Dorset Police and the Highways Agency are advising motorists against travelling through Chideock, a village near Bridport, during planned protests this week. Protests are planned for Tuesday 18 May 2010 and Friday 21 May 2010, between 2pm and 3pm, and are likely to continue over the coming weeks.
Protests against traffic congestion, involving between 10 and 15 people, have taken place in the village on four occasions over the past few weeks.
As part of these demonstrations, protesters repeatedly pressed the button on a pedestrian crossing. Traffic through Chideock has been described as being congested during these protests.
Officers will be in attendance tomorrow, and on Friday, to ensure that there are no breaches of the peace and that there is no risk to the safety of road users or pedestrians.
Meeting
Safer Neighbourhood Officers are holding a PACT meeting to discuss the protests at 7pm on Friday 21 May 2010 at Chideock Village Hall.
Fuller – Full of it
One of the protesters Tony Fuller has issues with pollution in chideock, even though slowing down the traffic in this futile protest will cause even more pollution. Caroline James commented on that her health has suffered since she moved to Chideock a year ago – perhaps she should not have bought a house on a main trunk road?
A bypass without spoiling your sea views you say mr Fuller? It would surely spoil someones view.
Realistic Approach
Let's face it anyone travelling to the South West from the East of the country will use the A35, a more realistic approach than this petty protest or the Chideock Flyover (which I am quite keen on) is a change of legislation on car ownership, public and freight transport. Or do not buy a house in Chideock.
I see the buttons on the crossing have now been superglued in a gross act of vandalism.
It’s interesting to note that those involved in the protest are all ‘incomers’. A statement in the local Press made by Fuller (protest leader), that HGV traffic has increased since his arrival (8 years ago) is totally inaccurate. 8 years ago the transport industry was relatively bouyant, however the number of transport companies that have folded since then is several hundred. Therefore considerably less HGV’s now, I suggest Mr Fuller and his cronies take up a new hobby (lorry spotting?). Alternatively, they could go back to where they came from and allow the rest of us to get on with our lives.
As we all know in Symondsbury those people in Chideock are pretty odd. They ought to drink more cider.
Astrantiger Whether some one is a so called ‘incomer’ or not has nothing to do with anything. This sort of attitude has no place in Briport, Chideock, or anywhere else. If people pay their taxes, they have as much right to live in a place as anyone else. I am generally open minded about most things, but bigotry of the nature you have posted ( i.e. calling people ‘incomers’ ) has no place in a modern society. Your comment only serves to illustrate your own ignorance. I would also add that your assertion is incorrect.
The A35 is a Trunk Road, a strategic national route and the only direct east – west road. It is unfortunate that Chideock happens to be en-route but it’s been this way for as long as I can remember (and long before). I doubt our new Big-Con Gov is going to embark on a new road building programme so I say “”live with it or move””. All the press coverage cannot surely help the sale of his property, still he bought it knowing it was on a strategic road so some other sucker will probably buy it. PS top tip Mr Fuller make sure viewings are restricted to 8am on Sundays, wink wink!
There’s nothing wrong with improving somewhere by getting rid of a road through a town – it happens everywhere else. The issues include who is going to compensate the people onto whose property the problem is moved and by how many £££s? Lots of the local businesses need much of the traffic to come, at least, nearby. We need cheap and quick transport links and we need the passing trade. We need the entire A35 to be properly upgraded and not push progress into another county.