Council's transport supremo slams door on traffic ban
Friday, 16th November 2012.
The county councillor in charge of transport has ruled no more consideration now be given to pedestrianising Haverhill High Street.
Cllr Guy McGregor, an accountant from the Eye area of Suffolk, is the county council’s portfolio holder for transport, and came to Haverhill to see the situation for himself recently.
The case for pedestrianisation – confusion, illegal parking, danger and public demand - was put to him, but he went away and decided it should not be considered at the moment.
The town’s police chief, Insp Peter Ferrie, who has advocated closing the street, was specifically excluded from attending the meeting by the county council.
Cllr McGregor’s decision was relayed to Haverhill Area Working Party (HAWP) yesterday, where members agreed plans to tweak the current traffic regulations and, after that, will be on course to push ahead, as Cllr McGregor has recommended, with spending the £900,000 available to improve the street through new paving and benches.
Haverhill Town Council had pressed hard for pedestrianisation, backing it up with a street survey of the public. They also oppose the money being spent on improving the street while traffic is still using it.
Luke Barber of the county council's highways department explained how, in the wake of a survey gathered by Haverhill Town Council which showed 72 per cent of people in favour of pedestrianisation, a meeting had been arranged for Cllr McGregor to hear their case.
Town clerk Will Austin and town mayor Pat Hanlon presented the case, but their request that Insp Ferrie should also attend was vetoed by the county council, Mr Austin revealed.
After the meeting, Cllr McGregor held follow-up meeting with county officers and ruled: the scheme as it stands should go ahead and 'pedestrianisation should not be considered further at this time'.
He gave no reasons for his decision, and Mr Austin said he had requested a detailed justification.
Some HAWP members were disappointed they had not been invited to the meeting, and that, because of it, the scheme had not been progressed since their July meeting.
Cllr Anne Gower said: "I am extraordinarily frustrated about all of this. We can't keep going back to the same arguments. Why do we have to have any more consultation?"
Cllr Derek Redhead also found it frustrating. "This has been going on for years and people are sick of it. Over 70 per cent of people are in favour of it, why can't it be done?"
Cllr Tim Marks claimed Cllr McGregor had gone back on his word that they would go to a public inquiry if necessary. He also said the police inspector should have been able to attend.
Town clerk Will Austin, who represents the town council on HAWP as a non-voting member, said he was 'flabbergasted' at Cllr McGregor's decision.
"It's not what he says, because at least he has a view," said Mr Austin. "It's that he gives no idea of what his justification for this is. It is an insult to the people of Haverhill."
He also questioned Cllr McGregor's accountability in his role.
Mr Austin presented the view of town and borough councillor Maureen Byrne, a member of HAWP who was unable to attend the meeting.
She said all organisations involved were failing residents over the issue, which meant the town was left with an environment which was not attractive to anyone, at a time when a massive population expansion was looming.
Mr Austin urged HAWP members to attend Safer Neighbourhood Team public meetings where residents shouted at those responsible for the situation in High Street.
He said: "I believe HAWP should stepup and nail the county council to take it forward to a public inquiry."
The county officers advice was there was a 'high risk' of failure at an inquiry, but it was not certain, Mr Austin said. He believed objections could be overcome and the risk was worth taking rather than lose the opportunity for another 30 years.
"At least we would show the public of Haverhill that we've tried," he said.
He and Cllr Byrne also urged the £900,000 should not be wasted on the street when traffic was still using it.
"Use it on improving the car parks or the linkages to High Street," he said.
Cllr Gower said if people didn't want the money spending she could always take it back to the borough council.
Cllr Guy McGregor, an accountant from the Eye area of Suffolk, is the county council’s portfolio holder for transport, and came to Haverhill to see the situation for himself recently.
The case for pedestrianisation – confusion, illegal parking, danger and public demand - was put to him, but he went away and decided it should not be considered at the moment.
The town’s police chief, Insp Peter Ferrie, who has advocated closing the street, was specifically excluded from attending the meeting by the county council.
Cllr McGregor’s decision was relayed to Haverhill Area Working Party (HAWP) yesterday, where members agreed plans to tweak the current traffic regulations and, after that, will be on course to push ahead, as Cllr McGregor has recommended, with spending the £900,000 available to improve the street through new paving and benches.
Haverhill Town Council had pressed hard for pedestrianisation, backing it up with a street survey of the public. They also oppose the money being spent on improving the street while traffic is still using it.
Luke Barber of the county council's highways department explained how, in the wake of a survey gathered by Haverhill Town Council which showed 72 per cent of people in favour of pedestrianisation, a meeting had been arranged for Cllr McGregor to hear their case.
Town clerk Will Austin and town mayor Pat Hanlon presented the case, but their request that Insp Ferrie should also attend was vetoed by the county council, Mr Austin revealed.
After the meeting, Cllr McGregor held follow-up meeting with county officers and ruled: the scheme as it stands should go ahead and 'pedestrianisation should not be considered further at this time'.
He gave no reasons for his decision, and Mr Austin said he had requested a detailed justification.
Some HAWP members were disappointed they had not been invited to the meeting, and that, because of it, the scheme had not been progressed since their July meeting.
Cllr Anne Gower said: "I am extraordinarily frustrated about all of this. We can't keep going back to the same arguments. Why do we have to have any more consultation?"
Cllr Derek Redhead also found it frustrating. "This has been going on for years and people are sick of it. Over 70 per cent of people are in favour of it, why can't it be done?"
Cllr Tim Marks claimed Cllr McGregor had gone back on his word that they would go to a public inquiry if necessary. He also said the police inspector should have been able to attend.
Town clerk Will Austin, who represents the town council on HAWP as a non-voting member, said he was 'flabbergasted' at Cllr McGregor's decision.
"It's not what he says, because at least he has a view," said Mr Austin. "It's that he gives no idea of what his justification for this is. It is an insult to the people of Haverhill."
He also questioned Cllr McGregor's accountability in his role.
Mr Austin presented the view of town and borough councillor Maureen Byrne, a member of HAWP who was unable to attend the meeting.
She said all organisations involved were failing residents over the issue, which meant the town was left with an environment which was not attractive to anyone, at a time when a massive population expansion was looming.
Mr Austin urged HAWP members to attend Safer Neighbourhood Team public meetings where residents shouted at those responsible for the situation in High Street.
He said: "I believe HAWP should stepup and nail the county council to take it forward to a public inquiry."
The county officers advice was there was a 'high risk' of failure at an inquiry, but it was not certain, Mr Austin said. He believed objections could be overcome and the risk was worth taking rather than lose the opportunity for another 30 years.
"At least we would show the public of Haverhill that we've tried," he said.
He and Cllr Byrne also urged the £900,000 should not be wasted on the street when traffic was still using it.
"Use it on improving the car parks or the linkages to High Street," he said.
Cllr Gower said if people didn't want the money spending she could always take it back to the borough council.
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