Bristol campaign

[Andrew Staton]

I am tryng to get involved in supporting the Bristol Evening Post's traffic light campaign. On Wednesday on the Avon Ring Road yet another roundabout had a sign put up stating "consultation" from Sth Goucs DC on its proposed new lights. I phoned an officer in the traffic department to challenge the decision. He said it was the politicians who wanted it and rejected my suggestion that politicians are influenced by so-called professionals like him. He was coming out with all the usual propaganda on reduced accidents and congestion and rejected any idea that there was a legitimate counter argument. He fell back, as they all do, on the fear factor of relaxing traffic controls and hides behind health and safety as ever.

I was interviewed by the Post yesterday (having called its reporter subsequent to my conversation with the council) and hope this latest attack will be seized upon by the paper as a case-in-point.

At the moment I am not at all encouraged by the seemingly positive noises made by city councillors and officers. I don't believe they have the slightest intention of changing their one-dimensional policy. They're just salivating at the prospect of the first accident or, dare I say, fatality in Portishead in order to say triumphantly "I told you so. We do know best".

Just wait.



Regards to you all.



Andrew

[Martin Cassini]

The BEP (Bristol Evening Post) picked up the campaign because of the successful Portishead trial. They've asked me to do a 300-word piece next week. If I had more space I might include your story. I think the tide is turning. The old road is rapidly changing.