Traffic situation that is a ‘disaster waiting to happen’
I AM sure I have written about this subject before, but the situation in Hazel Grove has now reached the stage of a disaster waiting to happen.
Drivers are regularly ignoring signals, and while I acknowledge that during the rush hours since the traffic is moving so slowly, that this is not too much of a problem, come the empty road, we have a whole new ball game.
Today, waiting for the light to change at the crossing near the Civic Centre, I looked both ways. There was traffic approaching from the left that cleared before the green signal and those following stopped. Not so on my right! I looked right again (as instructed as a child). The road was clear so I proceeded to cross! To the amazement of myself and, obviously also, to the waiting drivers and pedestrians opposite, a car went behind me at a speed that took him from the Bullock Smithy to the crossing in the time it took me to get to the middle of the road!
Now, our worthy ‘inhabitants of power’ in the town hall will say that this is an isolated incident. Not so! I have friends who can relate similar occurrences.
Since we now have a working police station again, might it not be too much to ask that one of the officers might be allocated on a random basis to walk through Hazel Grove during the ‘quiet’ period (preferably with a speed camera), and experience what goes on? It could be a nice little earner for the local constabulary and may even benefit tax payers!
But, one thing it will do, is that it may save a catastrophe! Dean Yorwerth Address supplied
A POLDARK FOR THE NORTH?
A WRITER in a national newspaper was advocating that a Poldark for the north of England be created to help boost tourism.
I’m all for it. If I’m not mistaken the story, though based in Cornwall, was written by a man from Manchester.
Another big TV production of recent times that has attracted interest and visitors from around the world was Wolf Hall.
I have been told that the author - Hilary Mantel came from Stockport.
So not only does it seem a good idea to create a big production based somewhere in the north, but the region plainly has the people who could do it.
That said, actually filming a period piece like Poldark on location in a town such as Stockport would be challenging to say the least.
Just imagine the political difficulties of keeping the 21st century out of the picture.
Every time our dashing hero tethered his black stallion on double yellow lines a dutiful parking attendant would enter the narrative to give him a ticket.
And just when you thought you had the final scene in the can, with Poldark being carted off yet again to jail and Demelza stood helplessly on the other side of the A6, her beautiful red hair breezing across her tearful face, out of nowhere and bang on cue comes an unscripted convoy of 192s, a Virgin train and an airbus.
Cornwall this is not, but a richer backdrop to endless stories would be hard to imagine. John Tyers Address supplied
PROFIT FIRST ON THE BUSES
I SYMPATHISE with those concerned about the recent rerouting and cancelling of buses without much thought. So many bus changes are now made based on profit rather than public service.
Cheadle Hulme has just lost its 45-year-old link with the airport with the withdrawal of service 369.
The airport terminals are often gridlocked with cars, yet Manchester Airport and TfGM can’t come together to get people onto public transport.
Rail links to the airport have improved no end, but for those not on a rail line the airport remains a car only zone.
The 369 bus has been taken away in order to provide an express bus (330) airport to Stockport via the motorway, except this route is already served by the 199.
So one route is axed whilst another is duplicated – illogical.
Some evening services also cut to hourly despite the half hourly buses were full. The Stagecoach response is to put bigger buses on the hourly service. I’ve almost given up using buses now - have to pay for taxis to get anywhere. Andy Cheadle Hulme
FATTY FIVER IS SENSELESS
MONEY doesn’t grow on trees – and neither does tallow.
When you consider that beef tallow is a co-product of a cruel and violent industry that kills millions of cows every year and is one of largest producers of greenhouse-gas emissions in the world, the decision to use animal fat in our five pound notes truly doesn’t make sense.
The best way to help animals is not to avoid this fatty fiver – but to vote with our wallets and not give our cash to industries which harm animals and the environment. Olivia Jordan, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
FALSE CLAIMS AND NOISE
AT the council meeting on Thursday last week the Liberal Democrat Group tried to amend the Council Plan. This would have rendered the current consultation on the Greater Manchester Spatial Strategy meaningless and have de-railed the whole project within Greater Manchester.
These proposals are currently out to consultation all over the 10 GM Local Authorities, which ends on December 23.
Residents in Stockport are now being faced with lurid, shrieking and inaccurate claims from the Liberal Democrats that the Conservative and Labour Groups are attempting to build all over Stockport’s Green Belt. This is completely false, but quite normal behaviour by the Liberal Democrats.
What is going on is a planned consultation about a proposed land allocation policy throughout Greater Manchester. Local