We're pleased to say that the Rothwell and District Record still shows an interest in what we are doing. The following appeared as a letter in the February 2011 issue (Alec Shelbrook was asked for a comment on 22 December 2010, and the same email was also copied to Stewart Golton, neither has responded):
A642/A639 - What’s in store for 2011?
It should be said at the outset that both Councillor Golton and, Alec Shelbrooke MP were asked for a comment prior to this being written, but one month on replies are still awaited.
As a result of local campaign, well documented on our blog site, www.lawrrag.blogspot.com, in December 2004, after 12 months of denial, senior council officers confirmed (as if it was needed!) that there was a ‘serious speeding problem’ along the A642/A639, and something should be done about it.
The intervening six years have seen traffic volumes rise, average speeds increase, still no safe crossing point for students walking to Royds School, noise levels increase, higher numbers of HGV vehicles, and as of now probably a five-fold increase in the number of night time HGV vehicles speeding through the area. In the face of local concern one council officer even suggested that the speed limit could be increased! Prior to the opening of the East Leeds link road we suggested that this would result in even more high speed, and HGV traffic, we were told by the ’experts’ that it wouldn’t ………….. IT HAS!
Be it through arrogance, ignorance, or denial, Leeds City Council heads, officers, and those elected to serve the community are able to ignore all government guidelines relative to Planning, Transport, Highways, and the Environment that are already in place to protect communities from the issues we face, and have shown nothing but contempt for the rights and concerns of scores of local residents.
We were advised at one stage that more council time and effort had gone into looking at (?) this road than any other in the area, and we are expected to be grateful for this, the flashing ‘slow down’ signs, that make no difference whatsoever, and the introduction last year of mobile speed cameras patrols.
With regard to the mobile speed cameras, when the camera van is there, traffic speed within 100metres of the van, is well within the limit, but this has raised a number of questions such as:
• As the van is there so infrequently is it accepted that it is OK to speed 99.99% of the time?
• If a mobile speed camera results in a reduction in speeding, why not simply stick a more cost effective speed camera up? Or even simpler, just park an empty ‘marked-up’ van there!
If you ignore a problem for long enough one of two things usually happens, the problem either goes away, or it worsens, and with the current lack of concern, responsibility, and duty of care, this problem continues to head in one direction only!
