ARE Bury Times readers aware that local planners may be about to restrict traffic again in the centre of Bury, at a cost in excess of half a million pounds?
The suggestion is to close part of Market Street between 10am and 4pm except for minority users such as buses, taxis or invalidity badge holders. What a nonsense!
Pedestrians will not know whether they are coming or going. Most of them travel in by private transport so surely the planners should be following the example of the Trafford Centre who have 70mph motorway approach roads and slip roads directly to free, timeless, unrestricted car parking. Only two years ago Bury had free car parking which attracted more people to Bury than currently. And that is a fact!
Bolton Street Business Club has fought hard for the town (remember free parking at Castlecroft; short-stay parking in Bolton Street; waste bins on Bolton Street?). All these initiatives were instigated, plus more, by BSBC, not town hall planners.
As far back as March 1997 this business club made its very strong views known to the planning department regarding the detrimental effects of this proposed scheme. I was therefore amazed that at a meeting of the environment and transport scrutiny review panel at the Town Hall on June 27, which businesses concerned were not told about, councillors were virtually ready to "rubber stamp" their traffic restriction plans.
On behalf of BSBC I re-emphasised our opinion of the proposal and insisted that there should be direct consultation with all the businesses concerned prior to any further expenditure on a scheme on which more than £10,000 has already been spent.
We do not want a repeat of the situation in Radcliffe or Whitefield. Businesses in Bury, and indeed the public of Bury, want a vibrant town centre, so help BSBC to achieve this.
If readers have problems getting their views acknowledged by the town hall, they can write to Bolton Street Business Club, c/o 44 Bolton Street, Bury BL9 OLL, for the attention of David Warburton, senior member. We will make sure your views reach the right department.
D. WARBURTON
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article