E-scooters, speeding and library demolition - This weeks Redditch Standard letters

THIS weeks letters to the editor.

Flashing signs won’t deter these speeders

I HOPED Emma Marshall, talking about vehicle-activated signs (VAS) would tell me if such installations photograph the registration plates of offending vehicles.

If they do not, the assumption must be that drivers accidentally exceed the speed limit but surely the fact is that speeding drivers are mostly doing it deliberately and will find a flashing light no deterrent?

Barbara Bish, Headless Cross

‘Listening’ councils don’t act on our views

WE are doubly blessed in this town in having two such listening councils as Redditch Borough Council (RBC) and Worcestershire County Council (WCC).

They always seem to be asking what we think. If only they would act upon our responses, we might get better governance.

RBC asked what people thought of turning Ipsley Meadow into a municipal cemetery. We responded it was a bad idea but they still press ahead with it.

RBC and WCC asked if we wanted our bespoke library demolished. We said no yet they will go ahead with it.

So many people thought e-scooters were a bad idea it made the news on Radio WM but does anyone really imagine Coun Dormer and chums will admit the experiment was a failure and end it in March 2024?

Now they want to know what we feel about the railway station, presumably so they can do the opposite of any findings if their ignoble track record is a guide!

On page nine of last week’s paper we were informed WCC are out meeting the people, their first call locally being that hotbed of left-wing ferment the Hanbury Countryside Show.

This would be less than three weeks before the final decision on the library (July 20) but surprisingly they are leaving Redditch until September 30 when, doubtless, they hope people will have forgotten about the matter.

WCC’s attitude to Redditch is best illustrated in their plan to site the Kaug refinery in Merse Road, 80 metres from people’s homes, a plan even Coun Dormer opposes.

If the toxic waste and hazardous substances, including cyanide solutions and highly corrosive acids, are of so little concern, let it be situated in Worcester.

K Wass

Millions wasted in demolishing library

IS IT just a chasm of apathy in Redditch? Why else would the population as a whole allow millions of pounds to go down the drain?

Instead of wasting those millions knocking down a perfectly good library why not greatly improve services and facilities for people with disabilities?

There are major issues in Redditch such as disparities and inequalities in health, increasing levels of anti-social behaviour and violence.

How is making a space and more cafes going to address issues such as these?

On Thursday, July 20, Worcestershire County Council members decide on demolishing/moving the library.

With one or two exceptions they have no connection to Redditch.

It is the view of one of them that those not opposing plans to demolish the library are the ‘silent majority’.

By comparison the consultants hired by Redditch Council state in the Redditch Town Deal Executive Summary: ‘Methodology – Fieldwork took place between November 9 and 24, 2020 and over 650 local residents of Redditch took part’.

That is about half of the ‘minority’ opposed to library demolition.

The Town Deal Board membership had very little community and voluntary sector representation – that’s dismal considering the breadth of organisations who know exactly the needs and problems of the town.

All that both councils seem hell bent on doing is making more competition for those already striving in the Kingfisher Centre and just another place for those having exclusive use of the bandstand – another wasted, neglected resource where there should be a regular programme of music/community events.

Alan Godwin

I’d back e-scooters if rules are followed

I THINK the idea of using these e-scooters is good as it can save the environment.

The trouble is that young people, using someone else’s details, are using them to ride on pavements and footpaths, not on the road as they are legally should be.

Also, these young people ride with two or three people on them.

If these mis-uses could be stopped I think the scooters should carry on by using the road.

Julian Prouse

Focus on our public transport problems

IT sounds ideal to be able to pick up an e-scooter anywhere in town and use it to go anywhere else in town cheaply and quickly, whilst at the same time benefiting the environment.

The reality, however, is that these e-scooters are left strewn across pavements, often two or three at a time, impairing access for pushchairs and wheelchairs and being potential trip hazards as well an eyesore.

This should be addressed if the trial is to be continued.

Tackling Redditch’s abysmal lack of a decent public transport service would be far more productive and would benefit all residents, as well as the environment.

M Taylor, Church Hill