cheltonian politics


Alex Chalk MP forCheltenham Thismonthwith...


A Big Mistake


MP forCheltenhamAlexChalk discusseswhy the closure ofBootsCorner has been a huge error


Enough is enough.The closureof BootsCorner hasbeen a serious mistake, andit shouldbe reversed beforemoredamage isdone. I shouldbe clear: I have never


supportedthis scheme.Back in 2014 before Iwas electedIobjectedtoit, saying thatwrapping a tourniquet roundsuch a key arterial routewould shunt traffic intoresidential rat-runs. Many residents supportedthat view, anditwaspeoplepower at a key meeting in theTownHall that ledthe Council toagree that the closure shouldbe trialledfirst.Theoriginal planwas tomake itpermanent. Thewarnings issuedby somany


people havebeenprovedright.Every day I amdelugedwith complaints about themisery it is causing.Nurses struggle toget across town tothe


hospitalorGPs’ surgeries.Mums have hadtoabandon after-school classes for their children,because they can’t get there in time. StGeorge’s Street andthe area aroundthebowling green is regularly gridlocked, causing disruption formotorists andsmall businesses like theDanceworks Studios.Andthat’sbefore you factor in the environmentaldamageof cars andlorriesbeing forcedthrough residential roads.Only thisweek a headteacherof a local schoolmet me topointout the huge increase in traffic nearby,makingdrop-offsmore dangerous. The justifications for this scheme


simplydon’t addup.On airquality there are four areas inCheltenham whichbreach airquality limits for nitrogendioxide, including the


junction atHalesRoadandLondon Roadfor example, andhavedone since 2011.BootsCorner isn’toneof themandnever hasbeen.The cycling argument is alsobogus, asbuses and taxis still use the junction. Meanwhile, the astro-turf is


unsightly andisonly going toget worse after a fewSaturday nights. Surely there arebetterways tospend precious taxpayers’money. This hasbeen amistake.The


Council shouldstopthrowing good money afterbad. It’s time tore-open BootsCorner.


You can sign thepetition callingon CheltenhamBoroughCouncil to abandon this unnecessary scheme: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ PCBZLJH


42 NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2018 THECHELTONIAN


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