Builders should pay for bridge
I read with dismay that public money is being sought to finance a bridge over the M1 from the proposed Lubbesthorpe development into my Thorpe Astley ward. ("Builders seeking £5m for bridge", Mercury, March 16).
Not only will Thorpe Astley residents have to endure increased traffic flows from the 4,250-home development through their community, they are now being asked to pay for the bridge through their taxes. Talk about adding insult to injury.
I believe the use of public money from the Government's Pinch Point Scheme for this bridge is inappropriate. Blaby, the county council and the Highways Agency have got it wrong.
To me, a local pinch point is an existing traffic problem, not a future traffic problem that planners envisage will result from development they have approved. Surely good planning should eliminate traffic problems, not cause them?
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Much has been said of Blaby's ability to manage such a large-scale development. Requesting public money now for future infrastructure does not bode well.
What next, subsidies for schools, financial help for health facilities and public money for parks?
The consortium of developers made a commercial decision to go ahead with these plans. Building on this scale will mean developers will trouser significant profits.
Taxpayers and the community should not be subsidising this development. Instead, the developers should be putting their money where their mouth is and funding the bridge themselves.
Ron Ward, Blaby district councillor for Braunstone Winstanley Ward and Braunstone Town councillor for Thorpe Astley Ward.
I was very happy to hear that St Matthew's will soon have a 20mph speed limit.
Air pollution in the centre of Leicester is known to affect people's health and making it safer for people to walk and cycle will hopefully lead to fewer motor vehicles.
I look forward to the day when every residential street in our city has a 20mph speed limit, as they already have in countries such as the Netherlands.
Hannah Wakley, Leicester Friends of the Earth.
3 Comments
by spalding1944
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 12:46AM
“Lower speeds means more pollution, fact. Engines are design to be more efficient at higher speed i.e. 30 and above”
by powellp
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 8:51AM
“"I was very happy to hear that St Matthew's will soon have a 20mph speed limit"
If the speed limt, on St Matthew's, is enforced in the same manner as "No parking on double yellow lines" is then it will be a waste of time and money, as it will be ignored.”
by powellp
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 8:51AM
“"I was very happy to hear that St Matthew's will soon have a 20mph speed limit"
If the speed limt, on St Matthew's, is enforced in the same manner as "No parking on double yellow lines" is then it will be a waste of time and money, as it will be ignored.”