Page 39 - Phonebox Magazine November 2014

Two years ago The Cock was, in the words of Sarah, the new owner, frankly almost derelict.
The change has been far more than just a face lift – and yes the front looks great especially when those palm trees are lit up of an evening. The Cock fronts onto the High Street and is also approached through the car park entrance from Gold Street. What has impressed me most is the splendid layout once inside. At one end a games area includes a pool table beside darts and room for much more, while at the other end comes the glow of an encouraging fireplace. Around the corner we find a quiet niche, which must appeal to people with a mind for games such as dominos, bridge or even perhaps chess.
Social life finds a happy crowd, thirsty enough to keep the fine long bar busy, and enjoying a wide and ever changing selection of ales. Hanslope is clearly a thirsty place, for there are three pubs, a club and a wine shop, all enjoying good trade. Even I, an outsider, was made thoroughly welcome, and I have found this very much a part of Hanslope’s people.
Wind Driven Warfare
A Fine Future for a Fine Pub The Cock At Hanslope Geoff Baccus
‘Even I, an outsider, was made thoroughly welcome, and I have found this very much a part of Hanslope’s people.’
We are still facing the threat of wind farming hereabouts. An update, provided by the Save Our Salcey team, spells out something of the determination required to defend our local concerns. Ecotricity are still trying to gain their horrid way between Stoke Wood and Hanslope, and RWE N.power have their greedy eyes aligned with Orchard Way Haverhill. Even the fight for Nuns Wood nr. Bozeat has not been fully closed off.
The companies behind these schemes are well resourced financially, and operate Tesco-wise, on the basis that their opponents dare not afford the cost of going to law against them. The law firms of course just love this line of thought, for it helps them drive their fee scales ever upward. The Law Society are the only trade union still able to operate a closed shop. Overseas companies seeking to secure a foot-hold, are to the fore among those working the parliamentary lobby, and they all too commonly have the private support of carefully nobbled MPs. Government directives commonly drive against the natural wish of local communities because government thinking rarely reaches to the land outside of Planet London. Even when driven by fierce questioning to preach something of localism, government often looks insincere on the ground. This runs parallel with the experience now being suffered by the people of Margate where the responsible minister has supported Tesco in defiance of the community, despite the pretended prop of the Mary Portas scheme. It will be good to see the lady win that one.... but Tesco do have a lot of money and a quite unscrupulous legal squad just as surely as the outfits we are facing here in North Bucks.
People are getting fed up and are finding the pennies to put up a fight and the courts are proving more intelligent than Whitehall departments, cases are being won and these offer hope and precedent to others. Let’s keep it up. Save Our Salcey are still looking for your support as you will find on their website: www.saveoursalcey.com
Phonebox Magazine 39