Author Topic: Southend Cycle Town - part 2 (Read 238921 times)

Domestique · « **Reply #900 on:** 03 May, 2011, 05:55:09 pm »

Just had a phone call from someone on a mobile who is going to see what he can do, after first trying to tell me it wasnt a cycle path. Aparently the middle post has been replaced due to damage blah blah blah. I just told him it was a cycle path and the obstruction is lethal.
I am tempted to go back in a little while to see if anything has been done.
I was glad I was aproaching this with the sun behind me, as in the third picture. Going the other way who knows

Domestique · « **Reply #901 on:** 03 May, 2011, 06:37:33 pm »

FAO the Mods
is it possible to move this post into the Southend Cycle town Pt 2 thread.
I think its important that its open for all to see

Domestique · « **Reply #902 on:** 03 May, 2011, 06:51:36 pm »

Fucking lethal

I am so fucking angry, I am speechless

I phoned the council, had to phone the out of hours emergency number as the office was about to shut

Just had a phone call from someone on a mobile who is going to see what he can do, after first trying to tell me it wasnt a cycle path. Aparently the middle post has been replaced due to damage blah blah blah. I just told him it was a cycle path and the obstruction is lethal.
I am tempted to go back in a little while to see if anything has been done.
I was glad I was aproaching this with the sun in front of me, as in the third picture. Going the other way who knows

Domestique · « **Reply #903 on:** 03 May, 2011, 08:05:56 pm »

Update - Chains now removed.

clarion · « **Reply #904 on:** 03 May, 2011, 08:32:51 pm »

Good work

Now it's time for an FoI to find out which twit ordered them put on

Adrian · « **Reply #905 on:** 03 May, 2011, 09:59:12 pm »

I'd be tempted to take bolt croppers to that, as a public service you understand.

YahudaMoon · « **Reply #906 on:** 03 May, 2011, 10:04:44 pm »

Ha ha ha ha ! at least the fence won't get weighed in from the gypo's

They may get a bike from a unconscious cyclist though

Wowbagger · « **Reply #907 on:** 03 May, 2011, 10:08:44 pm »

Quote from: Adrian on 03 May, 2011, 09:59:12 pm

I'd be tempted to take bolt croppers to that, as a public service you understand.

If I hadn't been at a choir practice this evening I'd have gone down there with a hacksaw. That chain doesn't look very robust.

YahudaMoon · « **Reply #908 on:** 03 May, 2011, 10:09:52 pm »

Quote from: Domestique on 03 May, 2011, 05:31:23 pm

Phoned through to the emergency switchboard. I told them it was lethal, someone is going to take a look.
Lets see what happens $:-\$

Ha ha ha ha

Charlotte · « **Reply #909 on:** 03 May, 2011, 10:27:58 pm »

Quote from: Domestique on 03 May, 2011, 06:37:33 pm

FAO the Mods
is it possible to move this post into the Southend Cycle town Pt 2 thread.
I think its important that its open for all to see

Done.

Domestique · « **Reply #910 on:** 04 May, 2011, 06:13:26 am »

Tbf to SBC it was sorted out in two hours at most. Considering that was me phoning at office closing time thats not bad.
Otoh some poor sod was going to, at best, seriously hurt themselves. I hope someone is in for a severe bolocking this morning.
We have emailed relevent transport councilors, cycle southend team etc.

Domestique · « **Reply #911 on:** 04 May, 2011, 06:46:27 pm »

I had a ride along East Beech this afternoon after work.
There are a few of these crowd control fences chained and padlocked to posts around the park. A thought that struck me I wonder if its something to do with a localish travellers camp that is about to be closed $:-\$

AndyK · « **Reply #912 on:** 04 May, 2011, 06:49:07 pm »

Quote from: Domestique on 04 May, 2011, 06:46:27 pm

I had a ride along East Beech this afternoon after work.
There are a few of these crowd control fences chained and padlocked to posts around the park. A thought that struck me I wonder if its something to do with a localish travellers camp that is about to be closed $:-\$

I think so. It would explain the new height restriction barriers at the entrances to Eastbeach. Too low to get a caravan under.

delthebike · « **Reply #913 on:** 06 May, 2011, 05:19:53 pm »

Anna Waite has been voted out!

Things looking up or not?

edit: It seems that Paul van Looey is in and he owns a bike shop in town, don't know which, so could be things are looking up.

AndyK · « **Reply #914 on:** 06 May, 2011, 10:20:34 pm »

Email and photograph sent to P&H Retail Distribution's 'how are we driving' email address.

"When cycling home this morning along Western Esplanade in Southend my journey was obstructed because one of your drivers (of vehicle registration GN06 AXX) had parked illegally in the cycle track outside Maxims Casino.

See photograph at this link: http://tinyurl.com/6jofvxr

To my knowledge they were parked illegally on three counts.

1, it is illegal to park in designated cycle tracks

2. It is illegal to park on double yellow lines

3. It is illegal to cross an unbroken white line.

In addition to this they placed the safety of cyclists using the track at risk. There was no room to pass in the cycle track, it is illegal to cycle on the pavement. That left the option of leaving the cycle track and entering the road against the direction of traffic (the cycle track is two-way, the adjacent road is not).

There was no need for such dangerous and lazy parking. Your driver could have quite safely parked in the designated parking bays opposite Maxims Casino."

FatBloke · « **Reply #915 on:** 07 May, 2011, 09:26:42 am »

Quote from: delthebike on 06 May, 2011, 05:19:53 pm

Anna Waite has been voted out! Things looking up or not?

Ding! Dong! The witch is dead!!

Voted into 3rd place!

Stormed out before the count was completed!

Quote from: delthebike on 06 May, 2011, 05:19:53 pm

...It seems that Paul van Looey is in and he owns a bike shop in town, don't know which, so could be things are looking up.

I think he owns a Fish & Chip shop. $:-\$

Wowbagger · « **Reply #916 on:** 07 May, 2011, 09:52:42 am »

He has owned a number of fish & chip shops. It appears that he fell foul of Anna Waite when she objected to some plans he had to enlarge / modernise one of the shops and he took it sufficiently personally to stand against her as an independent.

Without knowing anything about van Looey's plans, I know that Anna Waite has a track record of trying to stop worthwhile planning applications out of spite. When Temple Sutton School was in the process of opening a much-needed Health Centre in St. Luke's (part of the "Extended School" programme, in which TS was a pioneer), she got in the way and objected to the plans, which were part of a central government initiative. Frank Gulley went to see Holdcroft and told him to "get that woman off my back else I'll go to town on you." Holdcroft very wisely got that woman off Frank's back.

I don't know how well this was publicised, but "Local Councillor stops Health Centre opening" isn't something that would go down too well with most voters.

Domestique · « **Reply #917 on:** 07 May, 2011, 11:47:02 am »

Well she had a good run in the council.
How much was it p.a. she was on??? You dont have to stay long to earn enough when its that sort of money. I dont suppose she is that bothered, sadly.
As for a legacy, well I now never cycle west of city beach, unless it is very out of season. What was once ok to cycle is now not.
This woman seems to have more lives than a cat, I wouldnt bet against her re-emerging in the future.

AndyK · « **Reply #918 on:** 07 May, 2011, 12:33:26 pm »

It will be interesting to see how many council contracts are given to W&H Roads now she's no longer a councillor.

Domestique · « **Reply #919 on:** 07 May, 2011, 03:36:24 pm »

Quote from: delthebike on 06 May, 2011, 05:19:53 pm

Anna Waite has been voted out! Things looking up or not?

edit: It seems that Paul van Looey is in and he owns a bike shop in town, don't know which, so could be things are looking up.

Not sure $:-\$
I heard one of the Arch's cafe's is owned by the same person who runs JD Cycles in Benfleet.

AndyK · « **Reply #920 on:** 11 May, 2011, 12:27:21 pm »

Maybe all those videos of cud chewers ignoring the cycle track have stung the council into action on Western Esplanade. According to the guys doing the work they're resurfacing the track along its entire length.

It isn't the smoothest surface, and I would not want to fall on it, but on the plus side it might discourage roller-bladers and skateboarders.

Time will tell if it makes a difference.

delthebike · « **Reply #921 on:** 11 May, 2011, 02:20:15 pm »

So instead of skidding into peds we'll be stoppie into peds!

On the face of it it can't make it worse and it'll show up the casino stains better!

AndyK · « **Reply #922 on:** 11 May, 2011, 02:36:51 pm »

Quote from: delthebike on 11 May, 2011, 02:20:15 pm

and it'll show up the casino stains better!

I was speaking to the refuse collectors this morning outside Maxims. For a while they parked in the parking bays and took the bins across the road. Then one of their operaters was nearly run down, and their boss said, 'I'm not having that, it's a health and safety issue'. So they now park in the cycle track again. To be honest I can't blame them. It is just another example of failure to plan properly at the design stage.

Speshact · « **Reply #923 on:** 11 May, 2011, 04:56:43 pm »

Quote from: AndyK on 11 May, 2011, 02:36:51 pm

Quote from: delthebike on 11 May, 2011, 02:20:15 pm
and it'll show up the casino stains better!

I was speaking to the refuse collectors this morning outside Maxims. For a while they parked in the parking bays and took the bins across the road. Then one of their operaters was nearly run down, and their boss said, 'I'm not having that, it's a health and safety issue'. So they now park in the cycle track again. To be honest I can't blame them. It is just another example of failure to plan properly at the design stage.

I suppose parking in the road is out of the question then?

delthebike · « **Reply #924 on:** 12 May, 2011, 04:50:25 pm »

Quote from: Speshact on 11 May, 2011, 04:56:43 pm

I suppose parking in the road is out of the question then?

This is how that section looks outside the casino, pre green paint. SBC don't want to lose revenue from the parking spaces and the casino don't want to give up their membership spaces.