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Retailers lose fight to delay A338 works (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Retailers lose fight to delay A338 works
8:00am Tuesday 17th November 2009
CALLS by retailers for the Spur Road roadworks to be put back until after Christmas look set to be rejected – because of laws protecting Dorset’s reptiles.
And if you think the traffic hold-ups are bad now, things are set to get worse next autumn when the six-month resurfacing project begins.
Yesterday hundreds of commuters were stuck in slow-moving traffic as they tried to get work including Tony Brown, chief executive of Beales in Bournemouth.
He said the work was being done in “eight weeks at the town’s busiest time of year”.
“It’s daft they are doing this at this time of year.
“I came down the Spur Road on Saturday. It was choc-a-block for about two or three miles of cones. The actual bit being used was about 150 yards.”
He added: “I would start mid to end-January, the slowest economic time of the year for the town,” he said.
But he urged people not to be put off visiting the town.
“Bournemouth is still open for business,” he said. “And you can park for £3 all day on a weekday.”
Steve Kent, chairman of Boscombe Traders Association, said the area had suffered a “horrendous” drop in trade from the combination of the A338 work and the closure of the Ashley Road railway bridge.
“To do it during the run-up to Christmas I think is totally mad,” he said.
But he added: “There are no delays in Boscombe. The car parks are available and people can use them.”
The council is looking at whether work can be stepped up to seven days a week.
Nigel Hedges, president of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce, welcomed the idea. He said: “I think most people do feel it’s going to be very painful for a long time and anything that can shorten the length of that pain has got to be a good thing.”
The current work involves clearing vegetation and trees, putting up fences to keep reptiles from the carriageway and carrying out surveys.
David Diaz, the council’s project manager, said the work had to be done while reptiles and smooth snakes were hibernating.
“We have to make sure once they reappear in the spring, all the essential works are done, otherwise we have great difficulty relocating them back into the verges,” he said.
He added: “We are governed by legislation as to how we treat these species of animals. Some of them are protected by European legislation as well.”
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Your Say YourEcho
ferret38, bournemouth says...
8:24am Tue 17 Nov 09
ben111, Ringwood says...
8:36am Tue 17 Nov 09
ferret38 wrote:I agree ,,, But a comment yesterday from a resident of Ringwood said they are driving to west quay in Southampton because its easier and less stressful , so what does that tell you , or as one person said yesterday we should all buy property closer to our work , its that simple ... !
How about a bit of free parking from now till xmas to get the shoppers in ? Why are bbc grabbing money all the time ?
rainbowkisses, Bournemouth says...
9:02am Tue 17 Nov 09
ben111 wrote:You have zero chance of free parking. The council enjoy their money to much...... People from Ringwood/Bournemouth
ferret38 wrote: How about a bit of free parking from now till xmas to get the shoppers in ? Why are bbc grabbing money all the time ?I agree ,,, But a comment yesterday from a resident of Ringwood said they are driving to west quay in Southampton because its easier and less stressful , so what does that tell you , or as one person said yesterday we should all buy property closer to our work , its that simple ... !
/Christchurch have been using West Quay for ages. I'm waiting for them to start their christmas shopping hours, then I'm off to do mine. None of our towns offer the range or prices that the big shopping centres do. Parking is so easy there, unlike here. I can just as easy drive the 25 miles to Southampton, in the time it takes me to cross town and find a parking space in Poole....... Not everybody can up sticks when they change their job. Some people have to commute........ And why does it not come as a surprise that the Council is more worried about the welfare of newts etc, then they are of the people who pay their wages. I really hope you voters remember these type of things come next year, when you get the chance to vote the fools off the gravy train they are happily riding.
The irate commuter, says...
9:14am Tue 17 Nov 09
ry8000, Bournemouth says...
9:19am Tue 17 Nov 09
ben111 wrote:Couples rarely work in the same companies or locations, and people tend to change jobs more frequently these days, not always by their own choice. People can't always afford to live near to their workplace, and moving house is very expensive, so can't be done regularly.
ferret38 wrote: How about a bit of free parking from now till xmas to get the shoppers in ? Why are bbc grabbing money all the time ?I agree ,,, But a comment yesterday from a resident of Ringwood said they are driving to west quay in Southampton because its easier and less stressful , so what does that tell you , or as one person said yesterday we should all buy property closer to our work , its that simple ... !
So it's not really that simple though is it.
Our government and councils need to understand that people need to travel.
rebelred, bournemouth says...
9:22am Tue 17 Nov 09
contric, says...
9:24am Tue 17 Nov 09
ben111, Ringwood says...
9:29am Tue 17 Nov 09
contric wrote:Again all really simple and good ideas that seem obviouse ,, Again the council DON'T SEEM TO LISTEN to the general public ...
why dont they do the work at night
MJD, HAMWORTHY says...
9:35am Tue 17 Nov 09
pd7, Dorset says...
9:41am Tue 17 Nov 09
contric wrote:Cause people might stand on the little critters . But we could get some green jackets for them.
why dont they do the work at night
rook, wimborne says...
9:42am Tue 17 Nov 09
Maybe some customers from Verwood and Ringwood might go elsewhere, but I'd guess that 90% of trade in town is done by customers who don't go there using the spur road and live in Bournemouth, Poole, or to the West.
inpoole, Poole says...
10:59am Tue 17 Nov 09
ben111, Ringwood says...
11:16am Tue 17 Nov 09
let-it-loose, Poole says...
11:22am Tue 17 Nov 09
In Absentia, Bournemouth says...
11:39am Tue 17 Nov 09
DorsetCountyCouncil, Dorchester says...
11:40am Tue 17 Nov 09
/bournemouthspurroad
Gastines, St.Malo says...
11:41am Tue 17 Nov 09
boardstiff, Boscombe Spa says...
11:45am Tue 17 Nov 09
In Absentia wrote:So the delivery van can wait in the traffic jam instead ....
Easy, just do your Xmas shopping on-line, it's far cheaper anyway.
DorsetCountyCouncil, Dorchester says...
11:54am Tue 17 Nov 09
http://www.dorsetfor
you.com/index.jsp?ar
ticleid=394171
The irate commuter, says...
12:03pm Tue 17 Nov 09
What a cop out !!! So what about all the times before when work has been carried out during the day & the bollards removed during the rush hour ?
Too lazy to remove them each day more like !!!
[Chris], WWW says...
12:04pm Tue 17 Nov 09
.
Anyone who has done road work contracts, in particular on dual carrieageways or motorways will know of the safety issues involved, hence the reason for the long run of bollards on a short work area. Because people do not take notice and still travel in excesss of speed. Only the other day I saw a driver drive the car through a barrier of bollards, because they were busy doing something else, mobile phone. What would have happened if the road work crew were just inside of the bollards.
.
To work at nights costs more, not only in wages, but the addition of lighting. The carriage way has no lighting. This would have to be supplied, and connected to the grid or the use of generators. More costs, which inevitably would work its way back to the public.
.
Retailers gripes. Not even worth going with that matter. However, notice it was only Boscombe and the Town that moaned. Have not heard anything from Castlepoint as yet.
.
Gastines. I agree with you, but using that route quite often throughout the year. The traffic is much less on that road to Rennes, than say the A338. I have travelled on that road with next to no other traffic. Plus although main routes and motorways in France are usually of only two lanes, and the ruling of staying in the right hand lane unless overtaking, the French drivers and regular visitors are use to the network if a lane is closed off for a period of time. Plus as you say they work at nights in general.
.
The Echo should just advertise the road works and closure times, and not make a story that they know will only fuel up the moaners.
In Absentia, Bournemouth says...
12:31pm Tue 17 Nov 09
boardstiff wrote:Exactly, better one delivery van than 15 cars. Glad you could see the logic.
In Absentia wrote: Easy, just do your Xmas shopping on-line, it's far cheaper anyway.So the delivery van can wait in the traffic jam instead ....
Merleyman, Merley says...
12:34pm Tue 17 Nov 09
I mean, even though no-one ever sees these reptiles because they are flashing past in their cars at 70mph, it is obvious that the comfort of the reptiles is of far more importance than us mere humans.
Officials who make these decisions are plain daft and stupid, because it doesn't affect their livlihood and income..
djd, bournemouth says...
1:00pm Tue 17 Nov 09
Why would anyone want to go to Boscombe to do their shopping from Ringwood or Southampton ??
Steve Kent bleats about everything, come up with some good ideas to keep the shoppers you do have rather than moaning.
How can Boscombe get better when you have the drunks and druggies hanging aound the shopping centre ??
We were sat in Costa coffee on Saturday morning and outside the window were three Boscombe drunks drinking from a bottle of sherry, trying to cover the bottle with a plastic bag. That's the image Boscombe has to get rid of before shoppers come.
boardstiff, Boscombe Spa says...
1:27pm Tue 17 Nov 09
In Absentia wrote:Of course! If we do our shopping on-line, we'll have no need of shops. So we'll close them down and fire all the staff. A much greater saving on travel than from just 15 cars. We're talking thousands, here. And then there are the support functions. Imagine. If we were to do away with the complete infrastructure surrounding retailing - and the people whose livelihoods depend on it - the level of savings would be bordering on the phenomenal. From the window cleaner to - well - how far can this one go...? Clerical, managerial, technical ("I've brought you the new photocopier - sorry about the wait, I had to take the bus...")
boardstiff wrote:Exactly, better one delivery van than 15 cars. Glad you could see the logic.
In Absentia wrote: Easy, just do your Xmas shopping on-line, it's far cheaper anyway.So the delivery van can wait in the traffic jam instead ....
It's an absolutely brilliant concept. No need for shoppers to travel because the shops have all closed, no need for the employees to travel because they no longer have jobs, and no need for those supplying support functions because they no longer have customers or clients.
I'm with you 100 per cent on this one. Don't just buy Christmas presents on line at the most critical time of year for retailers, buy everything on-line. Close everything else down and - taking it to the logical conclusion - eliminate extensive individual travel entirely (the very reason the spur road's worn out).
I have no personal axe to grind. I'm not a retailer, so it won't affect me. Or - ultimately - could it...?
ekimnoslen, says...
1:36pm Tue 17 Nov 09
In Absentia, Bournemouth says...
1:43pm Tue 17 Nov 09
boardstiff wrote:Um, yes, that's called the 'free market' and the incoming government are going to be even more in favour of it than the current one. I'm not saying thats a good thing, just the reality. I shop purely on price these days.
In Absentia wrote:Of course! If we do our shopping on-line, we'll have no need of shops. So we'll close them down and fire all the staff. A much greater saving on travel than from just 15 cars. We're talking thousands, here. And then there are the support functions. Imagine. If we were to do away with the complete infrastructure surrounding retailing - and the people whose livelihoods depend on it - the level of savings would be bordering on the phenomenal. From the window cleaner to - well - how far can this one go...? Clerical, managerial, technical ("I've brought you the new photocopier - sorry about the wait, I had to take the bus...") It's an absolutely brilliant concept. No need for shoppers to travel because the shops have all closed, no need for the employees to travel because they no longer have jobs, and no need for those supplying support functions because they no longer have customers or clients. I'm with you 100 per cent on this one. Don't just buy Christmas presents on line at the most critical time of year for retailers, buy everything on-line. Close everything else down and - taking it to the logical conclusion - eliminate extensive individual travel entirely (the very reason the spur road's worn out). I have no personal axe to grind. I'm not a retailer, so it won't affect me. Or - ultimately - could it...?boardstiff wrote:Exactly, better one delivery van than 15 cars. Glad you could see the logic.In Absentia wrote: Easy, just do your Xmas shopping on-line, it's far cheaper anyway.So the delivery van can wait in the traffic jam instead ....
boardstiff, Boscombe Spa says...
2:04pm Tue 17 Nov 09
In Absentia wrote:I'd certainly say that a free market is a good thing - but it's only "free" when based on the concept of a level playing field.
boardstiff wrote:Um, yes, that's called the 'free market' and the incoming government are going to be even more in favour of it than the current one. I'm not saying thats a good thing, just the reality. I shop purely on price these days.
In Absentia wrote:Of course! If we do our shopping on-line, we'll have no need of shops. So we'll close them down and fire all the staff. A much greater saving on travel than from just 15 cars. We're talking thousands, here. And then there are the support functions. Imagine. If we were to do away with the complete infrastructure surrounding retailing - and the people whose livelihoods depend on it - the level of savings would be bordering on the phenomenal. From the window cleaner to - well - how far can this one go...? Clerical, managerial, technical ("I've brought you the new photocopier - sorry about the wait, I had to take the bus...") It's an absolutely brilliant concept. No need for shoppers to travel because the shops have all closed, no need for the employees to travel because they no longer have jobs, and no need for those supplying support functions because they no longer have customers or clients. I'm with you 100 per cent on this one. Don't just buy Christmas presents on line at the most critical time of year for retailers, buy everything on-line. Close everything else down and - taking it to the logical conclusion - eliminate extensive individual travel entirely (the very reason the spur road's worn out). I have no personal axe to grind. I'm not a retailer, so it won't affect me. Or - ultimately - could it...?boardstiff wrote:Exactly, better one delivery van than 15 cars. Glad you could see the logic.In Absentia wrote: Easy, just do your Xmas shopping on-line, it's far cheaper anyway.So the delivery van can wait in the traffic jam instead ....
If you could enlighten me as to who the incoming government will be, I'll add my vote when the time comes...
In Absentia, Bournemouth says...
2:14pm Tue 17 Nov 09
It looks like the Old Etonians will be taking over again, god help us all.
BoJo for PM anyone?
poole_god, says...
2:59pm Tue 17 Nov 09
The irate commuter, says...
4:13pm Tue 17 Nov 09
WIGGINSv, Boscombe says...
4:44pm Tue 17 Nov 09
inpoole wrote:If everybody took your advice, you'd be back to square one...d'oh!
Not one to state the obvious but simply leave a few min's earlier. I was clear when I came through this morning. Maybe if others did the same there would be no issues (or less of pone at least).
braddan76, poole says...
4:57pm Tue 17 Nov 09
pete0404, boscombe says...
6:01pm Tue 17 Nov 09
also the council should have sdpent more money on the high street instead of the reef, you can walk down the high strret and trip over loose slabs / drain covers and all the drunks, druggies it didnt help having all the gas works as well i think i only saw 2 guys working on them for 1 day
boardstiff, Boscombe Spa says...
6:40pm Tue 17 Nov 09
poole_god wrote:We don't have "fast lanes" on British roads. The lane to which you are referring is the "overtaking lane", to be used for that purpose before moving back into the centre or inside lane as appropriate and at the earliest opportunity.
funny how people queue single file on the a338. if you use the fast lane and merge in people think you have pushed in but why does everyone not use both lanes.
I make this comment not out of misplaced pedantry (nor as a driving instructor!) but in the hope that at least some of the members of the M3 and M27's Centre Lane Owners' Club might actually learn a basic lesson in driving.
Enoughisenough, Bournemouth says...
1:29pm Wed 18 Nov 09
I have to smile though. It makes a nice change after the wholesale destruction of Dorset heathland to make homes for cockneys and their companies and to overpopulate and destroy this beautiful county that us humans now feel what it's like to have our lives turned upside down.
fedupwithjobsworths, Moordown says...
5:12pm Wed 18 Nov 09
At the moment it's too warm for the reptiles to hibernate, January and February are the coldest months of the year. Jobsworths 1, common sense 0.
MOTORING MISERY: On the A338
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ben111, Ringwood says...
8:15am Tue 17 Nov 09