This week's Bromsgrove and Droitwich Standard letters...... - The Droitwich Standard

This week's Bromsgrove and Droitwich Standard letters......

Droitwich Editorial 12th Feb, 2021   0

Droitwich not the only area where highways signs are discarded

LIKE the Droitwich Spa Litter Squad I am appalled by the number of abandoned road signs that litter our streets.

Bromsgrove fly-tipping service apologises but advise they are unauthorised to remove them.

This is fortunate for such signs are easily traced.

However the person that initially abandoned the sign may not, by now, be responsible.




The main contractor, so often an official body such as the grateful Worcestershire County

Council which, to get to this stage, will have signed off the project as acceptable.


In so doing they become responsible for the sign and the fine.

No real problem here because it is only someone else’s money.

Publication of the guilty parties might eventually make these bodies more careful in accepting incomplete projects at taxpayers’ expense.

I am sure that the various authorities responsible for road signs relating to Lydiate Ash road works that are scattered from the Halesowen border to Worcester would be more enthusiastic about their removal.

Some signs shown in the photograph are placed by other public authorities, eg the snow sign.

These and flood signs are scattered along Worcestershire lanes throughout the year.

The flood signs are, due to the nature of their implementation, always erected after the event but then left in place long after.

Perhaps a ‘road liable to flooding’ would be more appropriate or, heaven forbid, fix the problem.

Snow and ice warnings are equally problematic as they too remain erect after the event (local record for snow is June) and are therefore ignored.

Perhaps drivers should take back responsibility then less signs would be necessary.

Richard Whitehouse

Romsley

 

Disappointed by Inspector’s approval for Whitford Road scheme

WHITFORD Vale Voice are disappointed by the news today that the Planning Inspector has granted outline permission to build on the Whitford Road and Greyhound Inn sites.

While this is a set-back WVV will continue to oppose the Perryfields development and campaign for a Western Distributor Road.

What will happen next is that the developer will sell the large Whitford field to a house builder while the smaller field will be built on by Miller Homes.

We are expecting three separate reserved matters planning applications for the layout of the estate roads and the design of the houses.

During each application WVV will be making the case for reserving a tract of land across the site for the construction of the distributor road.

Our concerns on traffic, highway safety, air and noise pollution, bus services and the sustainability of the development have not gone away. We will continue to hold the developers to account and make sure the promises that have been made are not broken.

The Greyhound site will be sold too. When the detailed application is submitted to the council we will be looking to make sure that the access from Albert Road is safe and sufficient parking is provided so that the on-street parking situation in Albert Road does not get any worse.

John Gurney

Whitford Vale Voice

 

Road still not resurfaced, year after housing completed

I AM trying to force some action over the condition Norton Way has been left in by the developers.

The building of houses was finished well over 12 months ago but so far the road has not been resurfaced.

Contractors spent 11 weeks in the summer preparing the pavements and road for resurface.

This left the road with two big trenches, several significantly raised ironworks and many cones blocking the road.

They were set to return to tarmac the road in October, but this was delayed as apparently David Wilson wants a red surface on the junctions which the Highways Agency no longer produce, so they had to find an alternative source.

We then received a letter in November to say that the work was being done but Norton Way would be closed completely from 8am until 4pm. Apparently the reason the whole road needed to be closed is the red surface has to be laid all in one go.

This caused concern with many residents, as obviously people have to get to work and get children to school and as there is only one way on and off the estate, the only option would be to leave your vehicle on the Birmingham Road. If everyone that the road closure affected did that, obviously it would cause chaos on an already busy road.

Westpoint received many calls from residents and subsequently the work was cancelled and I was told nothing would now be done until the new year.

I contacted David Wilson in December to ask what the plan was and was told they would be in touch in January.

I have since received an email fobbing me off again, saying they were in discussion with local authorities and would be in touch in due course.

I know many residents are very unhappy and feel powerless to do anything about it.

I am just trying to get our voice heard and shame these people into fulfilling their duty and show some consideration to the residents.

Mortimer Way resident

EDITOR’S COMMENT

IT IS fantastic news that Waseley Hills High is to be rebuilt and the new Austin Park Primary Academy will be constructed to serve the extra homes in Longbridge and Cofton Hackett.

As well as providing quality education, the energy efficient buildings will also help Birmingham and the surrounding areas reach the net carbon zero targets.

We also wish staff and students at the specialist Lokrum Fields which has just opened in Bromsgrove the best of luck at their new school.

We welcome your letters…..

What pressing issues do you feel need addressing in Droitwich and Bromsgrove? Send us your views to [email protected]

 

 

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