25 August - An unhappy anniversary
Today
marks the first anniversary of the demolition of the keep left bollards
in Abbey Road, otherwise known as pedestrian refuges. This one has never been
restored to service although a half-hearted attempt was made to reconnect the
electricity supply six weeks ago. The green plastic barrier
used to protect the hole in the pavement still lies forlornly on the path but
the sign remains unlit.
When I last spoke to a council official about this dangerous neglect I was told
it had not been forgotten and maybe it hasn’t, but what possible reason can
there be for leaving a gaping unlit hole in the road for a whole year? I think
the time has come to name the council official who has been overseeing this
ridiculous and unwarranted delay. He is Rupert Cheeseman and the same man I
decided not to name on 18th September last year
when numerous cars were ticketed for parking after he stupidly placed temporary prohibition signs
outside the restricted area. When shown the problem he had created he merely shrugged and walked away.
Contrast that attitude with a report I made today of a drain cover which had
lifted proud of the road surface and posed a minor hazard to traffic. Within
nine minutes my email was acknowledged and in rather less than three hours the
drain had been repaired. If the ‘Northern Area Manager’ can go out of his way to
care for motorists and the residents of Bexley, why is that useless individuals
like Andrew Bashford
and Cheeseman are allowed to treat them with total contempt?