Worcester News, Worcester Sport, Worcester Leisure - From The Worcester News

The many changes I have seen in town

From the archive, first published Thursday 29th Jul 2004.

IN the early 1970s I drove through Evesham, at 2am in the morning, en-route from Leicester to Cornwall for a holiday.

I then remarked what a nice town this appears to be, we will have to come and visit sometime. That visit started in 1978 and is still ongoing. In that time I have seen many changes, in those days there was a nice department store on the High Street, and dare I say it, the main Post Office was still on the High Street, in its own building. However time moves on!

The traffic arrangements around Swan Lane were re-vamped, with disastrous effect, we were promised a review after six months, what was not stated was which six months it would be after. We still have the queues reaching up Greenhill at many times of the day, and the light sequence at Swan Lane takes some believing. Why?

In 1978 there was a site on the grounds at the end of Peewit Road where we could go and deposit our rubbish in skips, a journey of four miles for me. After many protests this was closed and we were assured that a new local site would be found to save people trailing to Throckmorton. Granted that the access to the Peewit Road site could be difficult along a single track road, but this also applies to Throckmorton, and Peewit Road is six miles closer ie less traffic, less pollution etc. Why?

Just before Christmas 2002 the B4510, road between Evesham and Middle and North Littleton, Cleeve Prior, Pebworth etc (quite a busy road) was closed at the Fish and Anchor Hill, Offenham for repairs due to land slippage that would take six months (there it is again, that magic six months). Since then a very permanent barrier has been erected, and no apparent remedial work carried out. I was told some time ago that investigations were being carried out. Lets face it, this bit of road is about a quarter of a mile long at the most, they are building a new length of by-pass from Twyford to Chadbury in less time than they have been investigating this. Why?

Occasionally the district council gives itself a pat on the back in respect of how well it is doing recycling waste, disregarding glass. I would maintain that glass is still an important commodity, and should be recycled. Granted one could, as the council states, take it to the bottle banks located around the district in not too accessible spots by public transport, considering the weight involved. We used to have a kerbside collection of glass, but this was stopped some time ago. The council don't reply to letters on this subject, and the press appears to back them by not highlighting the problem. Why?

Finally, Ragwort, that weed which last year we were told was dangerous and should be reported and got rid of. Last week I spotted some, so I decided to do something about it. Not knowing who to report to, I telephoned the police who suggested the Environment Agency. So I rang them, first on the 24 hour line (being out of hours) and then the office next day. Their advice was to ring the district council. This I did, and described the problem, their advice was to telephone DEFRA at Bristol, and gave me the number to ring. DEFRA basically didn't want to know and told me to report it to the person whose land it was on, in this case the councils verge to the C class road. DEFRA did send me a very informative leaflet to identify injurious weeds and a form to fill out and return, no way, it requires grid references and plans etc, very complicated. Has ragwort ceased to be the hazard that is was last year? Why?

These are just a few of the instances that I can remember of being let down by the council. On the other hand I will agree with their stance over people needing to obtain planning permission before work is carried out, I also feel that the site involved should be returned to the original condition before consent is even considered, and that this should apply equally to everybody, householders, businesses and gipsies. I do appreciate that in the past buildings without consent have been removed, but an example needs to be made and adhered to.

Is it any wonder that come Local Election time people don't turn out to vote and are accused of being apathetic, when one asks for answers and they are not forthcoming, or receive promises and then no further progress is made. Are the electorate being labelled with having a six month span of memory?

E MARSH, Offenham.

Archive Home