Borough Life 2
15/6/12
10:04
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Life Lines
Borough Life welcomes your letters about local issues or comments about articles in the magazine. Write to: The Editor, Borough Life, FREEPOST NWW3502A, Wigan WN1 1XZ; Email: boroughlife@wigan.gov.uk (Letters may be edited).
‘H’ marks the spot for safe parking Sir, – Having been on the receiving end of un-savoury comments more times than I care to remember, would you please consider publishing an article about the H-bar across driveways. My wife and I are OAPs and diabetic and if we need to seek attention quickly, we would have to try first to find the driver of the parked vehicle. I have had an H-bar for a number of years and had a short (20”) extension added two months ago after having new gates fitted and the up rise moved to cover the extension. All legal and paid for and installed by the council. Last night I had a vehicle parked right in front of my driveway on the pavement and covering the H-bar. After approx 20 minutes, the driver returned to his vehicle so I pointed out that he should not park across my drive and that he in fact was on top of an H-bar. I got told that he could park where he liked and that also the H-bar meant nothing. According to the highway code, rule 21 (the older version) it states it's illegal to park across an access/egress to a property that has a legal right to cross the footpath. Could you please put an article (with an H-bar) on show in situ and it’s purpose in the next Borough Life magazine to highlight this inconsiderate act. J. Jones
What’s in store for loop line? Sir, – Regarding Borough Life Magazine issue 37 Spring 2012 the article on page 27, ‘Latest green attraction grows out of borough’s rich industrial heritage’. I read this article with interest as my garden backs on to the Whelley Loop Line. As a local resident I hoped to find out the details of exactly what is proposed and possibly get involved in some way. However, the article does not give any information or details of what is proposed. I have visited the website www.visitgreenheart.com - but there
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BOROUGH LIFE Summer 2012
An example of an H-bar road marking which should prevent people from parking outside someone’s home.
Wigan Council’s Traffic Manager Kevin Hargreaves, says: “Mr Jones is absolutely correct and we are sorry to hear that he has suffered because other people are not aware of the rules. “The key to this issue is the dropped kerbs outside some residents’ driveways. “It is an offence to obstruct a dropped kerb by parking in front of it and those that
is no information there either. I have sent feedback via email on that site. C A Hearne (Mrs) Wigan Council’s Greenheart Manager, Martin Purcell, said: “It’s great that so many people are interested in different aspects of Greenheart and want to get involved. The good news is we have completed the majority of the heritage trail and hope to get some more funding for more paths across the site.” For further information regarding the Kirkless project please visit the Greenheart website: visitgreenheart.com/ Other Greenheart Sites or contact Liz Vango-Smith at Lancashire Wildlife Trust on 01942 233976 or email lvango@lancswt.org.uk
do could find themselves with a fixed penalty fine if caught. “The H-bar acts as visual way of identifying that there is a dropped kerb and is intended to act as a deterrent to prevent people parking across the kerbs. If driveways are obstructed and a complaint is received, our parking enforcement officers can issue a penalty fine.”
Canalside needs a good tidy Sir, – I thought it my duty to bring to your attention the state of the Leeds Liverpool Canal between Crook and Rose Bridge. It is quickly approaching tourist season for canal users not only those in barges but on cycles and walking, this is all some of them will see of Wigan and those who are considering stopping could well be put off, I would. I expect you are in a position to bring this to the attention of someone who could do something about it, not only to clean up the mess but prosecute the offenders and then
maybe get them to clean it up. A Wiganer Wigan Council’s Head of Safer, Cleaner, Greener Neighbourhoods, Sally Wolstencroft, said: “We agree the condition of the canalside needs some work. The responsibility for the canal lies with British Waterways ands we have worked with them in the past to provide litter bins on the canal paths. Ultimately the responsibility for keeping our waterways free from litter lies with those people who use them. It is sad that a few selfish people are turning the borough’s natural beauty spots into an eyesore. We would urge everyone to treat our borough with respect and take their litter home.”