May
| Published: 1st June 2008 20:06 |
TOWNCOURT LANE ACCIDENT
Richard Doré, Towncourt Lane
Following the recent fatal accident in Towncourt Lane, I sent the following letter to Chief Superintendent Charles Griggs of Bromley Police:
"Dear Chief Superintendent,
The recent fatal collision in Towncourt Lane, Petts Wood prompts me to ask what action will be taken to attempt to avoid a tragedy like this happening again.
I say this because my neighbours and I have witnessed several road traffic accidents in this part of Towncourt Lane, where vehicles have mounted the pavement adjacent to the property, which is on the corner of Bushey Avenue. Police records will no doubt, confirm this.
I assume that the speed of vehicles travelling from the Tudor Way junction, past Shepperton Road has been a contributory factor in these accidents? Certainly, I witness vehicles travelling past our home that must be exceeding the speed limit. The fact that a camera showing the speed of vehicles was installed for a period of time (although this failed to work, properly) leads me to assume that this is a concern, of which you will be aware.
In making suggestions to alleviate this problem, I realise that many factors have to be taken into consideration but two options come to mind. One suggestion is the construction of a mini-roundabout at the junction of Towncourt Lane and Shepperton Road. This is a difficult junction, where vehicles have to come out into Towncourt Lane to be able to see down the road. A mini roundabout would, I suggest help to reduce the speed of vehicles. As they would have to give way to the right, this should mean that any vehicles, buses etc coming from Shepperton Road would have priority.
The other suggestion - but I realise that there is the difficulty of enforcement - is a speed reduction to 20 miles per hour along this part of the Road, if not for all day, then at least between 8am and 9am and 2.45pm and 3.45pm when there are significant volumes of traffic in relation to the Crofton Schools.
As an aside, but I feel that this is related, on the day of this sad occurrence, between 3pm and 9pm, or perhaps later, I estimated that at any one time, there must have been up to a dozen Police Officers on the site. Some were at Crofton Lane and Shepperton Road with others outside the School and the surrounding area, dealing with the investigation.
The costs of this policing would have been significant - I am assuming about 72 police hours or more - but, of course, this was essential. Sadly, there is little or no police presence here for the rest of the time. By way of comparison, if there were the occasional police officer in this vicinity of the School, if only between 8.30am and 9am and again between 3pm and 3.30pm (1 hour a day) for, say, 2 or 3 days a week, this would I suggest, equate to a presence for some 26 weeks - 72 hours - which is at least half the school year. In my opinion that would be a very effective use of resources!
To my mind, this would also help to raise awareness of the speed of vehicles and the need to take special care when travelling along this busy road where many cars are parked and children cross the road. I would not want to think what might have happened if this accident had occurred twenty minutes later!"
BIGGIN HILL
John Raggett, Kingsway
Along with many others I live directly under the flight path to Biggin Hill airport and as such, last October, I wrote to Stephen Carr, leader of Bromley Council, voicing my concerns about the increased number of aircraft flying over Petts Wood, how low they were flying, how noisy they were and how old they appear to be. I also asked if the BHA lease was being adhered to and voiced my concerns about further airport expansion.
His reply to me was appalling in its content. Very contemptuous and full of what must be Bromley Council's letter version of verbal diarrhoea providing anything but the facts of the matter.
In view of the terrible air crash that took place in Orpington, and Bromley Council's extremely lax attitude towards its residents and council tax payers with regard to the majority feeling towards Biggin Hill airport expansion, I believe that it is in all our interests to contact Stephen Carr and voice all of our concerns.
Bromley Council should be working to make our lives better not Biggin Hill's.
I believe that Bromley Council are putting lives at risk by allowing any future expansion at the airport and next time those of us on the ground may not be quite so lucky.
RE: LETTER IN THE GAZETTE TITLED ORPINGTON MASTER PLAN
Rick Fuggle, Manor Way
Re the above letter, the writer has identified some of the failings and I wholeheartedly agree with his comments on Nugent Park.
However his comments re reducing rent/rates is incorrect. First of all the Council has no say in either rent or rates, unless they own the property. Rates are set by the State under the Uniform Business Rates; the amount payable is considerably higher than residents pay for their residence. A small lock up shop in Petts wood will have rates in excess of £3,000 and more likely £5,000. For this the Council gives them nothing; the shopkeeper has to pay extra to dispose of refuse. Rents are down to landlords, who can only charge the going rent for the area; else the shopkeeper can appeal to a rent tribunal. But do remember this is an expensive area.
There are various other factors that force shops to close that are beyond the shopkeepers' control. First of all is sales; unless people use the shops then they will close. It is often cheaper to purchase things on the internet, at a price your local shopkeeper cannot compete with.
Then we have the parking issue; if people cannot park easily near the shops they will go off to Bluewater and park for free. Parking has killed Orpington and is doing the same for Petts Wood. There is no reason that our greedy Council does not permit one hour free parking and then payment for subsequent parking in local shopping centres. This would encourage people back into the area and may assist in revitalising the shops.
However with it now permitted for CCTV to be used for parking offences, I am certain that our council would rather earn some money back from motorists than waste time in stopping crime that will not generate revenue. So prepare for even less shoppers in these areas and more closures of businesses.
Small local shops also have increased costs foisted upon them by Central Government. If they employ someone they are liable to a 12.8% tax on that employee's earnings, above what the employee takes home. Plus there is the added cost of maternity and paternity leave coupled with flexible working hours etc. All these costs have to be factored into the equation before the owner starts to earn money for his own living.
The other large expense for small retail outlets has been in having to adapt their premises for disabled access. Though I am not against disabled people, the cost for changing entrance ways etc can run in thousands of pounds, all to be paid for by the proprietor, who will probably never recoup this cost.
These rules and regulations have not helped small businesses or your local shopkeeper. They have only hindered progress and will eventually mean more unemployment and fewer local services. Permitting stores like Tesco's to move into an area will remove your choice of shopping and variety of outlets.
The answer is in the hands of you, the public. Make your dissatisfaction known to your local Councillors; insist that your MP looks into the rating structure and the employment laws; and finally, use your local shops.
What do you think?
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