Letters

01 July 2009

Abattoir will cause problems on the A45

I AM writing this letter to you to express my concern about the proposed building of an abattoir at Onley and what this will mean for all people who use the A45.
I am a LGV driver who regularly uses the A45 for work and pleasure.
The road is a very fast road and even though it has recently had a 50mph speed limit imposed upon it, I know it is rarely complied with. Indeed, I have been overtaken on the road whilst driving a car at 50mph and an articulated vehicle at 40mph.
I am also concerned about how safe the plans for the alterations to the A45 should the slaughter house be given the go ahead are. The new Ghost Lane proposed is a recipe for disaster. How long before a southbound vehicle turning left is shunted from the rear, or is overtaken, and a vehicle waiting to turn right is then struck head on?
The drawings also indicate that the new junction needed to access the site is nothing more than a T junction, with no allowance to assist an articulated vehicle turning left or right.
A fully loaded HGV takes a considerable time to accelerate to a safe speed (for other road users) and on a fast road such as the A45 this should be a major concern.
Another worrying part of the drawings show a pantechnicon with an overall length of 11 metres. I doubt this very much as this small type of truck may be de rigour with farmers and small producers, but for normal transport operations the HGV (tractor/trailer) combination is most commonly used.
I would point out that 16.5metre long and weighing up to 40 tonnes fully loaded, they will require more space and time to manoeuvre than the vehicle in the plan shows.
I have also driven large vehicles to and from abattoirs and boning plants around Leicestershire. With this particular type of business there is always some form of spillage (slippery substances) i.e. fat from the processed bones after crushing.
This is carried on the wheels of the vehicles (even after cleaning) leaving the plant and then is deposited on the nearby roads making them slippery. The A45 is already a dangerous road as it is without having this other hazard added to it.
I strongly feel that should the plans for the abattoir be given the go ahead by Rugby council then they will be dramatically increasing the risk of serious accidents on a road that is already notorious for them.
Why should the lives of ordinary people be sacrificed in the name of big business?
Mr J. Grosvenor
Address supplied

Let us have our say on development

FOR a number of reasons it is with extreme anger I write to you to express my disgust at the actions of our county council in removing the signs from the A45 indicating concerns against the proposed development by the Baker Family.
Where has democracy and freedom of speech gone in this county or are people in the corridors of our council expressing their support for this development?
Why are similar signs allowed all over Rugby without similar removal by the council?
How can the council put up signs advising of danger on the road, some of which are on the most dangerous section of the road, and which to my knowledge, are not covered in the highway code, when others can’t?
This stinks of someone signalling their support before the planning meeting has even happened and I ask the councillors to enquire into the decision and publish the reasons as to why these signs were singled out.
We just want freedom of speech.
Lee White
via email

We had no choice but to cancel the show

RUGBY Theatre wish to clarify the unexpected power failure that occurred on the first Saturday of Oklahoma!
The building is fed by three mains fuses which are the property of E.ON and Rugby Theatre does not have access to change them.
On Saturday, June 6 one of these fuses blew. The fuse serves the stage lighting and Rugby Theatre maintenance was unable to carry out repairs.
Unfortunately, this meant the show had to be cancelled. An E.ON service engineer was called and attended at 9pm when the fuse was duly changed. E.ON are assessing the age of the fuse board and the theatre are looking to install current monitoring equipment to avoid possible reoccurrence.
We wish to apologise to all audience members for the disruption to their evening, but thank them for their patience and understanding in an unavoidable situation for the theatre.
Emma Varney, Promotions

Thank you to all who supported our fayre

HILLMORTON Jubilee Association would like to thank all those people who contributed to the success of the Hillmorton Midsummer Fayre.
We would especially like to say a big thank you to all the local businesses and organisations who sponsored the event or donated prizes, to all the local organisations who organised and manned the stalls and activities, and to Sabrina Willock, Miss Teen Charity Queen for her help.
We were privileged to be entertained by English Martyrs and Ashlawn schools’ choirs and would like to thank the talented youngsters who sang so beautifully, they are shining examples of the youth of today.
A big thank-you is also extended to District of Dunchurch Brass, who played so excellently throughout the afternoon and then played for the Songs of Praise service.
We would also like to thank the members of the public who came and supported the event and who left the village green so tidy that we didn’t need to pick up litter.
The event has raised in excess of £1,000 for the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.
The Lucky Programme Number was 216 and the prize can be claimed by contacting 01788 537184.
Kathryn Lawrence
Chairman
Hillmorton Jubilee Association

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