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bird's eye view by the Hawk • Frustration

29th January 1971
Page 33
Page 33, 29th January 1971 — bird's eye view by the Hawk • Frustration
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

We hear a lot about the cost of congestion and the need for better roads—to which we all say amen—but how stupidly wasteful we are with some of the roads we've got. Just lately my journeys have taken me into London on A20, the Maidstone and Folkestone trunk road, at rush-hour time, and at Loampit Hill, Lewisham, is a classic example of how police and highway authorities abdicate their responsibility for keeping the traffic moving.

Just over the summit of the hill one of those mysterious holes has been worked for several months now, and its debris reduces the northbound carriageway to single track. It also reduces the traffic to walking pace and produces a constant half-mile double queue of trucks, vans, buses and cars; the cost in dui-cites, brakes, fuel and drivers' nervous energy—to say nothing of time—can be imagined. What a case for cost/benefit analysis—the hole must have cost thousands of pounds to the community. Those responsible for it might approach it with a different view if they were charged for obstructing the highway at £100 an hour—which would be a cheap assessment.

The infuriating thing for all these stalled travellers is that the hold-up is unnecessary. The hole itself is now only on the footway, and it is simply the spread of materials which needlessly obstructs the road. Even if it were difficult for some good reason to clear the highway, then a couple of diversion signs and a dozen marker cones could produce tidal flow morning and evening at little cost or trouble.

I am sure readers must have encountered their own instances of this sort of gay abandon by the authorities. I'm astonished that the AA, RAC or trade associations haven't taken a stronger line on examples of this sort of road waste.

• London's ladies

The RHA North London sub-area's Ladies Festival, due to take place next Saturday, February 6, at the Cafe Royal, almost became a victim of the mails, I'm told. The subarea chairman, May Tofts (can a petite blonde be a chairman?) was not to be beaten by mere mails, however, and together with John Silberrnann's wife Sue has contacted most of the regulars.

Just in case you haven't got your tickets, though, Mrs Silbermann can be reached at 01-907 4124.

• Poetic license?.

When the Institute of Transport introduces its new grade next year, those accepted will be called licentiates. If the TML proposals are accepted, those registered will be certified as manager material. Imagine the embarrassment of a young member who registers with the board and gets described as a certified licentiate.

M I ain't got no body I hear that Granada TV's Police Five the other week had a rum case. A Leyland Octopus left, with 80 other vehicles, on premises in St Helens was found stripped of tipping gear and body, weighing about two tons in all, much to the consternation of operator J. Piccavance.

Swiftly to the rescue came Edbro, who refurbished the job in about a week. But how do you pinch two tons of tipper unobtrusively?

Tags

Organisations: Institute of Transport
Locations: London

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