Non- Dorset councils

Blinkin'' ' Eck ... the Bournemouth and Poole area seems to have gone to pot since I stopped my regular trips up there in 2016..Jesus Christ you'd think the f√cking Tories would look after one of their flagship boroughs a bit better innit ?
I'm not saying Cornwall is brilliant or even much better but f√ck a duck some of the stuff i've been hearing from my Hamworthy, Parkstone and Wimborne relatives is quite disconcerting...alarming even !
 
A MOTHER of a disabled daughter fears carers will have ‘nervous breakdowns’ if day centres offering support for vulnerable people close.

BCP Council announced plans last month of closing some, or all of the day centres, following a consultation to move towards community-based services.
However, Gillian Worsfold, 69, said the closures would be detrimental to her 37-year-old daughter who suffers from a rare brain defect and has been attending the centres since she was 19.
 
If you are wondering why..

"Central government grants were cut by 40% in real terms between 2009/10 and 2019/20, from £46.5bn to £28.0bn (2023/24 prices)."


"While grants from central government were cut, rates of council tax, set by individual councils, were allowed to increased. Local authorities raised 30% more council tax, in real terms, in 2021/22 compared to 2009/10."

So all we see is council taxes go up but services go down.
 
johnbob said:
Be nice to know what the council have spent all our money as I here they are millions in debt and closing the nursery which suppliers all the plants for the gardens and areas arround town, what are they going to do, buy them in? Or are we going to be looking at empty gardens and grass not cut
Click to expand...

The leaflet that comes with the council tax bill does break down spending I think.

 
Last edited:
hba1 said:
20 MPH limits, as per Wales, now the intention of BCP Council who continue their anti car agenda.
Click to expand...

I don’t think there are any journeys across the conurbation where I exceed 20 mph. I used to use the south circular in London from Wandsworth to Brockley quite often and the average speed for that 10 mile journey was often higher than journeys across Bournemouth/ Poole.
 
DJ said:
Devastation. :)

Such a fuss over absolutely nothing. A couple of extra minutes added to a journey against the benefits it brings.
Click to expand...

Finally a way to force most to do 30 on urban roads ;)

is annoying fir me, but I know I'm in the minority.

Particularly as myself and fellow BMW drivers already do our bit through energy/battery wear benefits by not using indicators ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mdl
fritter said:
I don’t think there are any journeys across the conurbation where I exceed 20 mph. I used to use the south circular in London from Wandsworth to Brockley quite often and the average speed for that 10 mile journey was often higher than journeys across Bournemouth/ Poole.
Click to expand...

Not sure where you drive but I regularly drive down wallisdown road, castle lane, bournemouth town centre during peak traffic times and find there's plenty of opportunity to do 30, 40 etc.

Certainly a lot of bumper to bumper slow moving traffic too of course. And the roads are always busy with cars during those periods.

Road infrastructure very poor. Assume as population and car use grown enormously over the decades.

Proper cities, even Southampton, have plenty of 3 or 4 lane areas to allow you to move around main parts of the city more easily. Although even they can be busy during peak times. Getting from Bournemouth to Poole takes way longer than it should imo, due to lack of decent roads. Not end of world I guess.
 
Last edited:
A number of roads already have 20 mph limits.

In the story they mention ‘“There will be some roads that are exempt on the basis of need and capacity. It is also likely that the roll-out will take some time working alongside communities and finding the needs for funding such a widespread change.”

So maybe the main roads will remain 30 mph, we will have to wait and see what more transpires on this.
 
MB1980 said:
Not sure where you drive but I regularly drive down wallisdown road, castle lane, bournemouth town centre during peak traffic times and find there's plenty of opportunity to do 30, 40 etc.

Certainly a lot of bumper to bumper slow moving traffic too of course. And the roads are always busy with cars during those periods.

Road infrastructure very poor. Assume as population and car use grown enormously over the decades.

Proper cities, even Southampton, have plenty of 3 or 4 lane areas to allow you to move around main parts of the city more easily. Although even they can be busy during peak times. Getting from Bournemouth to Poole takes way longer than it should imo, due to lack of decent roads. Not end of world I guess.
Click to expand...

Sorry, should have clarified, I’m referring to overall average journey speed. There are places to do 30/40 but that doesn’t boost the overall average very much. I drive across the areas you mention and can’t recall ever doing 30/40 in wallisdown or castle lane in peak times. I can’t see how having 20mph zones will reduce overall journey times. Doesn’t mean I’m right.

Many years ago I had to drive to Dorchester for work, from Pokesdown. I experimented by some days overtaking and driving as fast as I could and some days just going with the flow. In a journey time of about 55 minutes (rush hour times) at the most I could shave off about 3 minutes by driving quickly and overtaking. That was when I decided to treat all journeys by going with the flow. It’s been far better for my stress levels.

This country has never had a transport policy or plan. No national infrastructure. The ‘anti car agenda’ is being pushed as a political one, a bit like the 20 minute neighbourhood stuff.
 
MB1980 said:
Not sure where you drive but I regularly drive down wallisdown road, castle lane, bournemouth town centre during peak traffic times and find there's plenty of opportunity to do 30, 40 etc.

Certainly a lot of bumper to bumper slow moving traffic too of course. And the roads are always busy with cars during those periods.

Road infrastructure very poor. Assume as population and car use grown enormously over the decades.

Proper cities, even Southampton, have plenty of 3 or 4 lane areas to allow you to move around main parts of the city more easily. Although even they can be busy during peak times. Getting from Bournemouth to Poole takes way longer than it should imo, due to lack of decent roads. Not end of world I guess.
Click to expand...

Main roads aren't 20mph in 20mph towns and cities, it's the right residential roads that you'd be hard pressed to get up to 30mph anyway.

Pompey has been a 20mph city for years and it seems to work well there.

Portsmouth’s 20mph Scheme - Road Safety Knowledge Centre

Organisation: Portsmouth City Council Date uploaded: 15th July 2010 Date published/launched: Pre 2009 Portsmouth City Council is the first local authority in England to implement an extensive citywide 20 mph speed limit scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to improve safety through Portsmouth’s...
www.roadsafetyknowledgecentre.org.uk
 
fritter said:
Sorry, should have clarified, I’m referring to overall average journey speed. There are places to do 30/40 but that doesn’t boost the overall average very much. I drive across the areas you mention and can’t recall ever doing 30/40 in wallisdown or castle lane in peak times. I can’t see how having 20mph zones will reduce overall journey times. Doesn’t mean I’m right.

Many years ago I had to drive to Dorchester for work, from Pokesdown. I experimented by some days overtaking and driving as fast as I could and some days just going with the flow. In a journey time of about 55 minutes (rush hour times) at the most I could shave off about 3 minutes by driving quickly and overtaking. That was when I decided to treat all journeys by going with the flow. It’s been far better for my stress levels.

This country has never had a transport policy or plan. No national infrastructure. The ‘anti car agenda’ is being pushed as a political one, a bit like the 20 minute neighbourhood stuff.
Click to expand...

Definitely. I drive with a heavy foot... its hard not to in my car tbh. See Chris Harris video reciew on it. When I've rented 'normal' vehicles, urge to push it totally disapates. Excuse for poor discipline/self control... maybe. But I agree with Chris Harris. ;). Druss will be along soon to tell me some ev sh1tbox is quicker and he never has that urge :D

I was doing 30 odd down wallisdown road this morning at 0820 during school run... before getting stuck in bumper to bumper traffic ;). Heading west on castle lane 1600ish it always it opens up for couple of hundred metres before Moordown traffic lights. But yes I'm splitting hairs as by and large it's bumper to bumper...but it's not a case of never possible during rush hour.

I was even warned by car park security recently about treating it like a race track and perception to the firm of leaving the premises too 'enthusiastically'. I said yiu hsvrnt seen/heard nothing yet chief if you think im driving quickly. Grow up basically :D.

You're absolutely right re driving quickly. If time is main reason it's a false economyAs you arrive bit more amped up, slightly stresses due to speeding compared to sticking to limit. Plus worry each time a brown envelope appears on my door mat...all for the sake of shaving off minutes. But I drive quickly because I like it and car demands it. Who am I to disappoint it! :D

Same thing as avoiding beeping swearing at people cutting yiu up. Never achieves anything apart from Hugh blood pressure for minutes after, abd the chance you've just seriously p1ssed off a lunatic who's willing to take it further.

People don't like being beeped at, sworn at, even if clearly in the wrong! So no point basically. Cars do funny things to people psyche.
 
Last edited:
The driver is responsible for the speed of the car on the road.

If the car is too difficult to drive safely it needs replacing.
 
MB1980 said:
Definitely. I drive with a heavy foot... its hard not to in my car tbh. See Chris Harris video reciew on it. When I've rented 'normal' vehicles, urge to push it totally disapates. Excuse for poor discipline/self control... maybe. But I agree with Chris Harris. ;). Druss will be along soon to tell me some ev sh1tbox is quicker and he never has that urge :D
Click to expand...
Put your foot to the floor in a car with 100% torque at zero RPM and sub 4 secs to 62 and the novelty quickly wears off ;) I love Florida rollercoasters but I wouldnt want to do Rock 'n' Roller coater every day ;)

Maybe im just an old git now but I prefer blood being at the front of my head.
 
johnbob said:
Be nice to know what the council have spent all our money as I here they are millions in debt and closing the nursery which suppliers all the plants for the gardens and areas arround town, what are they going to do, buy them in? Or are we going to be looking at empty gardens and grass not cut
Click to expand...
Local councils these days, will charge you for breathing in fresh air and for walking on a public foot path if they could get away with it.
 
Last edited:
fritter said:
Many years ago I had to drive to Dorchester for work, from Pokesdown. I experimented by some days overtaking and driving as fast as I could and some days just going with the flow. In a journey time of about 55 minutes (rush hour times) at the most I could shave off about 3 minutes by driving quickly and overtaking. That was when I decided to treat all journeys by going with the flow. It’s been far better for my stress levels.
Click to expand...
Of course you could have taken the train instead as there is a station in Pokesdown and one in Dorchester both conveniently on the same line!
 
Update to Kings Park Nursery story.


Following backlash from furious residents and opposition councillors, BCP Council has said it is exploring community use for the site off Central Drive.

Cllr Earl said that despite listening to the fury following the sudden announcement, the council must “prioritise the services that support” vulnerable people.

She said the plant nursery has been running at a “significant loss” and it “isn’t sustainable” given the financial pressures the authority is under.

She said in a statement: “Last year, the cost of operating the nursery was £527,574 and the income that the nursery generated was £302,158, this meant that the council taxpayers from our three towns subsidised the nursery by £225,416.

“By taking the decision to end the commercial side of the nursery now, we can reduce this year's loss from increasing to that level.

“I’d like to reassure the local community that the site is protected. It can’t be sold or developed for housing, and any future use must comply with the 1985 Bournemouth Borough Council Act which safeguards Kings Park.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1746216804589117512
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

;