For info
Eric
Reed
Principal
Development Engineer
Transportation and Engineering
Eastleigh Borough Council
023 8068 8233
Dear Lindsi,
As discussed yesterday I give below an attempt at a
piece you wanted to introduce Lin Hand's "Report" which tries to justify their
idea and sets out what was to appear on the public notices. You should have
already got a copy of this in a previous email but I will attach it again to
this for you and as others will not have seen it. Please feel free to exercise
your editorial discretion and lop it about as you think fit.
I have
spoken to Lin Hand who seemed almost oblivious to the effects on cyclists. The
whole idea has come from police, City Council and University security advisers
and the intention is clearly to put people off using these paths altogether
after dark. The fact that this is a designated part of the Southampton cycle
path infrastructure counted for nothing and the effect of forcing riders into
danger from heavy traffic on surrounding busy roads was obviously not
considered. Trying to prevent one or two possible attacks a year whilst risking
the lives of many more unnecessarily on the roads is an indictment of the
process of decision making and consultation that has gone into this. There was
no preceding public questionnaire or survey carried out.
Notices have
already been put up but only (at Burgess Rd, Salisbury Rd and at the steps up
from Chamberlain Rd - although they are not prominently sited) but there should
be many more, particularly at other important access points ie Highfield Lane
end and Furzedown/Oakhurst Road.
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"URGENT
RESPONSE NEEDED TO COMMON PATH LIGHTS SWITCH-OFF
As you will see below
The Council, through the Common Management, are proposing to switch off the
lights along the length of the Lover's Lane path in the NE corner of the common
from 10th December until March 2008 as a 'pilot' scheme for increasing users
security. They already intend to remove (the few) lamps along the stretch of
gravel footpath behind houses on Burgess Rd where this approach has already
"been very successful". But this is an entirely misleading comparison to use to
back their contention that simply deterring pedestrians and cyclists from using
the path will prevent attacks and muggings after dark. It might well, if no-one
uses it but if they do venture along there will be the additional hazards of
slipping off the steep edges or colliding with unseen pedestrians to contend
with in the darkness! They seem to have completely overlooked the fact it
will not only greatly inconvenience people but more seriously, cyclists will be
forced to resort to alternative local very busy roads where they will be exposed
to far greater danger than the risk of a rare attack on the path, only two of
which has happened on this part in a year. They have, by their own admission,
not consulted cyclists or cycling organisations but have since apologised for
this. The minimum we have come to expect is notice of such proposals through the
Cycle Forum or the Cycling Officer and at least a decent period of consultation,
not just two weeks. Lindsi will be requesting that cyclists are represented on
the Common Safety and Security group in the future.
Please read their case
for this below and if you are concerned to give an opinion please either contact
Lin Hand (in charge of Common management) direct on T: 023 8067 1921 or
email : lin.hand@southampton.gov.uk or the Campaign through Lindsi or come
to the next Southampton Cycling Campaign meeting on Monday 10th December to
express your views so that we may formulate or response as a body.
It is also
important to copy in or contact Dale Bostock or Peter Brunskill about this too
as they are very concerned about this as they were not consulted either! You can
also contact or write to the Cabinet Member for Housing and Neighbourhoods
Councillor Philip Williams (e: councillor.p.williams@southampton.gov.uk) who is
responsible for the Open Spaces section which is in charge of the Common
Management Unit.
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Thank
you
Peter
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