Mione Goldspink's article for the Flyer, December 2017

Local Matters with Mione Goldspink

December is the month for planning Christmas gifts - Gifts to charities and Gifts to family and friends. What sort of gifts, I wonder, will the Local Councils give to the people of Bishop's Stortford?

There is a suggestion that the Town Council might receive a considerable sum of money if it sells the Farnham Road allotment site to the County Council. If this does happen, what will it do with the money? I suggest that it could build some truly affordable Housing for the Town. That would be a fantastic Gift!

Another fantastic gift would be a solution to some of our parking problems. It is disappointing that the District Council has not been able to hurry up Solum with opening the 772 new parking spaces at the Railway Station. Solum was granted permission over two months ago, and the spaces are ready. Why the delay?

The District Council is attempting to sort out our traffic congestion, and I welcome its efforts. I do hope that they will do something to reduce congestion at Hockerill crossroads. The Councils have known for 10 years that the air pollution there is double the safe limit, as set by the World Health Organisation. The length of right-turning queues could be reduced dramatically by changing the phasing of the traffic lights. Ultimately, a south east bypass for the Town would really help. That would be another fantastic Gift!

I made a mistake in my November Flyer article, and I apologise to the County Councillors. In the "comedy of errors" section, I wrongly implied that it was the County Council which had installed the speed cushions in Rye Street, before it had finished consulting. Apparently, it was the Developer who installed them. The Developer was then required to remove them, at the Developer's expense.

There have been new shops and businesses opening in the Town recently. I wish them every success. I wonder what effect the proposed new organisation, BID - Business Improvement District - might have, if it comes into being. All businesses would be required to pay a levy, and the money would be used to enhance the Town Centre. Could some of the money, perhaps, be spent on better Christmas Lights? as the Town Council finds the project so difficult. That would be another good gift.

Well, whatever the Gifts are, I wish you a very Happy Christmas, and a Healthy New Year.

Mione Goldspink
Chairman, Bishop's Stortford Liberal Democrats

email: mionegoldspink@hotmail.com