READERS' VIEWS 4/9

03 September 2008

Harping on about risks of being homeless

YOUR front page article last week contained important information that some readers may have missed but which is vital if you are thinking of leaving the family home because of relationship breakdown, especially if you are on a low income.
The council does not have to help you with housing if you are deemed to be ‘intentionally’ homeless - for example, if you have given up your tenancy.
Rent or mortgage arrears can also make you intentionally homeless, though it depends on the circumstances.
Often what happens when relationships break down is that people go to stay with family or friends on a temporary basis. If they do not quickly find a place of their own - which is more tricky than you might realise on a low wage and more difficult still for those on benefits - overcrowding then leads to tensions and a real threat of homelessness.
If you have signed away your right to live in your previous accommodation you will not be eligible for council housing.
Ideally you should seek advice before you leave - organisations such as Homeless at Risk Project (HARP) or Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) have people you can talk to about your whole situation and who can help you to avoid some of the pitfalls. They will refer you to other organisations if they are unable to help. Alternatively, Shelter’s website has detailed housing advice.
As the Observer article indicated, many more people are at risk of homelessness than are shown in the official figures. Often HARP can mediate for clients and enable them to stay where they are until they can make other arrangements. Although HARP has no accommodation and very limited funds, it can and does help people in housing need through its contacts in the Rugby area.
To talk to HARP, ring 01788 574757 and make an appointment.
Kim Daniel, Project Assistant, HARP, Regent Place, Rugby

No room at the school

AS A parent, very much at the heart of the Lutterworth schools admissions debacle, I have received an overwhelming response in support from the people of Lutterworth for which I am extremely grateful.
Children, parents, grand-parents, aunts, uncles, councillors. Please don’t be fooled though into thinking that this is merely a short-term problem caused by irresponsible parents failing to follow the correct admissions process.
The true fact of the matter is that all schools in Lutterworth (including Lutterworth High and Lutterworth College) are full and are not able to accommodate every child living in the catchment area they serve.
The statistics that the county council use to build their forecast are national statistics and it has already been highlighted that Lutterworth does not follow the national trend of a decline in population.
Therefore the county council’s prediction that this problem of full schools will last only a few years, and therefore is not worthy of investment, is utter rubbish.
So for those of you who have breathed a sigh of relief recently because you have been lucky enough to safeguard your child a place at the school of your choice this time, please don’t rest on your laurels as you might not be so lucky next time.
Just because you live in Lutterworth no longer means you have exclusive rights to its schools even if you apply on time and follow the correct process.
As a town we really need to stick together as this will affect us all. If we don’t take action now and start to fight our corner, I dread to think what kind of experiences our children will be subjected to whilst going through the education system if things don’t change.
I would very much like to hear from you at blossward@yahoo.co.uk.
Charlotte Ward, Lutterworth

Discontent over threat to woodland

I WOULD convey my thanks for your support - Observer Editor’s Comment, August 21 - for the Binley Woods fight in preserving the heritage and ancient woodland, some trees dating back to the Earl Craven period in the 1600s, from developers who do not share the same principles as the villagers.
There can be no doubt that the destruction of an ancient apple orchard behind properties on Oakdale Road was a monumental act of vandalism carried out in a despicable and underhand way.
The villagers were not consulted or informed about what was planned. As a public relations exercise, it was a disaster.
Nationally, concern about what is happening on a grand scale in our environment, perpetrated by people determined to ride roughshod over communities, pressurising authorities into submission, is beginning to cause waves of discontent within communities - witness the intervention of Dame Judy Dench and John Nettles, to name two, who are campaigning against development at Middle Quinton in Warwickshire.
Jon Cleaver, Norman Ashman Coppice, Binley Woods

Eastern route offers more relief

FURTHER to your front page article last week discussing options for relief routes for Lutterworth, some years ago, together with Tony Taylor, I was a member of the roads feasibility group which reported to the town council at the time of the southern bypass.
At that time we decided that the western route was not the best way to divert heavy traffic, due to its proximity to housing estates, more of which have now been built, and the number of junctions needed.
We strongly recommended the eastern route alongside the M1 as the better option.
It would keep heavy lorries away from the town and residential areas, due to the prevailing westerly winds it would ensure less noise pollution and as much of the heavy traffic is going to the motorway, with today’s green concerns it will reduce amount of diesel burned.
John Milne, Spring Close, Lutterworth

Police need to help us to reclaim the streets

THE recent stabbing incident on Bank Holiday weekend is a little disturbing, yet again - Observer last week.
Five weeks ago an old school friend came over from Australia for a short holiday to catch up with a few  friends.
Four of us met for a drink in a pub in Dunchurch Rd and had a good night, then at 12.45am on the Saturday morning I walked up Dunchurch Road and down Sheep Street on my own to get a taxi home, feeling a little apprehensive walking alone in town at that time.
I passed quite a few people and a gang of youths, but didn’t feel threatened or see any trouble.
I believe that the majority of young people are fine and just want a good night out, but there is always the rotten apple. One thing I did notice: there was not one policeman about anywhere. OK there are CCTV cameras about, but I think to see a couple of bobbies patrolling in the centre gives a reassurance to everyone.
Rugby town centre, in comparison with neighbouring towns, is quite a safe place to walk at night but many folk over 50 years of age fear they could become a victim of violence.
I think, especially at weekends, there should be a visual presence of police in the town centre to instill confidence back into the public; the streets are ours, we should not have to walk in fear of violence of any kind.
Stan Buckley, Reservoir Rd, Rugby

Looking at the road ahead

REGARDING the discussions about the eastern bypass, isn’t it about time that the various councils stopped prevaricating and got on with the job of considering the opinions and needs of the local residents?
That is why they are elected isn’t it? Especially the ‘professionals’ at County Hall whose salaries we taxpayers provide. They are in a service area, let’s have some!
It is obvious that the western bypass will not solve the problem of removing traffic from Lutterworth and cutting pollution, it would only push these problems from one residential area to another.
Hindsight is wonderful, e.g., the Catthorpe interchange, so perhaps a little foresight is required here, correction a lot of foresight. After all I think it will be some years before we have to convert our garages into stables.
The taxpayer pays enough in the road taxes and petrol prices which goes to the Treasury. We all know that the roads will be busy for some years yet, let’s not have a botch job - it’s false economy.
People come first in any case, so cut the waffle and let’s have some action - the sooner the better.
As for the allotment issue, if the Harborough District Council want to have affordable housing built in Lutterworth, why not use the land at Moorbarns that is earmarked for the allotments.
Again the residents’ wants and needs seem to count for nothing, so it seems! In any case Moorbarns Lane needs upgrading as it is getting much busier especially now that we are all recycling.
Has anyone tried to use the road especially in term-time? Two busy schools and all the resulting traffic, as well as the fact that lorries use the lane to get to the tip, makes it dangerous for the pupils and pedestrians.
Perhaps this is something else that need some foresight!
Fay Goodwin, Lutterworth

Advantage of common sense

THE decision by Leicestershire County Council to pursue an eastern by-pass of Lutterworth brings total common sense to the debate of how to solve the problem of unacceptable levels of commercial traffic passing through our town centre.
The Local Transport Plan 2006-2011 has been formulated by people with expertise and their considered view is that a western relief road would not solve the problem. How, I ask, can those part-time Lutterworth and Harborough district councillors who support the latter ‘solution’ match the wealth of technical knowledge embedded in LCC’s highways department? I make three points:
At least 5,000 commercial vehicles pass daily through our town centre. These belch out chemical pollution and noise levels which virtually everyone regards as being unacceptable. Yet some of our councillors seem content to dump this pollution on to a high proportion of the town residents by promoting a western relief road.
There are a number of scientific studies which link vehicular pollution with the development of cancers and pulmonary diseases such as asthma, especially involving young people. Are some of our councillors really so cynical as to expose residents to these diseases just for a short term measure that experts say would not provide a solution to a very real problem?
While a number of studies have taken place on traffic flows, a study on the environmental impact of transferring traffic pollution and noise from the town centre on to the residential areas bordering Brookfield Way and Bill Crane Way plus any effect on the village of Bitteswell has not been instigated. I suggest one is needed if our local authorities continue with their misguided plans.
When an infinitely superior solution to our traffic problem has been identified as doable and one which has minimal impact on human beings, perhaps it is time for councillors opposed to the eastern route to review the factors on which they base their current stance in the interests of their constituents.
Tony Bailey, Woodlea Avenue, Lutterworth

Get behind eastern route

THE county council is talking lots of sense - Observer last week.
It (an eastern bypass) is the most realistic long term solution, and we should all get behind it. The alternative is a cheap, quick fix that will only succeed in postponing any proper long-term solution.
If we all got behind the plan the funding would be much easier to secure than bickering about it.
The western relief road not only is unpopular, it’s already difficult to find an acceptable route. Some of the route is already restricted to single carriageway so the route would soon be congested (especially with the further development of Magna Park).
It offers no solution to the lorries coming from the north going to the M1. Then we could get a weight restriction through the town centre and start making it more people friendly and clean up the air quality. The western relief road’s concept is so flawed. An eastern bypass is the long-term realistic option and the sooner we have unity the sooner it’s likely to happen.
It’s interesting to note that no comments about the relief road were received during Radio Lutterworth’s Sunday Debate (August 24) which was well publicised.
Coun Bill Piper, Lutterworth town councillor

Clear result
IN RESPONSE to your request for further comment on the district council’s refusal to agree to remove the Lutterworth WRR from the strategic plan - Observer last week - I suggest that the council is being far too parochial in its approach to the solution proposed by the county council sponsored survey.
I believe that the county council does have the interests of the community at heart. The solution proposed benefits everyone in Lutterworth and also the surrounding area.
Please, let’s stop all this posturing and get behind the plan to build the eastern route as soon as possible.
The results of the survey are clear; the western relief road is NOT the best solution.
So let’s top all this shilly-shallying, hectoring and whingeing. There’s a job to be done and if the existing district councillors don’t have the stomach for it, then perhaps they should step aside and let others take up the baton and run with it.
Paul D Williams, Johnnie Johnson Drive, Lutterworth

Main thing is to stop accidents

I AM writing is regard to Simon Ward’s article headlined ‘Common courtesy is the answer to gyratory issue’ - Observer, August 14.
I too, along with the rest of Rugby, accept that this is less than a clear cut system. However, the main problem appears to concern Bilton Road where it enters the gyratory system.
Bilton Road is only one lane. It is treated as 2 lanes but is in fact one (as the attached photograph shows).
The ‘right-hand lane’ used by drivers to go into the middle and right lanes of the gyratory is clearly hashed, with the centre line covered by the box junction markings being in line with the left lane marking going straight ahead.
On this point, I can see Emma-Louise French’s point of view that Bilton Road traffic appears to have priority over Russelsheim Way traffic to go straight ahead as it requires no changing of lanes and, were it not for the box junction, it would be clearly so.
On the same basis, the road markings show that traffic on Russelsheim Way should carry on round into the middle and right-hand lanes. As above, if wishing to move into the left-hand lane, traffic should give way to Bilton Road traffic already in that lane. It follows that Bilton Road traffic should give way to Russelsheim Way traffic when wishing to move right.
I note Mr Cerpnjak’s comments and consider those to be a recipe for disaster! Right of way to be given to the car which is ahead as lanes merge? I can see the insurance claims now!
There is so much to watch for when on the gyratory that judging who will be ahead could be difficult. The only real answer is to have some definite answer set out on the road system itself, thereby setting a precedent to be followed.
At this point, consider the merging of Dunchurch Road onto the gyratory. This is almost the same as Bilton Road, albeit without the island and with two proper lanes entering the gyratory.
However, the key difference is that lines are painted on the road for traffic to GIVE WAY to that already on the gyratory. This operates without many problems and perhaps this could be used on Bilton Road with two lanes clearly marked for straight ahead and to move right?
This may slow the traffic, as in Emma-Louise’s case, from going straight on but it would bring traffic to a halt and hopefully prevent any accidents, which, after all, should be the priority here.
Name and address supplied

Lovely train

LAST Wednesday was the first time since the renovations of Rugby station I have travelled by train again. What a lovely experience that was - roomy, clean and comfortable.
A real welcome. Most of all I was impressed with the assistance I received from all the staff there.
I would also like to include a word of praise for the young ones who carried my bag when I was struggling with the stairs at New Street Station.
Mrs T Coleman, Falstaff Drive, Rugby

Train time
PLEASE it would be very nice if they had the railway back here in Lutterworth. It would take a lot of the major traffic from the town, also give jobs for a lot of people here.
The money could go towards it and not waste it on the bypass. A lot nicer by train and very much quicker too.
Name and address supplied

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