“Let me point out that £10K would barely cover the yearly salary of one low-paid, part-time administrative council post. And knowing the way public sector organisations work, I'm quite certain there are many of these in existence which amount to very little actual value or benefit to the city. Do we shout and holler?

Of course it seems preposterous that taxpayers' money is funding such a tour - but what is the alternative? Research, insight, understanding, best-advice and experience are all key to doing what you do well. We shouldn't be afraid to invest a few thousand in learning what works well - not settling for someone else's opinions, but by allowing people FROM Nottingham who KNOW the city to assess for themselves what would carry across to our city, our infrastucture and our culture. What galls you whingers is that it isn't YOU being assigned to the task.

Let's save our criticisms for now and see if something positive comes out of this, rather than being cynical and crushing what could be an amazing project with petty jealousy.

So these people are having a nice time on a work project - so what? Should we all be martyrs about our careers and refuse to anything at work which might be perceived as 'enjoyable' for fear of reprisal?

I hope they do have a jolly time - because the more enjoyment they get while they're out there, the more they will understand about how to recreate that 'jolly' time for people visiting Nottingham.”

“Well, at least they have not censored this post yet.
They were super-quick to pull the Councillor Ahmed comments.
Must be some truth in the rumours.”

“Are you going for the Councillor Collins' Award for Boot-Licking, Mr Insensible?
The attraction on Maid Marian Way had to go so that councillors could say there was no attractions promoting the Legend.
So, close it down and go the land of Make-Belief on an expenses paid jolly.
Just who are the sponsors putting up the rest of the cash? And how will they benefit?.
Perhaps Disney should be consulted we have a Micky Mouse Economy headed locally by cut-out characters.
As an afterthought: was the original Sheriff not a crook and a liner of his own purse, etc., etc?”

“Oh yeh the internet is so reliable; the truth, the hole truth and nothing but the truth...

Nothing like first hand experience...

I am sure that if he did use the internet you would be accusing him of lacking real world experience of it...”

“Because our Council does as it pleases with public money, could they organise visits to Unczar¿s Lithuanian birthplace to give us ideas how to exploit a public position and boost our confidence when travelling to a city to be proud of.

What¿s wrong with using the cost effective internet to glean information?

Yesterday¿s Labour propaganda paper, the Arrow, advertised for a £32,000 pa, Jon Collins party¿s researcher.

Probably be sent to Fort Know for training.”

“I don't understand everyone's beef at the sheriff going to the US when most of you say you would like to go as well. Do you mean you would like to go on tax payers money also, if so what makes you any better of worse than the sheriff. And anyway why isn't this attraction of Robin Hood being looked at in the County of Nottinghamshire that's where Robin Lived not Nottingham City. Why not go for a trip tp Russia or China or both and see what they have to offer.”

“Did you find it Jeff”

“You could not make it up!
What next?
Somewhere back in my ancestry, and possibly yours, a few blokes came up the Trent in longships and gave the town a drubbing.
Could I go on an expenses paid trip to Norway/Sweden etc to research it and it would make a very interesting story with possible benefits to the tourist industry.
15 years would just about do it.
By then this lot will hopefully be well and truly out of office and just maybe some sense will have prevailed.
I'm not holding my breath on any of it!”

“Nothing changes, we are still getting robbed to pay for lame brain idea's like this one.
Do you think Arnold Schwarzenegger will get a freebie and come over here to find out how to Promote Superman and the Fantastic Four in America.
Its just a very poor excuse for another all expense's paid Jaunt.
I saw somewhere that the Labour Councils new idea was to run a scheme where as the locals would be asked how best to serve the residents and whats best for Nottingham.
Im sure I was asked if a free trip for the THE Sheriff of Nottingham on a US tour was on the list. This Council spend out money like its going out of fashion.
It wasn't so long ago that they cut back on Staffing and services, now we know whay dont we.
I dont see that this trip will be
of any significant use and of any value apart from a very Nice all expense's paid Holiday for Councillor Leon Unczur.
He would have been better going and asking the people of Skegness how if they have any ideas for a Robin Hood development in the city.”

“Perhaps we¿re all missing a trick here. When Councillor Unczur gets back he can set himself up as a tourist attraction ¿ a modern day sheriff who maintains the traditional value of taking from the poor to line his own pocket. The fact that he does it in the name of Robin Hood, someone who if alive today would no doubt despise this sort of behaviour, adds real irony to this story.”