Saturday, May 29, 2010
Will the New Speed Camera Signs Have Any Real Effect?
Will the new speed camera signs the County Council have put on the A518 through Haughton and Gnosall make any difference to the safety of the road? I really don’t think so!
As any policeman who is involved with using a speed gun will tell you the vast majority of those people they catch are locals who are familiar with the road. I worry that putting up these new signs will just have the same effect. People who regularly use the road will soon realize that no permanent cameras are in place and will then forget the signs are even there. Then the only people who might take note and watch their speed will be those just passing through for the first time.
While I would support any efforts the Council makes to make this road safer I, and I know a lot of local residents, think this latest move has more to do with legitimizing the mobile speed cameras that occasional visit the A518.
For a long time I have argued that not only should more engineering improvements be carried out on the road, but that the County Council should review the current 60mph speed limit with the view of reducing this down to 50mph. Nothing they have done so far, and that includes these new signs really gives me any confidence that they are taking the problem seriously, and that the amount of cash the spend is more important that getting a really improvement that will save lives in the future.
As any policeman who is involved with using a speed gun will tell you the vast majority of those people they catch are locals who are familiar with the road. I worry that putting up these new signs will just have the same effect. People who regularly use the road will soon realize that no permanent cameras are in place and will then forget the signs are even there. Then the only people who might take note and watch their speed will be those just passing through for the first time.
While I would support any efforts the Council makes to make this road safer I, and I know a lot of local residents, think this latest move has more to do with legitimizing the mobile speed cameras that occasional visit the A518.
For a long time I have argued that not only should more engineering improvements be carried out on the road, but that the County Council should review the current 60mph speed limit with the view of reducing this down to 50mph. Nothing they have done so far, and that includes these new signs really gives me any confidence that they are taking the problem seriously, and that the amount of cash the spend is more important that getting a really improvement that will save lives in the future.
# posted by Barry Stamp @ 11:37 AM
Monday, May 17, 2010
The County Council Must Come Clean Over What Lies Behind the Funding of the Stafford Western Access Road
I real do think the County Council should come clean about how they are intending to fund the proposed Stafford Western Access road if they failed to get money from developers of new housing in the area.
While I agree that the final decision as to where new houses are to be built in Stafford lies with the Borough Council I really do think that County Council should admit that they are planning to build this new road with the intention that it will open up a large area of land for house building.
Indeed they even hinted at this fact in the local press when they said the new road should not be though of as a bypass but instead, as the named suggests an “Access Road”. By its very nature and “Access Road” must provide access to something!
While the County Council are making a bid to Central Government for £36illion of funding, this will fall short of the real cost of building the road with its two new bridges over the railway and river. While in the short-term the Council might fund this shortfall themselves they will no doubt be expecting to recoup this cash sometime in the future. I suggest that this can only mean one thing - they expect developers whose sites will benefit from the new road to contribute towards its costs. Indeed the County Council are already using this funding model in Rugeley where developers are now paying back money the Council spent to build the towns new bypass.
If this is their plan in Stafford then naturally the Burley Fields area of Castlefields seems a likely candidate to provide the cash as this site would certainly benefit from the road and also be large enough to generate the money needed to repay the County Council in full.
I believe the County Council are being totally unfair with the way they are presenting the proposal to build this new road and they should admit it will provide access to Burley Fields, which when developed would make a considerable contribution which would off-set original costs.
While I agree that the final decision as to where new houses are to be built in Stafford lies with the Borough Council I really do think that County Council should admit that they are planning to build this new road with the intention that it will open up a large area of land for house building.
Indeed they even hinted at this fact in the local press when they said the new road should not be though of as a bypass but instead, as the named suggests an “Access Road”. By its very nature and “Access Road” must provide access to something!
While the County Council are making a bid to Central Government for £36illion of funding, this will fall short of the real cost of building the road with its two new bridges over the railway and river. While in the short-term the Council might fund this shortfall themselves they will no doubt be expecting to recoup this cash sometime in the future. I suggest that this can only mean one thing - they expect developers whose sites will benefit from the new road to contribute towards its costs. Indeed the County Council are already using this funding model in Rugeley where developers are now paying back money the Council spent to build the towns new bypass.
If this is their plan in Stafford then naturally the Burley Fields area of Castlefields seems a likely candidate to provide the cash as this site would certainly benefit from the road and also be large enough to generate the money needed to repay the County Council in full.
I believe the County Council are being totally unfair with the way they are presenting the proposal to build this new road and they should admit it will provide access to Burley Fields, which when developed would make a considerable contribution which would off-set original costs.
# posted by Barry Stamp @ 7:16 PM
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Something Must be Done to Improve Road Safety on the A518
Something really must be done to improve road safety on the A518. In the last couple of weeks there have been two accidents on the road, one at the notorious Swan Pit dip and bends and one by the Navigation Inn in Gnosall. Unfortunately the one at Swan Pit resulted in yet another fatality.
In 1995 when I was County Councillor for Gnosall Division I persuaded the Council to carryout a thorough review of the road. As a result they published their A518 Route Strategy which highlighted a number of areas which they felt needed improvement to ensure better road safety. These included the road at Swan Pit.
However since that time a new Councillor has been elected and the County Council has changed to Conservative control. But what does remain the same is the A518 and with ongoing budget cuts being threatened by the County Council I am afraid nothing is going to change in the future.
In 1995 when I was County Councillor for Gnosall Division I persuaded the Council to carryout a thorough review of the road. As a result they published their A518 Route Strategy which highlighted a number of areas which they felt needed improvement to ensure better road safety. These included the road at Swan Pit.
However since that time a new Councillor has been elected and the County Council has changed to Conservative control. But what does remain the same is the A518 and with ongoing budget cuts being threatened by the County Council I am afraid nothing is going to change in the future.
I do admit that since the Route Strategy was published a few new warning signs have been erected and a couple of pedestrian crossings have been installed, but other than that no real investment has been made.
Making this road safe will cost money, but I doubt the County Council have either the cash, or more importantly the commitment to make the real improvements that will prevent further accidents in the future. I do however urge the County Council not to bury their heads in the sand any longer and get something done before yet another accident occurs!
# posted by Barry Stamp @ 5:48 AM
Monday, February 22, 2010
Cuts in Police Budgets Could Mean Poorer Service For Rural Areas
The news that Staffordshire Police must save £30million from its 2011 – 2012 budget hit me like a bolt out of the blue. Given that the Police Authorities total yearly budget is £190million it is hard to believe the forces assurance that this saving can be made without cutting front line services. This is especially true as this latest cut is to be made on top of the £4.7million savings that have already been promised from this April. Even if police bosses make the majority of cuts in behind the scenes support it does not take a genius to realize that these jobs will have to be covered by someone, and that as the majority of staff left will be frontline police officers some of these will have to be deployed to cover the shortfall!
I’m particularly concerned that if frontline officers are reduced the rural areas are bound to suffer most. Already it is rare to see a police office in my neck of the woods, not because they don’t care or can’t be bothered but rather that they are being deployed more and more to tackle crime in the populated urban areas.
As a Borough Councillor I attend Haughton, Church Eaton and Bradley Parish Councils and although an item is included on the agendas for a report from a representative of the local policing team I honestly can’t remember the last time a police officer actually turned up! While I understand crime levels in this area are low it is still important residents are reassured that they are protected and served by the police, and this can only be achieved by a higher level of visibility.
I certainly will be the first to acknowledge that the day’s of the “Village Bobby” are over but I only hope that once the £30million cuts bite the days of the “Area Bobby” are also not assigned to the history books!
I’m particularly concerned that if frontline officers are reduced the rural areas are bound to suffer most. Already it is rare to see a police office in my neck of the woods, not because they don’t care or can’t be bothered but rather that they are being deployed more and more to tackle crime in the populated urban areas.
As a Borough Councillor I attend Haughton, Church Eaton and Bradley Parish Councils and although an item is included on the agendas for a report from a representative of the local policing team I honestly can’t remember the last time a police officer actually turned up! While I understand crime levels in this area are low it is still important residents are reassured that they are protected and served by the police, and this can only be achieved by a higher level of visibility.
I certainly will be the first to acknowledge that the day’s of the “Village Bobby” are over but I only hope that once the £30million cuts bite the days of the “Area Bobby” are also not assigned to the history books!
# posted by Barry Stamp @ 3:50 PM
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
At long last the County Council carry out drainage work in Church Eaton Road
At long last the County Council are carrying out work to improve the drainage on Church Eaton Road just outside Haughton. Over the past couple of years I, along with both Haughton and Church Eaton Parish Councils, have been pressing the County Council to get something done.
Over the last couple of years I’ve been promised time and time again that work was going to be carried out, but all the County Council managed to do was to suck-out the drains which had little effect on the water which flooded the road after even the slightest shower! However as one or two residents have already commented surprise surprise now that the County Council elections are just a few weeks away more substantial work has started. I have to say I do agree with that sentiment and just wonder if they would have bother to do anything if the election was not coming up!
However I must thank the County Council for actually making the effort whatever their motive might be as the state of the road was getting beyond a joke and many local residents feared the lane would become impassable to all but the largest 4x4 if nothing was done!
The work here must however be just the start for further work in this area and I know many residents will be looking with fresh hope that their flooding problems will now be solved!
Over the last couple of years I’ve been promised time and time again that work was going to be carried out, but all the County Council managed to do was to suck-out the drains which had little effect on the water which flooded the road after even the slightest shower! However as one or two residents have already commented surprise surprise now that the County Council elections are just a few weeks away more substantial work has started. I have to say I do agree with that sentiment and just wonder if they would have bother to do anything if the election was not coming up!
However I must thank the County Council for actually making the effort whatever their motive might be as the state of the road was getting beyond a joke and many local residents feared the lane would become impassable to all but the largest 4x4 if nothing was done!
The work here must however be just the start for further work in this area and I know many residents will be looking with fresh hope that their flooding problems will now be solved!
# posted by Barry Stamp @ 9:46 AM
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
I told you so ......
I don’t like to say I told you so, but after I questioned who actually owned the missing barriers on Doxey Road Bridge the County Council remembered they had actually paid the contractor for the work, and yes they did own the barriers. They also asked the police to investigate claiming they had been stolen. It’s not surprising that the missing barriers suddenly reappeared!
Why no one else had though to ask that simple question is beyond me, and had I not raised it the County Council would have taken weeks getting new barriers made and installed. Only then would they have realized they had already paid for the work but it would then have been too late as they would be faced with another bill.
Of course there would have been two losers in this situation. Firstly local residents who would faced weeks of delay while the temporary traffic lights made the bridge safe, and secondly local taxpayers would have had to pay the bill twice!
Why no one else had though to ask that simple question is beyond me, and had I not raised it the County Council would have taken weeks getting new barriers made and installed. Only then would they have realized they had already paid for the work but it would then have been too late as they would be faced with another bill.
Of course there would have been two losers in this situation. Firstly local residents who would faced weeks of delay while the temporary traffic lights made the bridge safe, and secondly local taxpayers would have had to pay the bill twice!
# posted by Barry Stamp @ 10:04 AM
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Why is the County Council dragging their feet over the Doxey Road bridge?
I was amazed to hear that sub-contractors work for Wrekin Construction had removed safety barriers from the recently rebuilt Doxey Road bridge because they were worried they would not be paid for their work as Wrekin had gone in administration a few days ago. Removing these barriers has not only made the bridge dangerous, but has also meant that both local residents and the hundreds of people travelling to Stafford from Haughton and Gnosall are once again inconvenienced by the temporary traffic lights that have now been installed.
While I sympathize with the firm in question, one is left wondering how the County Council allowed this situation to develop. If they have already paid Wrekin Construction for the work surely the barriers belong to the Council and the contractors had no right in taking them away. If this is case why has the Council not taken action to get then returned immediately?
On the other hand if the bill has not been paid the Council has the money to replace the missing barriers without delay! In either case I cannot understand why the Council is talking about putting temporary concrete barriers in place in the next few days and then reinstating permanent barriers ‘at some point after that’.
As a week as already passed since the original barriers were removed I must ask why the County Council are dragging their feet. If barriers like this are damaged on the motorway they are replaced in hours – not weeks, which will be the case in Doxey.
Leaving the bridge in this state is an absolute disgrace!
While I sympathize with the firm in question, one is left wondering how the County Council allowed this situation to develop. If they have already paid Wrekin Construction for the work surely the barriers belong to the Council and the contractors had no right in taking them away. If this is case why has the Council not taken action to get then returned immediately?
On the other hand if the bill has not been paid the Council has the money to replace the missing barriers without delay! In either case I cannot understand why the Council is talking about putting temporary concrete barriers in place in the next few days and then reinstating permanent barriers ‘at some point after that’.
As a week as already passed since the original barriers were removed I must ask why the County Council are dragging their feet. If barriers like this are damaged on the motorway they are replaced in hours – not weeks, which will be the case in Doxey.
Leaving the bridge in this state is an absolute disgrace!
# posted by Barry Stamp @ 5:37 PM
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