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Letter to the Editor 18th October 2007
Let work proceed – for everyone's safety
REGARDING the council spokesman's remark on the narrow path in Lubenham.
People have always cycled to work or to school along the footpath from Lubenham to Market Harborough and still do, more so at weekends and during school holidays for pleasure.
For some people the cycle is the only means of transport. Isn't it the most sensible and safer thing to do on a busy road?
Pedestrians who use the footpath on a daily basis are young mothers and fathers with pushchairs and their young families, students, walkers for pleasure or work, joggers, dog walkers and mobility vehicles.
To the council spokesman who made an extremely insensitive remark: Would he like to usher a double buggy, an infant and a toddler along that part of the narrow path perilously close to traffic three to four times a week and on return? I don't think so!
Following the tragic accident 13 months ago when a son, Adam, died and a family's life was changed forever, Sue and Roger Buckland wanted to give part of their front garden free of charge to the council highways in order to widen the path in a hope that no such tragedy would happen again. Surely they have the right to choose what the new boundary is made of?
Wouldn't it be better to agree and complete the work as soon as possible for the safety of all the footpath users?
Kathleen Nichols,
Main Street, Lubenham.
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Unacceptable face of circus life
THE Bobby Roberts Circus in Harborough this week have a 52-year-old elephant called Anne, who they cart all around the country to appear for photoshots.
This animal is arthritic and should not be travelling around in this
manner. She is chained to the
ground when she reaches her destination.
Anne is the only remaining elephant in a British circus, as it is becoming unacceptable to have wild animals in circuses any more.
Bobby Roberts Circus is constantly on the move for months on end. By their very nature travelling circuses cannot provide the space and necessary requirements to meet the needs of animals. Traipsing this poor old arthritic animal around the country for public entertainment is unacceptable in a civilised society.
Born Free, the well respected wild animal protection charity, has launched a campaign to place Anne in a sanctuary where she can have rest and a well deserved retirement for the few years she has left. The circus will not discuss this option.
I am sure people do not really understand the suffering that is being caused to Anne – if they did they would not visit the circus.
Jean Bird,
Harborough Animal Concern.
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Wonderful open day experience
AS a former pupil of Little Bowden School (1921-1930) along with my wife, another former pupil, we spent a very pleasant time at the recent open day on Saturday, October 6.
On arriving we were greeted and made to feel very welcome by staff officials who guided us around the numerous displays of photos etc.
We were conducted on a very interesting tour of the school, which was just unbelievable as I recognised the old classrooms and that is all.
Instead of desks, blackboard and chalk, they were full of modern technology (computers etc), all of which left me bewildered.
My two-hour visit was not really long enough to absorb such a wonderful exhibition.
I would like to congratulate all concerned in arranging this open day, and thank you for the invitation which I am sure was enjoyed by many of the old pupils.
Jack Cooper,
Southleigh Grove,
Harborough.
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On the rural receiving end again
WHY does our urban orientated Government hate all things rural?
They now seem intent on killing off our village post offices.
Having deliberately removed services such as payments of TV licences, utility bills, and in the near future car tax and pensions, they claim that the offices are 'under used'. It's all our fault! The postal strike will, no doubt, be used as another convenient nail in the coffin.
John Haynes,
High Street, Welford.
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Another alarming done deal
AT A meeting held on Friday night in the council chamber chaired by Cllr Peter Callis, residents from Coventry Road learnt that the proposal to put traffic lights at the junction of Farndon Road and Coventry Road was not negotiable and no other design was under consideration. Attending the meeting were representatives from Harborough District Council, Leicestershire County Council and also from David Wilson Homes.
The design puts traffic lights on both east and west approaches to the junction along Coventry Road and at the end of Farndon Road. This was accepted as part of the planning arrangements for the 600 homes to be built off Farndon Road by David Wilson Homes. The plans for the junction enhancements had been submitted as part of the overall planning scheme for the homes which has now been approved by the Secretary of State after it went to appeal, but nobody thought to tell the residents of Coventry Road who would be affected by the proposed junction improvements. "It seems that it is now too late to do anything to alter this proposal," said a concerned resident. "Why weren't we consulted in the first place?"
The design will include pedestrian and cycle crossing phases in all of the traffic lights, improved pavement works for the crossings and the existing pelican crossing opposite the Satellite Youth Centre, which is also part of the National Cycle Network, will be moved closer to the junction. The works will be paid for by David Wilson Homes but will bring misery to residents of Coventry Road and surrounding areas with increased noise and pollution from cars and lorries at the junction. Access to the Spar supermarket car park will be difficult as traffic queuing for the junction will block cars trying to enter. The design also has in it the implementation of a no left turn out of the end of Farndon Road. This will mean that residents of Coventry Road, Gardiner Street and Clarke Street will have to go to the end of Welland Park Road and negotiate the mini roundabout before turning back into Coventry Road. Residents at the meeting were clearly disgusted with this proposal which many saw leading to 'rat runs' through the Spar supermarket car park or along Logan Street and back along Highfield Street. This left turn proposal was not in the original design put to the Secretary of State and will have to go to further planning approval. Residents will be objecting to this part of the proposal.
To help residents whose driveways fall within the junction the design proposes a special phase in the lights to allow then to leave their driveways. However it does not give them any protection when trying to turn into their driveways against the flow of traffic.
The county council experts at the meeting admitted that the traffic survey on which the junction improvements are based was at least two years old and that they believed that only 140 extra vehicles would be using the junction in the morning rush hour as a result of the Farndon Road development. Residents at the meeting called for proof of the survey results which they claimed was outdated and insufficient. Further vehicles from the development are expected to turn down either Western Avenue or Welland Park Road causing further traffic misery to these areas as the additional traffic travels to Harborough town centre and beyond.
Surely this cannot be the best example of local democracy!
Simon Goodall,
Coventry Road, Harborough.
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Releasing Care Village site for homes would be a sin
THE land upon which Care Village, Shangton is built would, I have no doubt, be worth a great deal to building companies.
The infrastructure for house building is already in place.
Such a secluded spot would attract those with the income to afford expensive properties.
I hope my supposition is wrong, and the people of Care are not to lose the certainty, companionship and safety of their home in order to make profit for others!
That would be a sin, and should it be so, can Patrick Wallace live with it?
Mrs F Hall,
Hearth Street,
Harborough.
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