YOUR LETTERS: June 19 2008
A ROUND-UP of your letters from the the June 19 edition.
Want to air your views? Email us a letter by clicking here or write to us at: Letter's Page, Rugby Advertiser, 2 Albert Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 2RS.
All letters MUST include full names and addresses to make sure it is bona fide. If you wish for these details not to be published, please state so in the letter.
Good news for walkers
BEFORE you again launch into gratuitous and sarcastic ridicule of an individual or individuals, I suggest that that you first check the facts of the situation. Otherwise you may yourself earn the title 'numskull' that you so freely bestowed in your 'Editor's Viewpoint' (Advertiser, June 12) on the individual responsible for installing the new pedestrian crossing adjacent to the Whitehall Road/Clifton Road roundabout.
As a road user who daily travels along Whitehall Road in morning and evening rush hours, it is clear that the new crossing makes little difference. This is because the traffic is already slow moving due to queuing to get into town in the morning, and in the evening, due to traffic blocking back along Whitehall Road from the Hillmorton Road roundabout.
Further, if you had ever got out of your car and actually tried to walk from the town centre to Lower Hillmorton Road, as many do on their way to the several surgeries in this area, you would have found it a nightmare trying to cross the road before this crossing was installed – just imagine yourself as elderly and not so fast on your feet.
It has at last been realised that roundabouts are a real hazard for pedestrians, and I note that at the reconstructed Bilton Road/Buchanan Road junction, traffic lights with a pedestrian crossing phase are being installed.
So, Mr Aengenheister, whilst I know the golden rule of journalism is to 'never let the facts spoil a good story', please stop writing like a small town journalist pretending he's on the staff of a national tabloid.
Instead, put yourself in the position of the majority, rather than the few 'petrol heads' to whom you regularly give voice, when they complain so loudly about the violation of 'their rights'.
'Rights' they believe, to drive inappropriately fast and to have precedence over all other road users, particularly pedestrians. If drivers showed more consideration for others, light controlled crossings would not be necessary.
Graham Bevan,
Carlton Road,
Rugby.
Editor's Footnote: I will ignore your 'clever' attempts to insult me in my profession
The big point you make is that the traffic heading into town was slow moving. But at least it was moving, whereas now, for much of the time, it is not.
It is interesting for you to have claimed the majority as a pedestrian which I think you might have difficulty justifying. I might agree with you more, actually, if more people walked their children to school instead of using the car and clogging up the roads even more.
Thank you for your witty letter.
Meeting over safety
I WOULD urge all local residents in the New Bilton Ward and other concerned people about the safety of the Lawford Road to attend the Rugby West Councillors Panel on Thursday, June 19 from 6pm (formal meeting to start at 7pm) at St. Oswald's Primary School, Addison Road, New Bilton, and Rugby.
In 2002, local residents were promised by letter from the county council that improvements to the roundabout on Lawford Road at it junction with Addison Road, including installing traffic lights would take place within the year – Safety Improvements were also promised to the zebra crossing further up Lawford Road at the same time.
Six years later nothing has happened – until renewal pressure from myself by writing letters and demanding the councillors discuss and deal with the issue and local parents also organising themselves into a campaign has now resulted in promises again by Warwickshire County Council to do something.
It has taken people power in New Bilton to get something seemingly done at long last – after our local Labour councillors took little action to sort this problem out. To his credit newly elected Cty. Cllr. Doug Hodkinson has taken on board local concerns unlike Cllr. Ish Mistry who announced only eight months ago that nothing could be done.
Before we celebrate, we need to remember that the same organisation that has held 150,000 in its coffers for six years for the Addison Road/Lawford Road roundabout, which was given to it by CEMEX as part of a 106 agreement, as also denied that their was ANY problems with the unsighted zebra crossing outside the Holly Bush public house will be drawing up the plan.
Officers from the county council will be putting forward ideas at the meeting on June 19 from 6pm and then at 7pm the panel will be discussing these ideas – It appears that the grant given to improve the notoriously black spot roundabout will be used to improve the zebra crossing – all well and good – but it seems like robbing Peter to pay Paul with someone else's money!
I am calling for the county council to listen to local residents positive ideas on how to improve road safety in New Bilton and make a commitment to use some of the large amounts of council tax the community pays in New Bilton to ensure that children and the elderly can cross the road with some degree of safety at both points. And not just reluctantly do something at the lowest cost by officers who have denied that there are any problems.
Six Years of inaction tells its own story!
Roy Sandison,
Campbell Street,
Rugby.
Bikeathon: A great day
THE 14th Annual Leukaemia Research Bikeathon and Pig Roast held between Coventry and Rugby on Sunday, June 8 on a glorious sunny day was a record breaking success, for the first time there were just under 1,000 taking part pledging 50,000
This was the result of some very hard work and it would not be possible at all if it was not for much support by many.
Thanks to the main sponsors Newman Estate Agents, their staff and especially Sarah, Nicola and Christine, who helped with the organising, Central Catering Services, Liberty Graphics, Rugby First and Kremer Signs, which means every 1 raised will go to the much needed research, 100million of which has already been committed to by Leukaemia Research during the next five years
Thanks are also due for excellent press coverage this year to promote the event, to the Rugby Rokeby Lions and all marshals many having attended every year, and all the cycle shops for their part is distributing entries,
Of course there would be no event without those who got on their bikes, some coming from far afield, and there would be no benefit to Leukaemia Research without all the generous sponsors, may I remind all those who took part to please pay in their sponsor money as soon as possible.
Again my grateful thanks to anyone who helped in any way. The Bikeathon would not take place without you.
Janet Haynes,
Burnhurst Farm,
Princethorpe.
My drive is not for turning
'THANKS' to the person who reversed into my fence:
On Friday, June 13 at 11.20am I was looking out on to my newly finished drive when a young lady driver in a small black car turned in the area outside my house.
She reversed straight into my fence snapping the supporting joists. There was a loud cracking noise - and yes, you guessed it, she just drove off...
Here is some history - we have lived here for nearly two years and our fence has been knocked down on numerous occasions, witnessed and reported to police with registrations and no outcome.
In the last few months, to give the drivers the benefit of the doubt as the orginal fence was no more than four feet high - so perhaps they couldn't see it, we've had a new six foot fence so that it's very obvious. Since then we have had drivers reversing into the concrete posts supporting our gates. Should they be reversing into a private drive? I wouldn't.
I am concerned that one day they will reverse into the side of my house - believe me on a few occasions it has been very close.
In the past we have spoken to the council and the area outside our house is 'private land' for residents only to access the back of their houses and ourselves and our neighbours to access our drives. It is NOT a turning area.
So to the lady who broke my fence - thanks for that and ruining my day. Is your car damaged at all?
To all the lorries and other people who turn in any road outside anyone's house - have some manners and be careful. People take pride in their houses and gardens - they are not for someone to drive into and damage - how would they like it?
(Name supplied)
Catesby Road,
Hillmorton.
Animals suffer too
I WAS disappointed that the coverage in all the local papers of the closure of the cattle market made little reference to the millions of animals who will have passed through on their way to be killed.
There is no reason to assume that animal suffering is trivial or less important than human suffering. For example, many animal experiments cause extreme suffering, often to the point of the animal's death, and many of these procedures are funded by Britain's wealthiest charity, Cancer Research UK.
Some experiments involve starvation, electric shocks, surgical mutilation, pain tests or extreme stress. Animals are infected with lethal viruses and forced to inhale toxic gases.
It is difficult to see how anyone – unless they are determined to ignore animals' interests – can avoid seeing this kind of suffering as a serious moral issue. The scale of the suffering is enormous, with millions of animals used for vivisection in the UK each year. An even greater number of animals suffer psychologically and physically in overcrowded sheds and cages on factory farms – and indeed at markets.
Anybody who supports an animal charity or campaign group that tries to prevent this suffering should be proud of doing so. Animal Aid is one of those campaign groups, and we always need more supporters. Please contact us on 01732 364546 or visit our website, www.animalaid.org.uk.
Richard Mountford,
Development Manager,
Animal Aid.
Grass area is a disgrace
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with recent comments regarding the shocking state of Shakespeare Gardens.
Having just acquired a rescue dog, I now, after an absence of four years, attempt to walk The Green.
The so-called grass is impossible to negotiate, with the ever-present piles of the 'unmentionable' stuff left by inconsiderate dog-owners, who, I may add are all known to those of us who live in such close proximity to The Green, dog warden?
The trees have to be treated like an assault course, or else one gets bashed in the eye.
Why do we pay rates when all we ask is for a decent cut, and trimming of the aforementioned trees?
I hate to hark back to the past, but 40 years ago it was a pleasure to live here alongside The Green, but now I feel that a field in the heart of the country has a much more pleasant vista.
Come on councillors, ye with the big money, get your fingers out, and give us value for what we pay for.
Here endeth the lesson.
Irene Tysall,
Shakespeare Gardens,
Rugby.
Great show at theatre
I WENT along to see Me and My Girl at Rugby Theatre and what an excellent show it was.
There was lots of singing and dancing by a cast who put everything into it and also a great production team which all made for a first class performance.
To think this is all done by people who give up their own time to put on a show so professional as this and the hard work that goes into it, is quite amazing.
A real West End standard production.
Stan Buckley,
Reservoir Road,
Rugby.
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