READERS' VIEWS 4/6

Chris Smith

24 June 2009

Council has to honour its pledge

IT IS with great interest that we discovered last week that Rugby Borough Council has recently signed up to the West Midlands Biodiversity Pledge.
However, are councils just signing up to this and only giving the issues lip service, given that plans have recently been submitted to Rugby’s planning office regarding the building of an abattoir and cold meat storage and processing plant on the A45 next to Onley Park?
Indeed, Coun Heather Timms, portfolio holder for the sustainable environment, has been quoted as saying: "It is vitally important that we, as a council, protect our environment for future generations."
However, should the abattoir plans be approved then this would be totally compromising the council’s guarantee to the West Midlands Biodiversity Pledge they have just committed themselves to.
The proposed abattoir is to be built on land that is currently greenfield land with no agricultural buildings on it. We know already that slaughter houses are no longer considered to be agricultural buildings but industrial ones.
Therefore the proposal for the slaughter house would involve replacing a greenfield site with an industrial one. If the development goes ahead, it would be setting a precedent in Rugby. How would this be protecting our environment for future generations? No greenfield would be safe.
Also the proposed site is currently home to many different species of wildlife. At least 24 species of mammal, reptiles and amphibians, including Great Crested Newts (which are an endangered species) have been recorded in recent years. Also 86 different species of birds have been noted in the proposed site area.
If the development were to go ahead how could Rugby council say that it is promoting wildlife habitats and protecting the living environment?
By signing the West Midland Biodiversity Pledge, the council has committed itself to protect local sites of importance for biodiversity and take them into account when making planning decisions. On this basis alone, the plans for the proposed abattoir have to be rejected.
If the decision is made to allow the slaughterhouse to go ahead then Rugby Borough Council will be reneging on a national agreement they have signed and endangering the future of all greenfield sites in Rugby.
Joanne Harris, On behalf of Onley Park Residents Association Action Committee

Top quality hotels are needed

I WAS interested to read your story about the hotel owners who are opposed to the arrival of a new Travelodge - Observer last week.
I have to agree with Mr Singh from The Carlton Hotel; what Rugby really needs is more top-quality accommodation, not more budget bedrooms.
How about inviting one of the boutique hotel chains - such as Malmaison or Hotel du Vin - to come to Rugby instead? These are destination hotels which would bring visitors and business into the town.
No-one is ever going to make a special trip to stay in a Travelodge, but in my view an upmarket, fashionable hotel with a great bar and restaurant would definitely be worth a visit.
Mr M Whitley, Via email

No rules are being broken

THOUGH I can appreciate the writers annoyance I would like to see proof of the police informing him they would be watching and levying fines for going completely round the roundabout on Newbold road to jump the queue - Observer letters last week.
Regardless of what writer claims, the police have said they are powerless to levy fines for a legitimate road manoeuvre. I would refer the writer (and the police) to the government's own web site at: www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070338.
In section 186 paragraph 2 regarding Signals and position it clearly states: When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise signal right and approach in the right-hand lane, keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout, signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.
Though I appreciate that the writer is frustrated at these drivers, I think it is a little pathetic to try to frighten other drivers with hollow threats of the 'police watching’, particularly when the drivers doing this manoeuvre are not breaking any laws of the road.
Mr P Rodgers-Moriarty, Rugby

Lanes need remarking

I READILY acknowledge there are traffic flow issues at the Leicester Road/Newbold Island, but I really do wonder about the solution and method which the anonymous writer claims will be operated by the police - Observer letters last week.
Approaching the island and the town centre, motorists have to select a lane. At peak times this competitive juggling can start shortly after and as far back as Tesco. If a motorist doesn't achieve a pole position in the nearside into town lane then they have no option but must conform to the lane markings and go round the island. Some, I acknowledge, do this by choice.
Yes this jumps the queue for town destinations, morally questionable yes, but is the moral inconsideration sufficiently akin to improper use of hard shoulders, undertaking or forcing oneself into the correct nearside lane to constitute an actual offence of driving without reasonable consideration?
I doubt it any more than the motorist who knows a different route to you and gets there first is guilty of anything but better route planning. Could the turn right lane be remarked 'straight on use both lanes - filter in turn' with the nearside one?
It's a tough call but In my view I suggest the problem will only be resolved when there is sensible traffic management and a freer flow into town itself, even up as far as the new lights outside the Benn Hall.
Some years ago the highway authorities effectively stopped an alternative route along Wood Street which would have shared the traffic flow and allowed those who wanted to reach the far side of town to do so. The residential streets onto Wood Street were protected by being cul de sacs at their Wood Street end.
Yes there are some residences along Wood Street but it is also a commercial street for much of its length. This route would also assist when other emergencies totally block the Newbold Road/Corporation Street area.
Additionally a far seeing council would have promoted a dedicated lane right from the M6 along Leicester Road for park and ride, a mini metro line or similar with a terminus at the Avon Mill, but that's another discussion point and missed opportunity.
H S Richards, Harborough Magna

A waste of police time

I WOULD agree with your correspondent that motorists who go round the Newbold Road roundabout to jump the queue are an annoyance - Observer letters last week.
However, I am at a loss to think of what offence they can be charged with, let alone how much the spot fine would be for.
Even if a law is being broken, I would question whether this is the best use of police time. After all whilst it is aggravating to watch someone do it, it is hardly a major problem.
Dave Smith, Onley Park, Rugby

Bluebells were probably not native ones

WHILE I sympathise with Robin Maxey’s lament at the loss of the bluebell, floral display within Clifton Cemetery (Obsever letters, May 21), it is almost certain that they are the garden escapee, Spanish or hybrid bluebell and not our protected native Hyacinthoides non-scriptus.
The Spanish variety are actually threatening our native species due to hybridisation and a way of controlling them is to remove flower heads to prevent the pollen from being transferred to any of the daintier English bluebells that might be in the area.
Apart from the loss of this annual splash of blue I find it a shame that the natural feel of Clifton cemetery was cut short through the untimely cutting of the grass in the seemingly mad desire to keep our natural heritage neat and tidy.
The grass, with the incumbent floral species, had just started to show, providing much needed habitat and early nectar for our endangered invertebrates such as Bumble Bees.
For those few graves that are still visited by relatives wouldn’t it be better for the relatives to keep them clear and tidy? The council could then concentrate on the close maintenance where burials still take place. By not clear cutting the whole grave yard on a regular basis, the unfortunate loss of both bluebells and natural flora would obviously be negated.
Within the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, it mentions that local authorities should consider the natural environment while carrying out its duties and I would like to think that Clifton cemetery adds much to Rugby’s natural environment.
B Ball, Via email

Paliament must start afresh

IN THE past few weeks we all have been experiencing the mess created by our politians. I am sure I do not have to try and explain the situation.
I am sure we all feel the only solution would be to have new elections so that we can start afresh with new rules and new Members of Parlimament. However I would like to say that we should clear the bad feelings we the public have regarding the behaviour of our leaders. The law should take its course before we decide to hold a new election and the guilty should be punished.
We have had general elections in America and in India. These two countries have conducted their elections successfully. In UK for a population of 65million people we have over 645 candidates, whereas in India with a population of over 100million we have just 545 MPs. Why can't we reduce our MPs in this country?
Shiva Bhatt, Shakespeare Gardens, Rugby

Cyclepaths are not user friendly

YOUR correspondent wonders why not all cyclists use the cycle paths on Dunchurch and Bilton Roads - Observer letters, May 21.
Some cyclists find these routes slower, harder work and, very importantly, more hazardous.
There are various side turnings to be crossed with no priority, often with extremely poor visibility, and involving repeated stopping and starting, on occasion at the bottom of a hill.
In wet weather the ridges on some of the paving slabs increase the likelihood of skidding. Some entries onto the main carriageway are at awkward points, such as a bus stop. Acute bends have been introduced and, on Bilton Road above the Lytham Road turning, the path crosses a series of humps, giving increased gradients.
These are a few examples of the bad design of these routes.
Incidentally, the Highway Code makes it clear that use of these facilities is voluntary.
Jane Muers, Via email

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