What's going to happen now is that they have to start all over again if they want to put bumps down. They will issue another questionnaire, but this time people will be aware of the issues and they will not be able to claim that they have 90% support.
If they had done this in the first place there wouldn't have been an issue. Bizarrely they've said they will again accept petitions. So it's go back to Old Kent Road. The councilor will go round again collecting names of those wanting humps and unless someone is prepared to go out and get the objectors signatures then we're right back where we started.
A lot of issues to check out so I'll keep you informed as I get more info.
Re: Speed bumps
Right here’s the latest update. Basically, what I said above has now happened.
It seems that Ian Marks wasn’t impressed by the way that we have been dealt with and has probably had words with the planners essentially telling them to go out and get some true figures. Their letter still claims a majority in favour of humps and is quite dismissive of our findings but at least they say they want to again ask for people’s views this time both for and against road humps.
Their letter contained a long-winded attempt to explain why a 20mph limit wasn’t on offer. They could have just simply said that they weren’t prepared to go against government guidelines and have done with it; would have been far easier for people to understand. Anyway, given they simply wont consider any other option than bumps the only question we can now ask is simply bumps or no bumps.
How this is going to work out, I’ve no idea. People may well prefer bumps rather than nothing but there’s only one way to find out and that’s to ask the question. It’s still all a bit unfair in that people who agree simply have to give their signature but those wanting to object must also put their objections in writing which I’m sure will put a lot of people off. Still we can but try.
The letters are all printed and ready in envelopes for delivering out tomorrow and some people from Birchdale have kindly offered to help with the task. This time Manchester Road, Avery Close, and Bruche Heath Gardens will be included as these were the roads the council have been including.
Count up possibly in Paddington House about 9pm if you fancy a beer.
Re: Speed bumps
Guardian prints the press release from the council with an incorrect statement. Heres the reply I sent to Sarah Hawker.
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sarah
Yesterday we saw open arguments on the street and many abusive calls being made to myself all for the wrong reasons and your report today may well fuel this anger.
Your article states.
“Some residents were so fervently opposed to the installation of the road humps that they conducted their own survey”
This is quite simply untrue. Our survey was conducted only to assess the true wishes of the people giving each household the opportunity to vote for or against the council plan. Our figures were collected honestly and were 100% accurate and although rejected by the planners, showed 83% were opposed to the introduction of bumps.
We are not anti speed bumps as suggested but we are concerned that the council are trying to “pull the wool over peoples eyes” by providing deliberately misleading information and failing to include objections in it’s figures. Our survey revealed that the vast majority of people feel that they were not properly consulted and did not receive any questionnaire from the council. Had they done so, most would have said no to their plan.
Even at this 11th hour the unfairness of this situation continues with people being told that the only way they can object now is the daunting task of writing to a solicitor while supporters need only sign a doorstep petition.
The whole thing has been a David and Goliath situation and at the moment we could do without David’s neighbour’s throwing stones at him as well, so please ensure that this message is shown.
Thanks again
Bill Green
------------------------------------------------------------
We should know by tomorrow how this latest fiasco went on.
I know that the best part of three hundred objections have been sent in but it remains to be seen if the solicitors start to play silly buggars and claim the returns aren’t valid.
There was a drop off in the number of returns this time caused mainly by the fact that it wasn't just a yes no thing. The "fors" would probably claim that this is because people changed their minds but we only found a handful where this was the case. There were an awful lot of people who said they thought we were wasting our time as the council was just going to carry out their plan in any case.
Getting people to put pen to paper is virtually impossible especially when it's freezing cold and your dealing with older people that can only just sign their name. Also, the number of people that were just so fed up with the whole affair made me feel slightly guilty about knocking on their door.
Even if this time it's not all been carried out in a democratic manner, three hundred objections is still a significant figure and one that should be taken into account.
Re: Speed bumps
Just in case anyone's keeping an eye open here for the outcome, I can tell you that we were advised last week that that the planned bumps will NOT now be going ahead.
It's my understanding that the council will in due course make an announcement and or write to all concerned. More as I get it. news page
Bill Edited by: Bill at: 19/2/07 3:40 pm
Re: Speed bumps
The Guardian reported on the issue again today. The report confirmed the plan had been dropped but was written in a way that makes me wonder if Mrs Crazy who wants to remain anon has been giving the writer (Sarha Hawker) a hard time.What the Gaudian said
Here's the reply I sent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right lets sort out the truth here once and for all.
We (the residents) carried out an independent survey that was honest and fair and it showed 83% of households were opposed to road bumps. The lady who keeps writing into the Guardian is one of a small group of people just near the bend on Birchdale Road who have been openly hostile to our efforts to stop bumps being installed.
The truth that this lady finds so hard to accept is that the majority of people on Birchdale did in fact vote against bumps. Furthermore, the people involved in gathering this data were also from Birchdale Road.
As regards the rumour as she put it, yes, some returned papers were indeed signed multiple times, but we checked each one carefully and so did the council’s solicitor. All duplicates were removed and our count agreed with that of the solicitor.
I’ve called upon those who wanted the bumps to join with those who didn’t and to sit down together and come up with a solution that will meet the needs of the majority but to date none have come forward.
Bill Green
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edited by: Bill at: 1/3/07 9:36 pm
Email This To a Friend
Topic Commands
Click to receive email notification of replies 
Click to stop receiving email notification of replies