[hisimp-chat] Differing views about the speed limits petition
Vanessa Kelly
vanessa at oliverdesign.co.uk
Sun Apr 5 23:03:46 BST 2009
Dear David Thurman and David Collins,
The petition makes no claim to be a "minority" reflection of "the
wishes of the majority". It's just a petition. As far as I'm aware,
petitions don't need mandates. You say it has neither widened the
debate, nor engaged - actually it's got you, and others, contacting
me for the first time with your views about this important issue.
Good. At last a proper debate.
My overriding intention in presenting the petition is to alert
councillors to the strength of feeling about road safety in our
community. Yes, I could have worded it differently - asked for
something else - but it's an aspiration. One that realistically will
not be granted in any shape or form by the AJC on 20 April. But it is
the beginning of a long, slow, painful political process in bringing
about some sort of change for the better. I don't want conditions on
our village roads to deteriorate, as indeed they will with traffic
growth continuing as it is.
I'm on the Committee of the Cambridge Cycling Campaign which actively
promotes responsible, legal cycling. I may not be a retired highway
engineer, but I have researched speed limits and a wide range of
associated subjects thoroughly over the last few years. That
research, and the experience of living in the Netherlands with its
vastly superior road conditions, is the impetus behind my desire to
see change. As such, I do somewhat resent the "emotive", "not
carefully considered" charge. Terrier-like would be a bit more accurate!
Best wishes,
Vanessa
On 5 Apr 2009, at 16:46, David Thurman wrote:
> Dear Vanessa
>
>
>
> I cannot help but agree to a point with the views of David Collins.
>
>
>
> The problem with the petition as it is worded is that it only
> gives a very limited scope of choice. It is too narrow an option.
> For me I agree with a lot of what is being petitioned for but not
> all. Therefore I have not signed it.
>
>
>
> The petition does – I agree – “ further publicise your concerns “
> but it does not “ widen the debate “ nor “ engage with......yet
> spoken “.
>
>
>
> Surely a more democratic way would be to invite residents to sign
> up for or against the reductions or to put forward variations
> before presenting a petition possibly only signed by the minority
> as the wishes of the majority?
>
>
>
> Regards David Thurman
>
>
>
> From: hisimp-chat-bounces at the-hug.net [mailto:hisimp-chat-
> bounces at the-hug.net] On Behalf Of Vanessa Kelly
> Sent: 05 April 2009 15:11
> To: Chat about Histon and Impington
> Subject: [hisimp-chat] Differing views about the speed limits petition
>
>
>
> I'm forwarding this exchange of views. If anyone would like a copy
> of my public meeting talk (3rd para down), please get in touch.
> It's got lots of facts in it!
>
>
>
> Vanessa
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear David,
>
>
>
> I'm copying my reply to the HisImp Chat email list since I believe
> it will then reach the widest number of residents.
>
>
>
> The debate about speed limits in Histon and Impington has been
> ongoing for some time. Phil Jones established his Histon Club 20-30
> a few years ago because he feared for his children's safety when
> using village roads. I joined forces with him in the second half of
> last year, and together we organized a rally on the Green in
> October, which was well supported, despite the pouring rain, and
> was publicized and then reported on in the Cambridge News. The
> following morning I debated some of the issues with Mark Kemp
> (County Council) on BBC Radio Cambs.
>
>
>
> Phil and I held a public meeting at Impington Village College at
> the end of November which was well advertised in the 2 villages.
> After my opening talk and Phil's slide show (which featured
> conditions on the B1049 on an average morning), we listened and
> debated with residents for over an hour. The majority who turned up
> that evening were in favour of speed limit reductions.
>
>
>
> This year we decided it was time to bring the issue to the
> attention of our elected councillors, and a petition was the
> obvious way of doing this. It is also a way of further publicizing
> our concerns, widening the debate and engaging with residents who
> have not yet spoken.
>
>
>
> Speed limit reductions will not bring about some magical solution.
> They work reasonably well in Portsmouth, Oxford, Newcastle, Hull
> and Norwich (and across Europe) now. And in these cities, the
> Police have agreed to enforce 20 in the same way as they did 30 -
> obviously more funding for traffic policing from the Home Office is
> something our MPs should be pushing for. Many of these communities
> have only brought about physical changes to the road layout AFTER
> introducing the reduced limits and seeing where the tricky spots
> are. I am not advocating further urbanization of our 2 villages -
> quite the opposite in fact. I am appalled by the creeping
> uniformity of our streets.
>
>
>
> I strongly believe in the idea of a community shifting its mindset,
> and investing in something that will improve quality of life for
> all. I also want the huge numbers of commuters, white van men, taxi
> drivers, bus and lorry drivers who converge on Histon and Impington
> to take on board - as far as possible - that the residents of
> Histon and Impington expect them to drive responsibly. I may be
> delusional, but I don't want to just sit back and complain about
> how things are.
>
>
>
> As a rural centre, we are under huge pressure to take more housing;
> the roads are getting busier by the day (all this before the
> nightmare of the A14 upgrade, additional housing at Orchard Park,
> the NIAB development, Northstowe, etc). I would like to see
> measures in place before residents decide walking or cycling is too
> unpleasant and dangerous. Speed limit reductions are just one of
> these measures. I'm hopeful that the Cycling Demonstration Town
> improvements and the reconfiguring of the B1049 will make 30 mph
> along the B1049 more realistic. The speed of traffic, and lack of
> crossings, means this road currently cuts our community in half,
> especially for children.
>
>
>
> Getting magistrates to take dangerous and careless driving more
> seriously would also send a powerful message to motorists. I find
> it astonishing when drivers who've killed or maimed are given a 100
> pound fine and a year's driving ban. The lorry driver who killed
> Mary Scott will be back driving on our streets this summer.
>
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
>
> Vanessa
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear Vanessa,
>
>
>
> I am sorry to see that you are circulating this email and inviting
> people to sign a petetition and get others to do so.This is not a
> proper debate and is not democracy at work. This is the politics of
> pressure groups.
>
>
>
> Our village is rapidly becoming an urban jungle with road signs,
> traffic lights,speed bumps etc which are far more the features of
> found in a city than a village.
>
>
>
> Can you please explain the traffic accident history that would
> support such a draconian set of measures that you are promoting?
> Please do not give me anecdotes but simple facts.
>
>
>
> In the intersts of democracy I also invite you to circulate this
> email to others on the mailing list for the courier.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> David Collins
>
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