’m writing this column on Thursday 31st July. That’s right, readers, one whole month ago. That’s because, after but two-and-a-half days of the August editions hitting-the-streets, I have been completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of emails The Edge has received in support of the publication, after Chelmsford railway station saw fit to BAN it last month (even though I’ve been paying them the best part of three hundred quid a month to have The Edge made available to their commuters for but one week every 30/31 days).

I asked for your support, readers, and bugger me, did you offer it. Thanks very much indeed - “I mean that most sincerely, folks,” as dear old Hughie Green would have said. Seriously, I have been both touched and impressed.

The latest email arrived courtesy of a 13 year old grammar school girl who simply said, “If I, and all of my family, can appreciate the lighter side of life that The Edge offers, and I attend the best school in the country.... why can’t everyone else?”

Such was written by young Farrah Anderson who is in form 8C at Chelmsford High School for Girls. In her email, Farah professed her utter astonishment, as many of you good readers have over the past few weeks, that our very own local railway station have seen fit to take the unprecedented step of removing the liberty of their clientele to so choose The Edge, should they see fit.

Check out this months bumper Letters Page for further evidence, which I’d like to think proves what the vast majority of our towns commuter audience want: (a) a better rail service (b) the opportunity to decide for themselves whether or not to pick up a copy of The Edge without any Big Brother-style interference.

When I emailed National Express to ask whether they would be kind enough to forward me a copy of the email (singular) which they had purportedly received which was seemingly the sole reason behind the ban in the first place, they failed to respond. Yet if my publication is being banned after almost 12 years of unprecedented availability at our local railway station - and the vast majority of local rail users would seemingly prefer to choose for themselves as to whether they pick up a copy or not - then surely it would only have been courteous to let me know why? Oh sure, I received the standard automated: Your email has been received and our aim is to get back to you within 6 working days. Only they never have, which I feel is both predictable and despicable.

Big companies (such as National Express) do stuff (like banning The Edge) because they probably think (a) it’s an inconsequential little local pamphlet that no-one will miss, and (b) we’re the bloody boss. But what sort of an attitude is that? Yet wasn’t it National Express calling my Attitude (with a capital ‘A’, remember?) into question but a few short weeks ago?

So what really is their problem?

All emails received in support of The Edge being reinstated at Chelmsford railway station I have forwarded to Simon Burns MP who has been diligent in his fighting of The Edge’s corner against the ‘big wigs’ at National Express.

But will he be able to achieve a favourable result?

I honestly think that’s highly unlikely. Let’s face it, National Express won’t want to come kowtowing to the likes of me, will they?

Having said that, I honesty fail to see how they can justify such a ban. A theory I have is, when you think about the sheer number of complaints they must surely receive on a daily basis from totally disgruntled commuters wanting refunds for late/non-running trains, one single email from an irate customer singling out something other than the service they offer must appear to be a ‘golden nugget’ in the opportunity stakes for them.

“Yipppeeee,” they must have thought. “A customer complaint that we can do something about.” So there you have it.

Naturally I’ll let you know any more details just as soon as I have them - if I ever do receive any further information from the likes of ‘Dave Sharp and his boys’. Perhaps I never will though, for he did sign off all communication with The Edge with an ever so chirpy, “Our decision is final and we do not wish to enter into any further discussions concerning this matter.”

So really, what hope is there?

Then again, this ban certainly doesn’t put The Edge in the wrong. “Au contrare,” as Del Boy would say, for I honestly feel the actions of National Express have shown them to be precisely what they are. And that is: TOTALLY OUT OF KILTER WITH THE PUBLIC THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY SEEKING TO SERVE.

Ay thank you.