We should get on our bikes – the Earth can only take so many cars
TO the question, ‘When will something be done by Stockport council about the horrendous traffic situation at Bredbury?’ (Viewpoints, traffic is just horrendous, February 7), I’d like to say to K Murphy: “Ask not what your council can do for you, but what you can do for your council.”
With ‘horrendous’ traffic in every town and city in the UK (recently jumped from fifth worst EU country for traffic jams to first), the idea of ‘chopping’ a metre off front gardens on Stockport Road would be akin to taking antacid tablets for cancer.
Congestion would be better addressed if we compared ‘too many cars on the road’ with eating too much junk food.
Just as the human body can only process a given amount of food, a nation, and ultimately planet Earth, has a limit to how many cars and how much pollution it can process.
If the UK is ‘shrinking’ due to rising sea levels and floods, albeit in 50 years, gridlock must be halted now.
Also, the crisis in the NHS surely has much to do with the lifestyles the UK has led, if not encouraged, for the past 50 years.
Human beings were designed to walk, run and work, not sit in cars, offices, watch TV, (feeding the face), and play computer games.
In The Netherlands, the vast majority of children cycle to school, and as such, have earned the title ‘happiest children in the whole wide world.’
It’s highly unlikely that Britain will embrace the Dutch way of life.
However, if we consider that iron railings were chopped down in the 1940s, to help the war effort, given we’re at war against climate change we could consider turning every garden into car parking space and give more space to cyclists.
Just as the human body doesn’t function efficiently with blocked arteries, it is surely madness to think Britain can function efficiently with blocked roads.
When Bradley Wiggins got it in his head to win the 2012 Tour de France, he followed a plan of making a 10 per cent improvement in 10 key areas.
If every driver was to sign up to the Institute of Advanced Motorists, and also Bikeability – cycling proficiency for the 21st Century – was made an integral part of both the driving test and speed awareness courses, along with ‘garden parking,’ (theoretically), we would reduce congestion by 30 per cent. It’s surely a better idea than flying cars. Allan Ramsay Radcliffe Moor Road Radcliffe
MAN JUST DOESN’T CARE
I AGREE with J Boulillier last week, where will the wildlife go regarding building at High Lane?
But man with his arrogance doesn’t care about that, as we see with the relief road at Hazel Grove he just keeps ploughing up the land and destroying it for his own selfish needs.
Wildlife is disappearing not through climate change it’s being forced out and it makes me wonder who is really the most intelligent, man or animal, you won’t see them destroying the planet like we do. Sara Moor Charlotte Street Stockport
MEMORIES OF BOB AND NOBBY
THE story of Tina and Bobby Moore on TV, and press coverage of Nobby Stiles and his sad battle with Alzheimer’s disease, took me on a trip back to the swinging sixties.
Missing from the TV drama were Bobby’s football steps to the ultimate on July 30, 1966 – the World Cup Final.
On March 14, 1964, Bobby Moore played – in the words of Bobby Charlton – his finest ever game for West Ham United in the FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield against FA Cup holders, Manchester United.
Phil Chisnall was picked on that day as West Ham ended United’s dream 3-1.
Tom Corless, Ged O’Brien and Brian Hughes, ex-St Pat’s boys from Collyhurst like Nobby, bumped into him days after the defeat in Albert Square.
‘Ged The Red’ asked Nobby what happened. Nobby’s answer: “Bobby Moore was given too much time on the ball. I would have put ball and Bobby in the paddock.”
Well, those really were the days. West Ham went on to win the FA cup at Wembley on May 2, 1964, against Preston North End, captained by ex-Red Nobby Lawton.
Bobby was voted footballer of the year. Newton Heath’s Nobby was runner up.
West Ham, led by Bobby Moore, lifted the European Cup Winners Cup at Wembley on May 19, 1965.
All missed on the TV drama.
On July 30, 1966, Bobby made it three successful trips to Wembley.
Joined, of course, by Nobby Stiles. England 4 West Germany 2 – who will forget Nobby’s jig in celebration? John Donohue, Stockport
CHARGE BY THE MINUTE
ON February 1 at Stepping Hill Hospital, I paid £5.50 to park.
Later I paid £3.50 and a further £3.50 after that.
I wasn’t parked all of that time, it was the way the appointments ran, going back and to.
May I suggest the people in charge of parking visit Stockport Precinct where you pay per minute!
We spent all our time in Outpatients B where the staff were brilliant, couldn’t do enough for us. Name and address supplied
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
THE residents of Swanage Avenue would like to thank reporter Alex Scapens for his excellent article, which was published in both the Manchester Evening News and the Stockport Express.
The local planning authority did not consult residents when they decided to open up our cul-de-sac and change the fundamental purpose of the Avenue.
After living on the Avenue for 53 years, myself and many other residents know only too well the Avenue’s past problems with anti-social
behaviour.
Swanage Avenue was used by vandals to access the Dialstone Centre, where extensive damage was done over a number of years.
The residents and myself welcome our new neighbours on the Offerton Park development but can foresee history repeating itself if the link is to be opened up.
With incidents occurring already, we have been advised by police officers to dial 101 if there is any suspicious behaviour in the area.
The intended ‘small park areas’ are designed for not only Offerton Park residents but for the wider community which will only increase anti-social behaviour.
Some Offerton Park residents are also concerned for the ‘extra entrance’ to the development as it’s providing a less safe environment for the children etc.
Since residents have gone to the press, we have now received our second letter from the council!
The first letter stated that the link would ‘benefit Swanage Avenue residents by using the intended cycle path and shorten travel distance to Lisburne Lane shops.’
This ultimately tells the elderly and disabled residents of Swanage Avenue to go in the opposite direction to the Lisburne Lane shops... on their bikes!
Hopefully now the council will take this matter more seriously.
A huge thank you to Councillor Wendy Miekle, who has supported the residents of Swanage Avenue to keep their ‘no through road’ a ‘no through road.’ Ann Ryan Offerton
SEARCHING FOR FORMER PUPILS
WE are looking for former pupils of Stockport High School for Girls in Cale Green.
The school closed in 1974, when it was amalgamated with Fylde Lodge High School, becoming Priestnall School.
The former SHS building is how to be occupied by Hulme Hall School, being the third school to use it since our closure, following Davenport and Hillcrest.
The Old Girl’s Association has existed for 113 years, formed 10 years after the school opened, and members are widely scattered.
We have lost touch with some, due to name changes, removals etc, and would appeal to all old girls to make contact again.
We hold two meetings each year. The Spring meeting this year will be held on Friday, April 21, with lunch at the Alma Lodge Hotel.
Anyone wishing to attend is asked to contact either Mrs Noreen Potts (nee Chapman) on 494 7152, or Mrs Jean Tudge (nee Gilmour) on 487 1324 for details on booking a place.
Our Autumn meeting takes the form of lunch and AGM, when our annual donations are made to five local charities. Jean Tudge Joint secretary, Stockport High School OGA