Dear all,


I went to the Traffic Committee meeting this morning to put the cyclist
case re the proposed roadworks on Wilson Street.  Had some preliminary
discussions with Peter Donnelly from the engineering section and with Clr
Jill Lay.  Clr Lay very supportive expressed the view that she would not be
supporting a 12.8 metre road way at the Council level and that many of her
coleagues felt the same way.  Peter Donnelly suggested that they had done
some more engineering work and may be able to propose a new option going
back to the 13.6 metre wide roadway (which was our original compromise
position) with some bollards etc to avoid problems with water stop cocks.
This would involve the loss of up to 5 parking spaces along Wilson Street.
I put the view in those early discussions that we would live with that (as
it was our original submission and I don't see we can walk away from it
without being seen as duplicitous, notwithstanding the actions of one or
more residents).


During the consideration of the issue in the meeting Clr Peter Furness
spoke to support that compromise and Bruce Lay spoke to give it a grudging
support although noting the residents would probably object to a loss of
parking.  As it was the Committee agreed to defer the matter so as to
investigate the new 13.6 metre option with loss of parking and they
indicated there would be a letter drop/consultation with residents on the
proposal and that it would include surrounding streets.  


The mayor refused to let me speak on the basis that they had reached a
decision to defer and there was now no proposal on the table to discuss,
although I had indicated at the beginning that I wished to speak and had no
indication that I would not be allowed to.  To say that I was somewhat
annoyed by his approach is a bit of an understatement and I think I managed
to convey my dissatisfaction to him.


Following that I had a discussion with Clr Peter Furness outside the
meeting romm and we discussed the compromise (given that it is his ward and
he wishes to see the matter progress in one way or another).  He indicated
that we should regard this as a small step in the right direction and that
we would get to comment on the new proposal and come back to the Traffic
Committee to argue our case next month.  I have left him in no doubt that
we absolutely will not wear a 12.8 metre road width.  


I do not think that the residents will agree with the new proposal because
of loss of parking and that we will be back to arguing 12.8 metres versus
14.0 metres or no change at the next meeting.  


I will go again to next month's meeting and see how we go.


Regards
Iain