Letters: September 29, 2016

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Shared space concern

THROUGH your Letters page I would like to make your readers aware of a House of Commons Inquiry into the Accessibility of our Homes, Buildings and Public Spaces. The inquiry has been instigated by its Women and Equalities Committee and one of the important issues it will be considering is “To what extent do shared space schemes in roads and highways cause barriers for disabled people and how can these be resolved?”

This question should be of particular interest to Swindon residents and also visitors to our town who face difficulty in using the shared space crossing in Regent Circus. We are already aware that this causes great problems to people with visual impairments and those with mobility problems. Indeed many visually-impaired people now regard Regent Circus as a “no-go” area and are therefore becoming increasingly isolated. We are also aware that Swindon Borough Council is considering creating more of these shared spaces around our town, increasing the social isolation for more vulnerable members of our society even further.

If you have experienced any problems using the shared spaces, either in Swindon or elsewhere in the country, please take this opportunity to bring those concerns to the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee. We at Action Disability Swindon are happy to collate any such concerns and forward them to the House of Commons on your behalf but all submissions must be in writing. You can send your written comments to the address below or email them to info@actiondisabilityswindon.org.uk The closing date for all submissions is 12 October so these should reach us by Friday 7 October at the latest.

CAROLINE OCKWELL

Director, Action Disability Swindon

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Disregard for law

THE recent announcement by the government regarding the proposed changes in the law for drivers caught using a mobile phone whilst driving is to be welcomed but unfortunately does not go far enough.

Drivers caught using a mobile phone whilst driving should face an automatic12-month ban with a minimum fine of one thousand pounds, the use of a mobile phone whilst driving is fast becoming an epidemic and the level of distraction is on the same par as drink-driving and there should be no distinction between the two, both are a danger to other road users – a relative of mine was recently hit by an uninsured person driving on a provisional licence with no one else in the vehicle and texting on a mobile phone and of course the innocent person came off worse as is usually the case.

Because of government cuts to our emergency services we no longer see regular police patrols and these persistent offenders knowing this, thumb their noses at the law. The same can be said for speeding motorists along such roads as Queens Drive and Thamesdown Drive to name name just two of our local roads where they can speed and jump red traffic lights be because the chances of getting caught are very slim.

With the police are under so much pressure with government cuts, these type of offences will only increase as drivers show their disregard for the law.

RICHARD ALBRIGHTON

Shaw, Swindon

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Mobile phone angst

AS I was making my way to work this morning there was an item on the radio about how police have caught fewer motorists using mobile phones while driving. As I was listening to this, I caught sight of the car in front of me – it was a sporty little number, looked like it might have been a kit car. It looked as if the driver had somewhere to go and was in a bit of a hurry, but his progress was hampered by a tractor in front of him.

And guess what – he was using a mobile phone. At this time of day the busy, narrow main streets of Cricklade are busy with pedestrians, notably children on their way to school. Was this driver’s attention 100 per cent focused on his driving? I don’t think so.

MR A WILSON

Cricklade

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Roads policing dismay

AFTER much media hype, I see that there is a consultation imminent by government to determine whether motorists caught using a hand-held mobile device whilst driving/riding may mean that they face a series of ‘penalties’ ranging from heavier fines, fixed penalty, licence revoked, etc. So how will that be achieved with the reduction in roads policing that is taking place?

Are we saying, if caught, “That is a fine of £200… six penalty points etc. We will allow you back on the road at the moment so advise your insurance company about this infringement of the law! In allowing you to carry on driving we are giving you one more chance to seriously injure or perhaps kill someone… but, if you do kill someone next time when using a mobile device when driving, it will be serious!”

Why give any offender a second chance? Manufacturers must take a lot of the blame for crashes caused by “distraction” as, due to the multi-media devices within vehicles, they are asking the driver to avert their attention from the main criteria of safe and responsible driving to DVSA Standard of LO2 (Learning Outcome), “Minimising risk when driving in varying road and traffic conditions”.

We also take note of a “crackdown” by West Midlands Police on “drivers who overtake within 5ft of cyclists”.

Comments from people like David Cox, from the charity UK Cycling, stating that he welcomed the police clampdown, said it would mean “Greater safety for everyone who cycles”.

Traffic officer PC Mark Hodson stated: “Cyclists may need to avoid uneven road surfaces or obstacles like drain covers, so it’s important to afford them plenty of room when overtaking.”

West Midlands Police and Crimes Commissioner David Jamieson said, “Anything that educates and ultimately prosecutes drivers who put cyclists in danger is to be welcomed.”

As a Road Safety Practitioner and Advanced Driving Tutor, I realise the implications under certain circumstances but what about a cyclist on a narrower road and the need to overtake?

The situation is analysed, if we leave 5ft and put our offside wheel in the ditch to overtake, is that ok? If we feel that the cyclist is seemingly confident, stable and the road surfaces are good, do we hold back because we can only give them 4ft clearance?

Let’s put the boot on the other foot! How much room does a cyclist give a car driver in slow moving traffic?

How many cyclists apply Rule 60 of the Highway Code? “At night, your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights etc”?

Rule 64: You MUST NOT cycle on a pavement!

Rule 66: You should: Never ride more than two abreast and you should ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends!

Rule 67: ‘You should’: Look well ahead for obstructions in the road, such as, drain covers, pot holes and parked vehicles etc, so that you do not have to swerve suddenly to avoid them!

Rule 69: You MUST obey all traffic signs and traffic light signals!

I could go on but, can we stop blaming the drivers all of the time and have a serious and sensible look at these situations before making rules that will never be applied due to our lack of roads policing as the result of government cutbacks.

CHRIS GLEED

Proud Close

Purton

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Capital punishment

I HAVE a problem, perhaps it is just I, but I doubt that. The powers that be in their misguided wisdom in the early sixties abolished capital punishment. They know better than we do, or do they? The recent case of a double convicted murderer in our local area chills my blood on a warm day. This monster lived just over a mile from my house and brings me to a past firm conclusion.

Put capital punishment to a referendum. I can assure the Houses of Parliament charlatans they will get the same result as the British exit from the corrupt European Disunion. I firmly believe that women will not hesitate to vote that these monsters who take that precious gift should forfeit their lives. The past horrific attacks of murderers, child molesters and rapists who are sitting with TV and three meals a day, at tax payers’ hard working expense, beggars belief.

Having known the family of a murder victim in the past, you have no idea of their lifetime anguish at that great loss.

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way

Covingham, Swindon

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Politically incorrect

MR K KANE wants a quote from a letter that he wrote some time ago, he gives no date or even the title the letter was printed under. To be quite honest I can’t be bothered to to trawl though all the old Advers l haven’t sent for recycling to find a quote from him.

Both Mr K Kane and Mr Collins have used the word loony and it is indisputably an insulting term for people with mental health problems.

They have both named others who use the term loony and want me to take them to task as well. They are like motorists stopped for speeding who complain about others not being stopped. However here goes, Monster Raving Loony party and Peter Smith please stop using the word loony, I expect an apology.

Having implied (sorry for writing “said” instead of implied) that it was acceptable to call those with mental health problems loony because it is in the dictionary he makes the even more absurd assertion that it is ok to use loony otherwise the SA wouldn’t have printed it.

Mr K Kane worries that I might be a Green Party representative. Were I to write as a party spokesman I would put this at the bottom of my letter. I write as an individual. He worries that I don’t want to be mistaken as a Labour Party member as the Green Party is harder left (at least my letter stopped him writing more loony left). It isn’t the case. Labour is a party of dirty industry and is pro-trident.

As he seems to be fascinated by my membership of the Green Party, may I inform him that at party conference members are supplied with an “inclusion card” and if an inappropriate remark is made, such as calling people with mental health problems loony, a member can hold up the card and stop the debate and ask the chair to get the speaker to withdraw the remark.

STEVE THOMPSON

Norman Road

Swindon