Goosetree Roundabout Campaign
From Camlink
Campaigners battling for safety improvements at the A141/A605 Goosetree junction – used by hundreds of Fenlanders every day – are furious the county has backed down on a promise made two years ago that a roundabout would be built.
And on Monday night March Town Council declared war on the county and called on Fenland people to join the battle. They want a new petition aimed at overturning the county's decision and the Citizen is urging readers to sign up by filling in our in-paper coupon. The move comes after Friday's decision by the county's Cabinet to go for traffic lights at the junction rather than a roundabout.
But at Monday's town council meeting members launched a vitriolic attack on the Cabinet and, in particular, local representatives who reneged on a pledge made by former council leader Shona Johnstone. Three Fenland representatives – Fred Yeullett, Martin Curtis and Jill Tuck – who are on the Cabinet came under fire for 'wasting an opportunity' and for failing to honour their promise.
"The county councillors have got a lot to answer for," said Mayor Jan French. Mrs Johnstone had personally contacted David Burbridge – whose family spearheaded a safety campaign after his 20-year-old daughter Amanda was killed at the junction on Valentine's Day 2003 – to tell him a roundabout would be built.
Things changed in October when soil tests revealed a roundabout was likely to cost nearly double the original budget and traffic lights were suggested as not only a cheaper alternative but also as safer.
"The county council promised we would get this roundabout and that's the starting point," said Mrs French.
A view backed by all but Kit Owen, who argued: "When Amanda Burbridge died at that junction I was absolutely adamant about the need for a roundabout. "But science has moved on, traffic lights are not what they used to be."
John West, who spoke for a roundabout at the Cabinet's meeting, suggested Mr Burbridge could hand over the new petition. Yesterday Philip Crack, Cambridgeshire's head of major transport schemes, maintained lights were the best solution but conceded the Cabinet's decision could be overturned. However, he pointed out this would delay action at the junction – lights could be installed and working by the end of the summer if work starts as planned next month.
Completed petition coupons should be returned to the Citizen at Market Place, March, or Union Street, Wisbech. They will be handed over to March Town Council to add to their petition, which will be presented to Cambs County Council.
Citizen Editor Keith Drayton said: "People in Fenland have already shown once that they want a roundabout at this junction. Cambs County Council agreed then and if the people of Fenland tell them forcibly, again, via this petition that that is what they want, then it is about time the people are listened to."
Extracted from Fenland Citizen, February 6th 2008.
