Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Death Road

How many more deaths or injuries will it take before the powers that be close Shore Road pedestrianised portion all year around?
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15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Has there been another accident ? Theres nothing on the news !

15/2/06 3:20 pm
Postman2 said...

yes a three year old badly injuredd

15/2/06 3:26 pm
The Postman said...

I shall pick this up with council/police etc ....

Mike Hadley

15/2/06 3:40 pm
Postman2 said...

Thanks. I can’t understand why there is opposition to this. The Council get no revenue from the cars parked there, and the barriers are already in place. Take a walk down to Fortes ice cream shop, buy a coffee and watch (on a nice day at half term) the number of people trying to cross the road having to edge out between the Chelsea tractors and crane their necks to see if it is safe to cross. Are kids going to remember to do that when all summer they could run freely between the beach and the goodies on the other side of the road? The green cross code says find a safe place to cross, but there isn’t one on this area.

16/2/06 9:30 pm
Anonymous said...

As I've said before, this is a no brainer - no one loses by doing this. C'mon Swanage Town Council pull your fingers out.

Mark

17/2/06 11:54 am
Paul Angel said...

Isn't it weird that there are 2 crossings on Station Road and none on the whole stretch of the seafront or round right through to the High Street - really badly thought through for pedestrians. Scares the hell out of me every time i take my littluns down there. Who would be responsible for roads and crossings and closures though? DCC I'd presume...

21/2/06 7:21 pm
The Postman said...

While the debate may go on about closing the road year-round, it would seem that the least that is needed are a couple of safe crossing places, one at each end of the stretch between the Mowlem and Victoria Avenue.

Mike Hadley

21/2/06 7:49 pm
Postman2 said...

Sorry Mike but if you are in the middle of the beach you aint goin to walk all the way to the Mowlem cross over and walk back to ther loo in the middle. Just shut the gates! At the very least ban any parking and keep the gates shut during school holidays.

21/2/06 10:24 pm
The Postman said...

I was thinking of crossings by the Mowlem and before the Victoria Av junction. There is one by the Beach Gardens loo; maybe even one more needed by Ocean Bay for people coming from North Beach car park.
MikeH

22/2/06 8:57 am
Postman2 said...

Mike, you have only been a local councillor for a few weeks and already you are complicating a simple issue. Just close it, why not?

22/2/06 11:54 am
The Postman said...

Not sure everyone wants it closed, that's all..!

22/2/06 2:47 pm
Postman2 said...

will you please ask them why and post up their reasons so I can see what I am missing here

22/2/06 2:55 pm
The Postman said...

well ... I personally would like to hear all arguments for and against before favouring any one option. I've heard various arguments for keeping it open (though I think many would agree it certainly could and should be made safer):
- it's another valuable route for traffic to bypass Station Rd.I realise people manage in summer, but it does make life more convenient out of season
- allows cars to turn left from Station Rd and not have to fight through town to get out. Again, people manage in summer, but it is more convenient
- it's good for elderly,infirm and people with young kids to be able to park there in the winter, either just to look at the sea or to get to the beach more easily (after all, some people just can't walk very far at all). Taking this pleasure away would be a major disappointment to many people.
-for many people this stretch of road is a convenient chance to drive along the seafront and get a glimpse of the sea. I know people who like to do this daily on their way to work or way home, just for the little lift it gives.
- out of season it might just be a bleak empty promenade for a few walkers

On the other hand..it could be a lovely year-round traffic-free promenade....

Is it not possible to have a bit of both and make it safe but allow access out of season? Or if necessary close at other holiday periods as well.

22/2/06 4:28 pm
Postman2 said...

What a clever compromise! You could have chevron parking and get nearly twice as many cars there too!
In fact, at low tide even more cars could use the Mowlem slip way and park on the beach.
Maybe during the winter the little path could be widened so cars could get down and park on the amphitheatre?

26/2/06 11:14 am
Anonymous said...

The mixed usage of Shore Road is confusing and consequently dangerous particularly when the changeover (from traffic, to no traffic, to traffic) takes place and when cars are parked in the road.How many accidents does it take for the council to take remedial action.

Should anyone be unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident they might have a claim against the council for negligence in that they created a confusing and dangerous situation and failed to take appropriate action.

If Shore Road was permanently closed it could become an asset particularly in the summer season when the council could earn revenue by encouraging commercial use such as that seen on continental seafronts.

I do not know anyone who is in favour of keeping the road open and I am sure that if there was a vote especially in the summer season there would be overwhelming support for permanent closure.

26/2/06 10:23 pm

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