Twydall runabout - and a solution to the Goudhurst Road problem
Posted by Alan Collins on Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 23:49

This post is a response to comments made on the post about Goudhurst Road

One of the advantages of running as part of my weight loss is that I get to explore different parts of Twydall Ward, by varying the route slightly each time.

Today’s route was: Goduhurst Road - Minster Road - Crundale Road - Waltham Road - Begonia Avenue - Pump Lane - Beechings Way - Goudhurst Road. As always I had my phone with me, and so was able to take this photograph:

This is the now-famous raised zebra crossing in Beechings Way, not far from the non-raised zebra crossing at Beechings Green. It is pointless, it is unnecessary and succeeds only in slowing down the flow of traffic, when really the goal which should be being pursued is speeding up the flow of traffic (without allowing them to break the speed limit, obviously!).

And that is precisely the point my driving instructor made when I told him that the Liberals were asking for a zebra crossing in Goudhurst Road - it will do nothing but slow down the flow of traffic and ensure that journeys by car are ever more awkward, increasing driver frustration.

The real problem in Goudhurst Road is parking, as has been mentioned several times before. I half-floated an idea on my last post on this issue, but didn’t really explore it in detail, which is what I intend to do now.

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Maybe they’re not serious
Posted by Alan Collins on Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 21:53

I didn’t walk home along Goudhurst Road on Friday night (I had a driving lesson - I did drive, but I don’t pay too much attention to minor details when I have to ensure I’m not about to crash into something, or someone), so I didn’t get my question answered.

However, today I went for my second run into my weight loss (update later) and, running back along Goudhurst Road I discovered why I saw the Highway Services van parked on the corner of Goudhurst Road and Charing Road (no, they weren’t popping into the bakery, Rob):

This picture, taken on my phone (as an explanation for the low quality and small resolution) clearly shows a new road sign. The reason for a new one? The addition of the words “Leading to LYNSTEAD ROAD & WESTERHAM CLOSE”. Now this is really beginning to bug me!

If you asked someone who needed to know where Lynstead Road was, they’d probably be able to tell you. There are, after all, no less than two entrances: Charing Road and Eastcourt Green. The obscure road would be Westerham Close and yes, you’ve guessed it, that’s home to a Liberal Councillor.

Maureen Ruparel returned to Medway Council last May, since when I have counted three actions (there may be more which I have missed) related (or seemingly related) to the quality of her life (and, in some cases, very few others’): the attempt at getting residents only parking in Westerham Close, the attempt at getting an unnecessary zebra crossing in Goudhurst Road and now this absurd road sign.

I didn’t venture down to Westerham Close itself (it was at the end of the run and I was heading home), but I did wonder whether they also changed the Westerham Close sign to read “Leading to MAUREEN’S HOUSE” below the road name (my Dad suggested something similar, although that is a bit too inappropriate to repeat here!).

I could go on for hours moaning about the disgusting self-interest displayed in these acts. However, I shall save it for another day and instead write an article to respond to views expressed as comments in my past two blog posts.

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Selfish Teachers Ruining - Inexcusably - Kid’s Educations!
Posted by Alan Collins on Friday, April 25th, 2008 at 23:47

STRIKE! The desperate and selfish action of a group of people incapable of rising above petty self-interest, chasing an impossible goal.

No, wait, don’t tell me, I’m a day late, aren’t I? Well, I did have to spend my four free periods yesterday (timetabled, mind, none of my teachers are selfish), as well as the evening, doing coursework. However, the news is still relevant.

Oh yes, the teachers were on strike yesterday. So were the civil servants. And the University lecturers. And the Grangemouth refinery in Scotland is closing it’s doors due to industrial action. Is it any wonder people are now comparing Brown’s Labour government to the 1970s “when workers resorted to strike action against a Labour government in a destructive frenzy”.

I was talking to a mate in my form yesterday morning who had the audacity to say that “this strike won’t affect us [Sixth Formers]”. Yes, so says the Sixth Form student taking the register in the same room as six other forms because his form tutor is on strike. No, I can’t notice any adverse effects there…

The fact is that schools here in Twydall had been affected. Rainham Mark Grammar was closed to years 7 and 8 - and year 10 only had to go in for the first two lessons to sit a Maths exam. Thames View Junior was closed to year six and St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary was closed to all but two year 6 classes.

I’d like to use this opportunity to say that this is all down to the actions of a government which the local Twydall councillors support. But I can’t. No matter how bad things may seem (and believe me, receiving a pay rise which is equal to or above the rate of inflation is a luxury few public sector workers will have seen after excessive spending on the part of the government) nothing provides, in my mind, adequate reason to strike.

Suffice to say the level of respect I once held for some teachers has dropped considerably after yesterday…

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Surely they’re not serious?
Posted by Alan Collins on Friday, April 25th, 2008 at 11:36

I was walking along Goudhurst Road this morning and decided to take a photograph of the road to add to yesterday’s post:

Yes, that is the road in which Cllr Stamp wants to install a zebra crossing - and I was thinking that Council officers would do the sensible thing and cast the request aside.

What the picture doesn’t show, however, is the fact that, hidden behind the white van in the center of the picture, is another white van parked on the corner of Charing Road. I only just noticed it out of the corner of my eye whilst walking past.

I had to look, in sheer disbelief, take a double-take, then finally a third, less-than-subtle glance, but the fact didn’t change. Clear as day, parked, watching the flow of traffic (oh, and me!), was a van clearly displaying the text, on the bonnet, in large blue letters: “Highway Services“.

If you want to do something useful in Goudhurst Road, guys, then resurface the road just below Twydall Shops. Pave over the grass verges, sell them to the owner of the houses they sit in front of and allow them to turn them into driveways, easing the increasing parking problem.

I can commend their efficiency, but this is absurd! I have been talking to various different people, who all agree that there is no point whatsoever in installing a zebra crossing in Goudhurst - even near the foot of Twydall Shops! How much Council Tax will they waste before they realise that?

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When did that happen … and why?
Posted by Alan Collins on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 21:34

Yes I know I said I wouldn’t post until I had finished my coursework, but two things are screaming at me at the moment.

Firstly, I have just read the report of last Thursday’s meeting of the Full Council. Apart from listing under Councillors present Councillor “Ward” (they did a similar thing last year, after the local elections, when Cllr Mrs Prodger had stood down) it hardly makes for exciting reading.

Except, that is, unless you are a resident of Goudhurst Road (I told you it was something screaming at me). For Liberal Councillor Andy Stamp had presented a petition “from 226 residents asking the Council to put a zebra crossing in Goudhurst Road”. 226 residents? I know for a fact I am not one of them, and there’s a good chance not one member of my family signed it.

So when did they collect signatures? And why do they think a zebra crossing would be worthwhile in Goudhurst Road? Could this, per chance, be related to last year’s submission of a petition calling for residents-only parking in Westerham Close, the home of Liberal Councillor Maureen Ruparel? After all, it is the only semi-main road she has to cross to get to Twydall Shops!

The question as to why still has to be asked. Surely even Liberals cannot want to waste local residents’ money. I mean, Goudhurst Road isn’t exactly difficult to cross even at its busiest! The question has to be asked, by myself, by my parents, by other residents: why? What is the point? Well, I think only the Liberals of Medway can answer that - and answer it they must to ensure that their already somewhat dubious credibility isn’t lost forever.

And the second thing? Well, you see there was a teacher’s strike today, and… Oh, never mind, I’ll post it later, once I have completed my Spanish coursework.

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