12 BEDFORDSHIRE TIMES & CITIZEN www.bedfordtoday.co.uk Thursday, May 1, 2014

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CYCLING tion to the attention of elderly and vulnerable residents in or- The last safe der for them to have their say. Such feedback is essential if resort the proposal is going to work. We do not want to see a situa- Why do folk turn I am writing in support of Ju- tion where elderly and vulner- lie Day regarding the current able residents are discouraged proposal to allow cycling in from visiting the town centre the town centre at specific pe- due to safety concerns, so riods during the day. (Letters, they and their representative April 24) groups should be encouraged into half-wits? I agree with her predictions to frame any changes that are that the proposed changes made. Is it a trait of the modern hu- ing (Polhill Avenue – StJohn tle steel boxes, do we become Consequently, roads and pave- will probably not be policed or Cllr Roger Rigby (Con) man condition that, when Rigby Lower and Newnham so indifferent to the results of ments adjacent to schools monitored adequately. This is Bromham & Biddenham Ward behind the steering wheel of Middle), parking across our actions on others? would, once again, be safe, based on the current situation a car, usually decent folk be- residents’ driveways (Dover Bedford is a small enough pleasant, usable thorough- in which cycling on pavements SPEED CAMERAS come self-centred, uncaring Crescent – Mark Rutherford town in which, with just a little fares and rates of both child and pedestrianised areas is half-wits? Upper), parking on the pave- prior planning, most parents and parent obesity would, no increasing rapidly. Experience Take a stroll or drive past any ment (Kneller Close – Edith could walk their children to doubt, decline and fitness lev- Many pedestrians seem to Bedford school prior to the Cavell Lower,) and generally and from school (though quite els increase. think that they should give the stupidity morning bell and you will wit- disregarding other drivers and why upper school pupils need H. Rollins way to the cyclist which, in ness those undertaking the pedestrians. such assistance is something Caves Lane the interests of their personal What utter rubbish your cor- ‘morning run’ double-park- Why, when encased in our lit- of a mystery). Bedford. safety, is exactly what they respondent Peter Leverkus have to do. wrote in his recent letter refer- I believe that the pavement ence speed cameras. is the last safe resort of the He should come down from moved to Bedford eight years succeeded admirably. However, this unfair system more local people speak up and pedestrian and I am totally his ivory tower and experi- ago, into a 20mph street in the In another year the kids will keeps people offth e unem- tell them things must change. opposed to the proposal to in- ence the stupidity which takes Prime Minister’s area, think- have finished school and I’ll be ployment statistics – perhaps The community must join crease cycling in pedestrian- place in the real world. ing it would be relatively safe. free to leave. why they are so popular with the Yes to Homes campaign, ised areas. I live in Maulden Road, Flit- In fact cars regularly hit Iain Carstairs, this coalition government. together we can make them S. Crow wick, within the 30mph limit. 45mph, and bikes have hit 60 Queens Park, Luigi Reale listen. Devon Road, Bedford In a recent ACPO Speed En- going up the street, all meas- Bedford Labour Party Please sign the petition for forcement Survey, 53.57% ured with a radar gun. candidate, more of the right homes, in the TOWN CENTRE of traffic travelling out of They’re late. CONTRACTS Castle Ward right place, at the right price at Flitwick by daily volume was They’re stressed. www.yestohomes.co.uk. Feedback is exceeding 35mph, a small per- They like the sounds of their Zero-hours HOUSING Andrew Peet centage of these up to 60mph, engines. Spring Road, essential traffic travelling toward Flit- The roads and highways de- an abuse Struggling Kempston wick at over 35mph by daily partment at the council refus- The Labour councillor for volume past a flashing30mph es to do anything about it, say- I believe we need a real debate with rents FLY-TIPPING Kempston Central and East warning sign, was 34.67%. So ing that averages are low. in Bedford about the wide- clearly did not consider an much for warning signs. But when they measured spread use and abuse of zero- As a resident of Kempston, Removers email sent by the Bedford I have seen responsible driv- traffic speeds with a speed hours contracts and how it af- I’m concerned about the lack and District Access Group ers tailgated and harassed for camera, they factored in cars fects workers both locally and of serious local debate on the break law (BDAG) to councillors, includ- sticking to the speed limits. parking, pulling away from nationally. homes we need in our commu- ing him, when he said elderly The police do not have the the kerb, stopping to collect There has been an alarming, nity when there’s clearly a big Mr Murgatroyd maintains and vulnerable residents have time nor resources to carry passengers, delivering pizzas, three-fold increase in these problem. that those who pay people to nothing to fear from permit- out constant monitoring, so breaking down, rolling back- contracts during the present Many of us are findingit really remove rubbish are as guilty as ting cycling in the town centre bring on the speed cameras. wards, and so on. coalition government, leav- hard to save enough money to those who then fly-tip it (Let- between 6pm – 9am. I do not care where the rev- Thus they managed to mas- ing an estimated one million get on the housing ladder, or ters, April 24). BDAG contacted the council to enue from them goes, they do sage the averages into a rea- families across the UK unable are struggling with increas- He is surely wrong. highlight its concerns about the job, so let’s try to stop some sonable 21 mph instead of to plan for the future or know ing rents while our salaries are While those who pay dodgy re- the prospect of allowing cy- of this madness, and rein in the actual average of about 33 if they can afford basic neces- staying the same. movers should know better, it clists in the town centre when some of the crazys, or, should mph. Job done. sities week-by-week. I know of I am part of the Yes to Homes is the latter who break the law. it is still busy around 8am and we wait for injuries or deaths. People are not killed by aver- many workers in Castle Ward campaign which is helping to The problem is the lack of ef- 6pm. Graham Tucker, ages, they are killed by speed- and other parts of Bedford create a lifeline for the peo- fective policing of traveller’s The group is therefore of the Maudlen Road, Flitwick ing drivers. who are seriously affected by ple who are renting, trying sites, combined with much view that the timeframe to The speeds of cars in Bedford this. to get on the housing ladder, confusion between genuine allow cyclists to use the town SPEED LIMITS residential areas is a big prob- The widespread use of zero- and stuck at home with only gypsies and modern age travel- centre should be before 8am lem, firstly because the people hours contracts is incom- dreams of moving out. lers. and after 7pm to decrease the Averages do driving the cars are selfish, patible with building a loyal, We all need to be prepared to An additional factor is that risk of serious accidents. and secondly because nobody skilled and productive work- join in the local debate with while most urban people do I have not taken a view on al- not kill in government is interested force with a minority of em- our local councillors to tackle not care for the different tribe lowing cyclists back into the – and puttingup a cheap sign ployers misusing zero-hours this problem, and think about who travel, there is also some town centre from 6pm – 9am. I was fascinated to hear about with “20” written on it is a use- contracts as a crude way of how we can get the right hidden jealousy because they Rather, I was highlighting the the proposal to introduce less waste of £35. cuttingcosts or managing homes in the right places at are free to move house when- issues that must be carefully 20mph limits in the Queens My conclusion after eight long staff. prices that are affordable for ever they choose and housh- considered before such a de- Park area to slow traffic down. years is that the council is only Most people who are on this everybody in Kempston. olders are not. cision is made. I particularly What a wonderful idea. interested in its salaries. type of contract often need a But our community leaders Michael Collis, wanted to bring the consulta- With two small children, I To this end, we can say it has second job to make ends meet. can only deliver those homes if Sharnbrook

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