Andy D'Agorne

Yes, everyone needs a holiday. Fortunately we were relaxing in the sunshine, camping in Devon when I picked up on my occasional listen to Radio 4 (for the weather) that all planes out of Heathrow has been cancelled because of a terrorist alert. Shocking though the threat appears to be, it seems again Tony Blair's determination to hang onto Bush's coat-tails in refusing to call for a ceasefire in Lebanon is marking us out to every Muslim fanatic as a 'legitimate target'.

The camp was a real break from the routine, even if I did get sunburnt on the first day and have to wear unseasonal long trousers for the next two days! Memorable sights included the full moon larger than life as it broke above the horizon a deep orange colour, with the last glow of the setting sun on the opposite horizon. Not quite up to the total eclipse of the sun experienced in the same field in 1999, but still quite magic.

Just before the end of the Germany Beck Inquiry, where much had been made of its planned public transport facilities and the half hourly service created by diverting the22/23 into the site, I found out that the service is to be cut to hourly from September! The reason given was that Arriva are increasing the frequency of their 415 service and so want to cut out the subsidised competition on the shared sections of the route.

Having raised this new information at the Inquiry, the developers came back on the closing day saying there was no evidence that this was likely to happen but if it did they would pledge £230,000 to restore it to half hourly! They were somewhat shocked when I produced the draft timetable showing clearly that the section of the service from Fordlands Rd to the city centre would indeed be only once an hour!

Last Friday the Press featured the fact the Denise Craghill from the Green Party was launching a petition to oppose this cut and we found enthusiastic support for our campaign when we set out to collect signatures this weekend.

Meanwhile there is still no progress on the pedestrian crossing on Main St that would make it safer for the more fit and active people from Fordlands Rd to cross to catch the 415 or no 7 bus. 

Planning East voted down a plan to put in a central pedestrian refuge in 2005 after objections from just two people who would not be able to park outside their house!

When I tried to put a proposal to press ahead with formally advertising the proposal I was in a minority of ONE! So Cllr Keith Aspden may be 'campaigning' for a crossing, but it is his Lib Dem councillors and Labour councillors to blame for the present state of affairs.