What now for Bath's transport and the Bus Rapid Transit?
Thank goodness that finally the Government has 'called in' the Compulsory Purchase Order parts of the Bath Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme.
We can only hope that an inspector will see sense and not allow these compulsory orders.
We can also hope that any incoming Government will take a long, hard look at transport expenditure and decide that spending £60 million on a flawed scheme, that will neither remove congestion or reduce pollution, is not money well spent.
The council is of course still fully committed (after some odd votes in committees) to the scheme. They have spent, and plan to spend, tens of thousands of pounds of council tax money on the scheme and are desperate to get the money as they have no alternative plan.
They will have problems justifying such expenditure at a time when they are also planning potentially biting cuts in services.
The Chronicle article also shows the continuing arrogance of the spokespeople involved, when they make a statement that its just an old railway line, and not a green space. The last time I looked it was people's back gardens – and a green space for the people around.
Perhaps 2010 will see some sense in transport planning, some engagement with local communities, and a proper plan to help reduce congestion and pollution in Bath?
ERIC LUCAS Bath Green Party Lower Weston, Bath
Re: the news of the inquiry which follows the 'will of the people?'
Some 160 complaints out of a population of 80,000 – thank goodness we live in a pluralist democracy!
MEREDITH LLOYD Gloucester Road, Bath
Just like good old SuBo did, I Dreamed A Dream recently, but unlike last year, when I dreamt Councillor Haeberling was spending a Dickensian Christmas, this year Mrs Haeberling was spending a Jane Austen Christmas, with a sprinkling of The Beatles and a smidgen of Monty Python (plus some interlopers).
In my dream (or was it a nightmare)? Mrs Haeberling was standing in front of a mirror rehearsing a premature speech for the opening of the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit).
It went thus.
'It is with great Pride and Prejudice against Newbridge, and I didn't need any Persuasion, I open with no Sense and Sensibility for Newbridge, this Magical Mystery Tour to nowhere. Grab your Ticket to Ride and forget The Great Escape as there will be no Oliver Twist without Money, Money, Money from Somewhere over the Rainbow.
'It is a complete nonsense parkers at Bathampton Meadows are singing 'we all live in a Yellow Submarine as the water is never that deep. Anyway, 'Always Look On The Bright Side of Life I say as I've solved the mystery of the Christmas ice rink – the flooded car park will do just fine'.
I would also like Mrs Haeberling to remember The Beatles words, 'There's nothing you can do that can't be done', so don't count your chickens.
May I also humbly recommend the following New Year resolutions be adopted by the council leader in 2010.
Resolve not to visit China so often as I've already caught the anti-democracy bug and I don't wish to pick up more from Mao's Little Red Book.
Resolve to persuade poor old Charles Gerrish to read the Chronicle again as he doesn't know what he's missing. And resolve to stop 'greenwashing' and save Newton St Loe.
PETER BURNS Lower Weston, Bath
I would like to take this opportunity in the Christmas issue to raise a toast to Sam Holliday and all the staff at the Bath Chronicle for allowing us all the space to state our views about the 'Great Transport Debate'.
On behalf of First Light, thank you and happy whatever you celebrate at this time of the year!
SEAN RUSSELL FRIEND Saint Peter's Terrace, Bath
3 Comments
by Mr Helpful, Bath
Monday, December 28 2009, 9:48PM
“Maredith, the 160 complaints isn't a reflectionof the opinion of the entire population of Bath,
It's the number of people directly affected by the compulsory purchase orders who have objected to what is happening to them.
If you want to know what the population of Bath thought you have to look no further than the 81% who voted "against" in the Chronicle's poll.”
by Kirsten, Bath
Thursday, December 24 2009, 8:59AM
“I shouldn't worry, philip . I am sure Meredith Lloyd went down a storm among the YCs of Oxford University. But given his rather silly contributions to the paper so far, I am sure it is only a matter of time before one of our local Tory grandees takes this young man aside to tell him he has a lot to learn and would do well to keep his mouth shut until he has completed that education.”
by philip, Bath
Wednesday, December 23 2009, 2:04PM
“It's beyond incredulous that Meredith Lloyd is here again, banging on about 'majority views'.
On November 13th he wrote to the Chronicle with similar, but lengthier comments that remain, to this day, unverified and unsubstantiated. And in online response on this website they were wholly discredited.
But not only has he chosen to ignore my own suggestion that he retract statements on this basis alone, he is now seen via his brief letter published here to be continuing a campaign based entirely on falsehoods.
Whether 80,000, 160 or just 1, if the DfT are bound by legislation to respond to statutory objections by calling a public inquiry, Mr Lloyds view is at best, once again, totally irrelevant.
I only hope that I'm not alone in recognising that Mr Lloyd's political motivations have rendered his judgement completely worthless, and that there will be no more publishing of such biased and potentially destructive views as: "Some 160 complaints out of a population of 80,000 ¿ thank goodness we live in a pluralist democracy!"”