Power to the people

[poledark]

Well we did it

 

I live on a B road which has got steadily busier with the growth of Ashford, and the speed limit was reduced to 50mph about 4 years ago. It is an accepted fact that it is one of the most dangerous roads in Kent...an old Roman rd which has been widened a bit

For almost 2 years our local parish council campaigned for the limit to be reduced to 40mph and other measures put in place to control the traffic which often blasts its way past at very high (above 85mph according to measurements) speed.

The noise generated in a quiet rural location was very unpleasant.

My wifes Jeep (parked in a layby) was almost a write off having been walloped by one of four vehicles involved in a pile up due to the second one being unable to stop when a car turned right in front of him.

 

After 25 unanswered letters (over a two year period) from the parish clerk to the Officer concerned, the Parish council called all the residents to a special meeting, where we were asked to make our feelings known to the Traffic management commitee....and finally we got an "experimental" 40mph limit for 18 months.

Most drivers stick pretty close, but when a survey was done recently the average speed was 48mph, and so the Officer on the council said she would therefor be recomending the 50 limit being restored!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Speeding motorists and motorcyclists were to be allowed to dictate the speed !!!!!!!!!!! " The 40 limit was judged to be "unenforcable"

 

Letters were written, press involved, Mp's contacted. some expert ex police traffic officers involved.....even a Knight of the realm who lives just up the road!!

 

Tonight at the meeting of the "Traffic management commitee" we won a resounding victory, with a reccomendation that measures will be taken to actually enforce the now permanent 40mph limit :)

 

Not bad for less than twenty locals

 

Den

Edited June 12, 2007 by poledark

[Chris Goddard]

Well done that MAN!! About bloody time COMMON SENSE came out ahead of the bloody PC brigade!!

[kleinboet]

Den,

Well done, as you say, people power!

The thing I can't understand is that idiot said that the speed limit was "unenforcable" - haven't they heard of speed cameras? If they buy 1 camera and a few camera boxes and set them up in the road,

leaving the camera in a different one each time period, the camera would pay for itself and the motorist would learn to keep to the speed limit!

[DavyR]

Well done that MAN!! About bloody time COMMON SENSE came out ahead of the bloody PC brigade!!

 

PC in this context means Parish Council, I assume?

[poledark]

I was hoping Chesters would "bite" on this one No sign of corruption, just councillors (elected) and other sundry persons who care about the community (not just my patch)

 

Regarding the "unenforceable" bit, this really comes down to manpower and costs involved.

 

I was surprised and impressed by the attitude that "most drivers behave in a responsible manner"........ and "make their judgement of a safe speed according to the road and conditions"

 

Davy, I know your remarks were meant as humourous, but I really must stick up for my local Parish councillors...unpaid, unselfish, unapreciated. Most of us barely know they exist until something affects us. Hats off to them all

 

Den

Edited June 14, 2007 by poledark

[DavyR]

Davy, I know your remarks were meant as humourous, but I really must stick up for my local Parish councillors...unpaid, unselfish, unapreciated. Most of us barely know they exist until something affects us. Hats off to them all

 

Den, I agree with you about Parish councillors - what I meant was that despite Chris's determination to see Political Correctness everywhere, there was none apparent (not that I could see anyway) in your account, so Chris's "PC" must have referred to Parish Councillors...

[Chris Goddard]

No? I meant PC as in the buggers are even trying to get PC onto ROAD SAFETY now as well! And Den, may I suggest that you offer your services to operate a manual speed camera on the affected road?, NOT sure how it works but I HAVE heard of this being used to some degree in the past?

[chesters1]

I was hoping Chesters would "bite" on this one No sign of corruption, just councillors (elected) and other sundry persons who care about the community (not just my patch)

 

Regarding the "unenforceable" bit, this really comes down to manpower and costs involved.

 

I was surprised and impressed by the attitude that "most drivers behave in a responsible manner"........ and "make their judgement of a safe speed according to the road and conditions"

 

Davy, I know your remarks were meant as humourous, but I really must stick up for my local Parish councillors...unpaid, unselfish, unapreciated. Most of us barely know they exist until something affects us. Hats off to them all

 

Den

i didnt have to Den

 

"Letters were written, press involved, Mp's contacted. some expert ex police traffic officers involved.....even a Knight of the realm who lives just up the road!!"

 

even councillors dont upset those that could depose them and ofcourse Knights have friends and ofcourse councillors do get paid be it small but the word "councillor " gets them more.

you will eventually realise that theres something in it for one of them ,power and lust for it is why some pretend to care for other but in reality only care for what they get out of it.didnt you mention a councillor is your neighbour?.

and if the speed limit is enforced you will notice its the very people who wanted it are the offenders ,its a well known fact ask a copper (copper ,old fashioned policeman alleged to actually go outside the police station or car)

and remember speed doesent kill ootherwise every race driver on earth would be dead.

Edited June 14, 2007 by chesters1

[Guest Brumagem Phil]

Well done Poledark!

 

Must say I didnt miss the irony of you campaigning for road safety whilst your missus drives a chelsea tractor!

 

If you do a google earth search for Earlswood you'll see the 3 lakes and the narrow T shaped causeway. I plan to write to the council about the way people drive over this................its a miracle nobody has been killed on here. Pedestrians risk life and limb walking across here and one local lass in here chelsea tractor even told me I had no right to be walking along it! The speeds people reach across it are absolutely amazing! 70mph I've seen done many times.

 

Needs speed humps badly!

[poledark]

Phil, we sold "the tractor" after it got walloped..how fast do you have to be travelling to push a fully laden Transit off the road, onto a layby, and smash the back of a Jeep?

 

Yes Chesters, my neighbor is the chair of our local Parish council. And of course he benefits, a much quieter environment for certain....but then so do all of us who kicked up a fuss, that was the reason we campaigned. Do any of us really ever do anything for nothing? Even if it only gives a sense of satisfaction.

 

I don't give a toss if people want to speed and kill themselves, just don't do it outside my house

 

I have been volunteered to train for the camera bit Should I thank her? :)

 

Den