The following media release has been received from the Labour Party following yesterdays incident in Northbrook Street, when a 15 year old teenager was injured:
The Labour Party have been asking questions regarding pedestrian area speed limits since April of this year. The issue came to light when the party were holding weekly election stalls in Northbrook Street, and the number of buses speeding resulted in members of the Labour Party standing in the road to slow down speeding buses. On numerous occasions, the issue was raised with town centre police officer, Newbury Town Council and West Berkshire District Council, with the response being that nothing could be done unless a bus was clocked speeding. The police officers in question assured the Labour Party that beat officers would continue to monitor the speed of buses in Newbury Town Centre.
Labour Party spokesman has called for an immediate reduction in the speed limit until full town centre pedestrianisation begins in October. "The situation is obviously not a priority for either council or the police, as although buses are requested to observe a 5mph speed limit through the Market Place on market day, nothing has been done to address the behaviour of what is a small number of disrespectful bus drivers. This issue needs to be addressed now, we cannot afford to have another incident like this as somebody may end up being seriously injured or worse."
The Labour Party Spokesman needs to be careful about trying to score political points on the back of an injured member of the public. First concern should be the welfare of the individual. As has been stated the buses will be moving from Nothbrook Street when Parkway opens which removes the hazard.
So what you are saying is that we should do nothing and hope for the best?
I am saying that the solution has already been agreed - moving the buses out of Northbrook Street. We could spend time, money and effort to enforce the 5mph speed limit for the next 4 months but I would think there are roads with much worse accident records to focus on - and these roads will not be traffic free in a few months time.
Or we could simply ask the drivers to slow down to 10 - 15mph , and whilst we are at it maybe ask the drivers to stop beeping at people or riding up to the heels of pedestrians. It's only a very small minority, but some of the drivers are simply disrespectful.
So what you are saying is that we should do nothing and hope for the best?
You're keen on getting unpaid voluteers to do things - why not buy a couple of red flags and advertise for volunteers to walk in front of the buses with them.
Here's a thought, instead of organising things around the thickest, why not simply put it down to Darwinism and move on?
If someone is too stupid to spot, recognise and get out of the way of a 40 foot, twenty ton, 10 foot high painted object moving between 0 and 10 mph, well hard soddin' cheese.
Oh, I say, little Hanna, Lap-top and Pollyanna* have fallen in the canal......quick, let's fill it in...
What's that you say? a meteor is on collision course with earth?....quick let's burn down the observatory so this never happens again...
Oh dear, precious little Johnny has run in front of a bus, quick let's ban buses......
Yeah that'll be right. Welcome to the New World Order of Health and Safety. Good-bye to the world of trial and error, human mistakes, responsibliity for one's own actions, the ability to learn and grow........the ability NOT to walk in front of ruddy great big buses.
I wonder if those who think banning buses because idiots can't deal with them also tut-tut when they read that schools have banned playing conkers, and tree climbing.......maybe they can't see the irony. (in much the same way some apparently can't see buses)
Threep.
* other ridiculous sappy-headed middle class names are available.....see announcements column in the Telegraph (just about any day)
We know that the current situation - of mixing vehicles and pedestrians on what doesn't look like a road - makes no sense. I'm sure whoever was responsible for that has been fired. But from October it won't be a problem.
Although, come to think of it, are the idiot cyclists who thrash along Northbrook St also going to be banned at the same time?
Imixing vehicles and pedestrians on what doesn't look like a road - makes no sense.
Never had a problem spotting a slow moving bus and getting out of it's way in me life. Anyone who can't either shouldn't be allowed out on their own, or maybe should be taken out of the gene-pool all together.
Actually it's taken from the Simpsons, but heigh ho.
But you go ahead and drag us all down to the lowest common denominator.......that'll be ok.
Threep.
You're taking analogies that don't work from an American cartoon series in relation to someone in Newbury getting hit by a bus and then accusing me of dragging us all down to the lowest common denominator.
Perhaps you shouldn't complain about those you consider "thick". Those in glass houses shouldn't throw meteor analogies around.
It was designed to show the blinkered rush into unthinking Health and Safety, and the lunacy of where we're going. The fact that it doesn't work is exactly why it was used. It's exactly where we're gonna end up if we continue to stop people using their brains and taking resposiblity for their own actions.
But then the State and it's functionaries and apologists will always want people to stop thinking for themselves.
Threep.
Oh, and I do consider those who can't spot, see, recognise, and get out of the way of, a slow moving 20 ton, 40 foot long bus, thick. Harsh, but that's the way it is.
I'm all for people thinking for themselves and not just repeating stuff they've seen on American cartoons that might not necessarily make sense in the context they try to use it in.
Actually it's taken from the Simpsons, but heigh ho.
But you go ahead and drag us all down to the lowest common denominator.......that'll be ok.
Threep.
Never had a problem spotting a slow moving bus and getting out of it's way in me life. Anyone who can't either shouldn't be allowed out on their own, or maybe should be taken out of the gene-pool all together.
Does this comment include people who have an hearing and perhaps a sight impairment?
Does this comment include people who have an hearing and perhaps a sight impairment?
Dunno, is it a good idea to let people with a hearing and sight impairment out on their own? There must be a better way. Be carefulthough, if you start to go down the road of disabliity guiding our transport, shopping, leisure and recreational systems, you'll end up discriminating against more than you actually help.
Remember, our council already discriminate against the deaf and visually impaired in Northbrook St. Let's not add to it.
Look back through the threads, it's been mention on both forums prior to the local elections!!!
Yes. Even though when asked in 2003, the survey found more in favour of keeping buses in Northbrook. Unfortunately, this response appears to have disappeared from the Vision survey results.
Yes. Even though when asked in 2003, the survey found more in favour of keeping buses in Northbrook. Unfortunately, this response appears to have disappeared from the Vision survey results.
....as will the fact that the majority are against the pavillion.
Whether buses are moving from northbrook street or not, the behaviour of a small number of bus drivers is a disgrace. There needs to be something done now to nip it in the bud otherwise someboy is going to get seriously hurt.
Well Threepwood . I am a long way from Northbrook street. Buses in London have a more or less free for all. I can't be bothered to read the times so stick in the other lane. As many do. It looks like Northbrook street has a CABE type of system in place. Which is meant to mingle people at a gentle pace. (Horns should not be part of that). I think for 5 minutes, a spell of less than 5 mph would be sensible. ChristoherE
Notwithstanding a terrible accident in Richmond, & various coach accidents attributed to excessive speed on motorway slip roads. Maybe pedestrians and buses can mingle safely, in the town centre. ce.
You're keen on getting unpaid voluteers to do things - why not buy a couple of red flags and advertise for volunteers to walk in front of the buses with them.
What is the speed limit down Northbrook street anyway?. I doubt it's less than 20MPH so unless you're saying that the buses are driving faster than this then what's the problem?. Yes they may have been asked to slow down but unless you've got the evidence to prove that they can pretty much do anything up to 20MPH.
I sometimes look in disbelief at the speeds buses pass through Northbrook street. I know that there are one or two posters on here that reckon anyone that sees a danger is a nanny statist, but it is such an obvious danger. How many youngsters out on their own don't have iPods on? But the ultimate in rudeness is the odd bus driver that beeps his horn to clear the way.
I remember a few years ago a poster came on here from WBC, groucho if I recall recall and when asked what was the point of repaving Northbrook street, said it was so that people walked in the road. When I walk in the road along there, I keep a tight grip of my son's hand and am constantly checking behind for speeding buses and cyclists. I often cycle into town myself and consider myself to belong to the majority group that are thoughtful and give right of way to pedestrians.
Buses are being removed soon, but the reasoning probably has less to do with safety, but more to do with funnelling people through the new Parkway. I'm not sure who is more cynical. Me or WBC.
the reasoning probably has less to do with safety, but more to do with funnelling people through the new Parkway. I'm not sure who is more cynical. Me or WBC.
Bingo! The new devolpement has to be a success. This is just the Council keeping up their end of the bargain to deliver a certain footfall to the area. One of the easist ways is to make sure buses don't go down Northbrook St. Any excuse will do.
Bingo! The new devolpement has to be a success. This is just the Council keeping up their end of the bargain to deliver a certain footfall to the area. One of the easist ways is to make sure buses don't go down Northbrook St. Any excuse will do.
Hmm......buses = Bad. (in Northbrook St.)
buses = Good (in Parkway)
Funny how the perspective changes isn't it?
Threep.
Except that the useless Lib Demmers have banging on about how the buses are dangerous should be immediately removed from Northbrook Street for a good few years now, long before work even started on Parkway, possibly even before Parkway got permission to start. So nice attempt at spotting another thing to bash the Parkway project with, but this time, a fail.
I do agree with your previous comments paying attention and looking out for yourself and not expecting the state to wrap you up in cotton-wool.
Except that the useless Lib Demmers have banging on about how the buses are dangerous should be immediately removed from Northbrook Street for a good few years now, long before work even started on Parkway, possibly even before Parkway got permission to start. So nice attempt at spotting another thing to bash the Parkway project with, but this time, a fail.
That only works if both parties wanted them banned for the same reasons.
I suggest that's not the case.
The Lib-Dems want them out so that their supporters can walk up and down Northbrook St wearing their sandles and reading their copies of LOTR whilst being suitably smug about how 'safe' it all jolly well now is, and dreaming of twinning the town with Dafur.
The Tories on the other hand, (not exactly known for ever doing anything for 'normal' people that hadn't got a profit motive), want the buses out to help make the Parkway scheme look good, and so that the straight bit of Northbrook St can be used by Panzers the next time an asylum seeker is spotted.
I was actually FOR keeping buses in Northbrook Street. But this is about a minority of drivers acting in a dangerous manner, and action needs to be taken against them. Speed limit is 30mph from what the police tell me. It should be 15mph max.
I was actually FOR keeping buses in Northbrook Street. But this is about a minority of drivers acting in a dangerous manner, and action needs to be taken against them. Speed limit is 30mph from what the police tell me. It should be 15mph max.
Sort of pointless having a speed limit. Firstly, it's only as good as the police effort to enforce it and secondly I doubt the buses during the day get up to 15mph, let alone 30mph. Apart from the odd boy (and girl) racers outside of the pedestrian area times, vehicles rarely get up to anywhere near the limit and usually trundle along at 10-15mph anyway.
We'll see what the Parkway buses do but somehow, I think it will be a bit of a traffic problem down there anyway. Cars queuing to get into the multi depth car park having to cross the path of the northbound buses, taxis and that from the Hopson car park, plus the blockage that I'm sure we will see with cars exiting and going down to where Parkway joins the London Road. We no longer have the option of crossing the river out of Parkway so apart from the Hungerford traffic, it will all have to go round the Robin Hood gyratory after getting out of the London Road onto the A339. Perhaps the new traffic signs could have an additional message, Parkway waiting time xx minutes.
Sort of pointless having a speed limit. Firstly, it's only as good as the police effort to enforce it and secondly I doubt the buses during the day get up to 15mph, let alone 30mph. Apart from the odd boy (and girl) racers outside of the pedestrian area times, vehicles rarely get up to anywhere near the limit and usually trundle along at 10-15mph anyway.
Most bus drivers are responsible, it's just the odd few. The real concern is if a young child was to run out in front of a bus when they re flying down Northbrook Street. I'll happily stand with any of you and observe the speed of buses for a few hours so you can see what I saw when doing the stall. As for Parkway, it's not a pedestrian road so speed limit will not really effect pedestrians.
I was actually FOR keeping buses in Northbrook Street. But this is about a minority of drivers acting in a dangerous manner, and action needs to be taken against them. Speed limit is 30mph from what the police tell me. It should be 15mph max.
But the person was not run over by a bus speeding. The bus was pulling into the stop and going less than 10 miles an hour. Even if your preferred speed of 15 was in force the person would still have been knocked down.
The front page of today's Advertiser is saying that Richard Garvie is calling for a 5mph limit... How is THAT going to be enforced or complied with by your average motorist who would be able to go through there after 5pm?
Speed limit is 30mph from what the police tell me. It should be 15mph max.
Dear oh dear.... The police have trouble recognising the big signs with '20' at the top end of Northbrook Street indicate that the speed limit is 20mph presumably then.....
Dear oh dear.... The police have trouble recognising the big signs with '20' at the top end of Northbrook Street indicate that the speed limit is 20mph presumably then.....
More likely our friend RG incorrectly remembering as 30mph is better for his cause.
The front page of today's Advertiser is saying that Richard Garvie is calling for a 5mph limit... How is THAT going to be enforced or complied with by your average motorist who would be able to go through there after 5pm?
How long has Northbrook Street been pedestrianised. (rhetorical question). How may accidents with buses (another rhetorical question). How many people sitting with finger poised to say "Told you so" when a minor collision occurs. You can answer that one if you know.
Logged
Male
