A605 Most Improved Road in Country

It was announced today that the A605 is the most improved road in the Country as far as road safety is concerned.

This is a great bit of news for residents - the award comes for work done right along the A605 from the A141 into Peterborough, much of it subtle stuff like signage and road markings right along the route including through Whittlesey, Coates and Eastrea but also because of the huge success of the work at the junction with the A141, which was dreadful before the installation of the traffic lights.

What is interesting about this is that much of the work is not massively expensive.  The most costly bit was almost certainly the A141 junction.  But even this was a project that was planned to be a roundabout and ended up as a much cheaper solution.  The officers at the County Council deserve a huge amount of credit for this success.  The change in the plans for this junction were one of my earlier decisions as a Cabinet Member at County and we made them work really hard to convince us that the traffic lights were a better solution than a roundabout, rather than just a cheaper one - and they have proved absolutely right.  This confirms my belief that more money is not the answer to everything (although it often helps!!)

It was also good to hear Cabinet Member for Highways, Cllr Tony Orgee, confirm in his interview with BBC Cambridgeshire Breakfast that the Kings Dyke railway crossing is very much on the County Council's radar. Good to know that the County are doing their bit for our Town.

I thought it was worth pasting the County Council's press release about this award:

ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL FOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT WORK

County Council work to improve safety on the A605 in the north of Cambridgeshire has been given a royal seal of approval after winning the prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award.

The 13-mile section of road between Hobbs Lot Bridge and Peterborough has been recognised as the most improved section of rural highway in the country.

Safety improvement work carried out by Cambridgeshire County Council included new traffic lights at the Goosetree junction, re-alignment of sections of the road, fixed and mobile speed cameras, new speed and accident blackspot warning signs and work to keep the surface and markings in good condition particularly at junctions and bends and maintained visibility by removing over grown trees and bushes.

As a result of the work, between 2005-2010 the number of fatal and serious crashes fell by 74% (from 34 to 9) and the road safety rating improved from medium risk to low risk.

Prior to 2005 crashes at junctions, those involving pedestrians and cyclists and vehicles running off the road were prominent, each accounting for 30% of all fatal and serious crashes along the route. Between 2006-2010, those proportions fell to 11% for each category of accident.

The award citation reads: ‘Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards are presented to individuals, companies or organisations in recognition of their outstanding contribution to improving road safety.’

The County Council will receive the award during the launch of the 2012 British European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP) at The House of Lords, on October 16.

County Council Cabinet Member for Community Infrastructure, Councillor Tony Orgee, said: “Improving road safety is all about cutting the number of people who are killed and injured on the roads and I’m delighted that our very successful efforts to do just that on the busy A605, which is a major commuter route that is also extensively used by local traffic and commercial vehicles, has been recognised by the award of such a prestigious accolade as the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award.

“Winning this award is a worthy recognition of the hard work of the local community which called for safety improvements, the County Councillors who supported their campaign and the road safety and highways teams who designed and implemented the improvements.”

Announcing the award, Adrian Walsh director of the awards scheme said: “Many of our rural ‘A’ roads remain high risk – here is an outstanding example of a county taking this seriously and making a difference, other authorities should follow and do the same.”

Adult Social Care Debate - BBC Radio Cambridgeshire - Mon 15th 6.30pm

Without change, Adult Social Care is facing an extremely tough time over the next twenty or so years.  We have a population that is growing older, which is a great thing, but it does mean that there will be an increasing number of people that need the sort of support that both the NHS and local councils provide.  In Cambridgeshire the number of over 65s are forecast to increase by 30% in the next ten years, the over 90s population will increase by 70%.  There is some evidence that without change some Councils will be spending almost their entire budgets on Adult Social Care in less than twenty years time.

Last Thursday I sat on a panel as part of a recorded live debate about adult social care at the BBC Cambridgeshire studios.  That debate will be broadcast tomorrow night (Monday 15th October) at 6.30pm on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

The debate was a first for me, and I was a little apprehensive about it.  But actually, I really enjoyed it.  There were some really, really contrasting views put across, but,for the most, the debate was not a political bun fight, but was issues based - even though it was clear that myself and at least one other person on the panel are poles apart politically.  I would also add that I thought Paul Stainton and his team did a great job of hosting the debate, making sure the audience members all got a say and that people like me didn't talk too much!!

The serious issues around Adult Social Care are not widely enough known, so debates like this are really important.  If you listen, please let me know what you think.

Public Meeting. Supermarkets. Tue 18.30 Ivy Leaf.

A public meeting has been organised for Tuesday evening to discuss the Whittlesey supermarket issues.  It is being hosted by John Elworthy, Editor of the Cambs Times and gives Whittlesey residents the opportunity to have their say.  It will be at the Ivy Leaf starting a 6.30.

I will be there to both say my piece, but also to listen to residents views.

Canvassing for Gary Swan

I spent this morning canvassing for Gary Swan, the Conservative candidate for the by-election for St Mary's Ward on 25th October.  I was with a team that included Stephen Barclay MP as well as party members from Peterborough, March, Wisbech and, of course, Whittlesey.  It says a great deal about Gary that he has managed to bring in support from such a wide area.

It was also reassuring to know that people largely understand that both Gary and the majority of Whittlesey Conservatives are fighting the Whittlesey corner on the supermarket debate.

What I also hadn't realised until today was that Gary has cancelled a holiday to focus on this election campaign, that says a great deal about his commitment as well as the support he has from his wife.  Of course, the Independent candidate has been away for two weeks on holiday!!

Sacked No 3

I received this from the Leader of Fenland District Council a short while ago:
 
"At no time have I suggested that Martin acted outside of the law. I know that Martin took advice from our legal officers and he adhered to that legal advice completely. If I gave the impression to the contrary during the breakfast interview I un-reservedly apologise. I have no problem with statement being made public."

I genuinely appreciate the clarification.

Sacked Update

I have just heard on BBC Radio Cambs that I was sacked because I got too close to one particular application.

I need to defend myself on that.  In the run up to the planning debate I made it plain that if Tesco proved to be the best planning decision I would have supported it.  But a combination of the survey I carried out (which showed huge support in Whittlesey for Sainsbury) and the fact that I realised I could never support the basis for the Officer's recommendation at the committee, I stood down from the decision making process because of predetermination.

At that point, legally, I was entitled  to support whoever and whatever I wished without any need for impartiality.  I make no apology for standing up for the wishes of the people I serve and supporting a planning application which offered Whittlesey a much desired supermarket and a country park for a Town with a recognised lack of green space.

It is clear that my sacking has still not been justified.

Sacked

Many of you will have seen the latest events about supermarkets.  If you haven't, I suggest you read the Cambs Times website.

I am not going to comment on most of the actions taken by the Leader, except to say something has to be done.  But I am going to say that my sacking has baffled me and others.

The events were as follows.  In a telephone conversation with the Leader of Fenland, Cllr Alan Melton on the evening of 10th October I was invited to resign to prevent the indignity of being sacked.  I asked for the reason for this and I was told it was because of "community perception".  I challenged and suggested that I had not seen or heard any issues in respect of this.

Having consulted a few people, I chose to decline the request.  This is my exact response sent by email early this morning:

Having consulted with a few people overnight. I have decided to refuse your request to resign. If you believe I should go on the basis of public perception (which is what you stated) that a debate needs to be had in public and I would therefore prefer the process to be transparent, rather than a fudge through forced resignation.

It's a bit clumsily worded because I was in a bit of a rush.  But I'm sure you get the point.  Being honest, I do not believe this is the real reason - I may have reacted differently if I thought I was being told bluntly and honestly what I had done wrong. I have had huge support for my behaviour in this process from across the board - but certainly there are politicians and others who do not like the robust approach I have taken - but sometimes I think being an elected community leader means you have to do that.  I hope that is not the reason for my sacking, if it is it sends a dreadful, dreadful message to other councillors who choose to stand up and be counted when they feel their community has been let down (which Whittlesey has).

It is also true that I had been considering resignation anyway because I was so disappointed with the actions taken by a few people at the last planning meeting - but I was waiting for Cllr Melton's reaction to events before I took a decision.  However, there is a difference between being forced to resign and resigning as a matter of conscience - and that is why I took the decision to refuse the request.