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Southgate crossing arrives - but too late to save businesses
September 22, 2008 2:07 PM
Councillor Furse
Councillor Andrew Furse (Lib Dem, Kingsmead) has successfully pressured the B&NES Conservative-run Cabinet to get a pedestrian crossing installed on Dorchester Street in Bath.
The crossing has been needed to enable pedestrians to safely cross from the railway station and Dorchester Street into Manvers Street. Alongside the installation of the crossing comes the removal of the eyesore red and white barricades at this junction.
Councillor Furse said
"The installation of this crossing is a welcome move but it should have been thought of at the outset of the disruption caused by the Southgate development. I have been campaigning for 18 months to get such a crossing installed to improve access to the west side of Manvers Street.
"This crossing has opened up the pavements to the businesses on the corner which until now have been barricaded off. However, sadly, one local business has shut because of the disruption. So much for the Tories' fine words about supporting local businesses!"
Despite this progress there is still no improvement to other disruptive elements of the works, on which progress was promised months ago, including:
- drainage
- condition of pavements
- unreliable crossing on Manvers Street
- lack of pedestrian priority signs
- lack of benches to sit on in Southgate Street
Councillor Ian Gilchrist (Widcombe) added:
"I have received several complaints from elderly residents in Widcombe about the lack of benches on which to sit and rest as they make their way between home and town. Whereas previously there were plenty, and no doubt plenty are promised to come, now there just aren't enough. Southgate Street is particularly poor in this respect at present."
Councillor Furse said:
"Because of this lack of action I have again called for the Cabinet member in charge Cllr David Hawkins to step aside and make way for someone who can get some decent progress on these problems. City residents and visitors deserve better and he should resign on the grounds of putting pedestrians in danger in the area and allowing the developer to make residents' convenience a low priority.
"I will continue to campaign to improve pedestrian access across the city. It takes incredible amount of time and effort to get this cabinet to get things done."
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