. Slightly my worst time of the festive period at 22:44 but my 2025 good form continues into 2026
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
You’re lucky to capture a badger when it’s very cold. I get them regularly - I’ve had up to 3 at once on my camera - but never see signs they’ve visited during winter
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Ruin two bands by combining them: George Ezra Collective
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
I can’t speak for Surrey but in Essex for leisure/off-peak users these changes are a disincentive as most are 10%+ more expensive. They say they’ve reduced off-peak fares which is technically true, but applies only to 10 trains departing 9:41-11:25 with massive caveat you can’t return between 4-7pm
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
That may be, although surely you’re conflating two different issues. These changes are not for the benefit of the passenger. The operators want to have their cake and eat it with peak fares - pushing it out to 09:30 ‘to align with TfL’ while also not making pre-06:30 trains off-peak
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
1,152 + 29 volunteers + bumper number of family and friends watching on. That really was a huge one. Possibly a record attendance for Chelmsford Central Parkrun
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
That was an extremely busy festive Parkrun at Chelmsford Central, wouldn’t be surprised if attendance was over 1000. All four funnels full up. My very good form continues
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Is it because there are so many no-go areas in London? If you can’t go you you can’t get murdered
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Is there any evidence on the personal safety point? I’m under ECC, sometimes out late/early enough to experience it, and prefer it. Good for nature. Most of the people I know that moan about it (older family/friends) don’t go out anyway but parrot local news/FB group talking points
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
They don’t let you down
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Dubai is Benidorm but without a tram that’ll take you somewhere much more cultured within an hour
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Does he realise it’s almost certain the lamb meat he’s eating is halal?
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Happy New (draft) NPPF Day to all those who celebrate
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
www.chelmsfordbeermile.co.uk/blank-3
chelmsfordbeermile.co.uk
The Map | Chelmsford Beer Mile
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Tom Clarke @essextc.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
We’re lucky in Chelmsford to have great pubs, how did you manage such a bad route? Try this route next time, if you’re after local beers there is also the Cricketers near stop 1, Queens Head 100m from stop 4 and Voodoo Keller run by Chelmsford Brewco next to cathedral. Plus some outside city centre
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