Will non-cyclists be asked views? (From Dorset Echo)
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Will non-cyclists be asked views?
9:00am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Your letters
It is right that cyclists are consulted about infilling the rails on the Quay Tramway (Echo, January 19).
They are a powerful lobby group who rightly seek continual road improvements for their members.
But when is the county council going to consult non-cyclists?
Weymouth Quay Tramway is a historical gem, unique in the UK, and must be preserved as part of the harbour scene.
Too many short-sighted councillors see it as a nuisance rather than an opportunity.
What is not clear is which local authority is committed to pay for removing the infill if and when trains are restored to the tramway?
It seems 12 parking places are to be removed from Custom House Quay – but why?
If the infilled rails will now be safe for cyclists, why do they need to veer away from the tracks?
I hope the general consultation, when it happens, will not be anything like the charm exercise employed to beautify the disastrous ‘intelligent’ traffic lights.
They were bulldozed through, ignoring the expressed opposition of many Weymouth people.
Consultation in this town has too often been a mask to pretend what has already been decided to happen, might somehow be altered by local opinion.
By the way, the idea of attracting French tourists to Dorset is a good one, but needs to be backed-up by an intensive marketing campaign on the other side of the English Channel.
On cross-channel ferries, it is noticeable that 99 per cent of cars are British in both directions, with only a dozen or so bicycles.
So tourism chiefs have a lot of work to do before legions of French cyclists start pedalling along Custom House Quay.
In any case, next year won’t they be landing at Portland Port?
Michel Hooper-Immins, Weymouth
Comments(7)
BengalTiger
says...
2:56pm Fri 3 Feb 12
Why should public money be spent on private property?
Can this be justifyed to the District Auditor?
marabout
says...
4:39pm Fri 3 Feb 12
Err no its not.
Wykeite
says...
5:36pm Fri 3 Feb 12
Also, why are these tracks being referred to as a 'tramway'? These are disused and out of date railway lines that are no longer required.
Finally, since when has Portland Port been a passenger terminal?
iampuzzled
says...
6:31pm Fri 3 Feb 12
A FAST ferry service from Portland to France will be ready to set sail in April 2013.
The Britannia Passenger Terminal was opened by HRH Prince Philip on 14th July 1999
Wykeite
says...
10:14pm Fri 3 Feb 12
iampuzzled wrote:I forgot about the up coming plans for the ferry service. I hope they hand out copies of the Highway Code when they disembark, highlighting the section on traffic lights.
Wykeite says 'Finally, since when has Portland Port been a passenger terminal?'
A FAST ferry service from Portland to France will be ready to set sail in April 2013.
The Britannia Passenger Terminal was opened by HRH Prince Philip on 14th July 1999
Tim Day
says...
10:21am Mon 6 Feb 12
Non-cyclist have had the chance to attend and comment at a number of open meetings held in Weymouth last month. Did he not go?
mark@greenhill says...
1:54pm Fri 3 Feb 12
Too many reasons against, not anywhere near enough reasons to justify the expense & disruption.
Unfortunately the few romantic minded people that would love to see & ride on this line, would never be willing to pay the huge sum of reinstating the line, or for the disruption the line would cause.
Like the Pavilion theatre, it has long since had it's day, & we should all move on.
By all means, keep the lines as a reminder, but fill them in to prevent the accidents if that is what people wish.