Construction disruption: the reality
In all the details of their proposals for Daly Way Green, Thames Water have been keen to gloss over one of the most horrific details of all – just what would happen to this small residential area during construction?
The amateur mockup below, based on Thames Water’s own plans, tells its own story. The entire green would become a massive construction site, and would also be a storage compound for all the related work on the Tring Road and Limes Avenue.
(click image for a closer look)
The entrance to Daly Way would be closed for the duration of the work (10-12 months) - Thames Water claim that ‘access would be maintained’ but cannot specify how, when or for whom (residents? emergency vehicles? visitors? bin lorries? deliveries?). At least 20 lorries per day would thunder along narrow residential streets (that’s 40 lorry-journeys – once in, once out) – click
While all this is going on, the nearest available green space is over half a mile away – at Broughton park. Getting there involves crossing at least two busy main roads – hardly a suitable alternative for young children.
(click image for a closer look)Thames Water simply have not thought this through – we call on them to listen closely to local residents, and not just pay lip-service to their ‘consultation’ process. Amongst all of the detail and arguments, the point is a very simple one: THIS HUGE SCHEME IS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE IN A SMALL RESIDENTIAL AREA.
6 comments:
In addition, even if we make the bold assumption that TWU re-instate the green afterwards, its likely to take a year to recover and become useable for residents.
The reality is we probably lose the green for 2 years if this project goes ahead
When I asked about the bins on Friday, I was told that if the bin lorry arrived and couldn't get through at any point, the workmen on site would move all the bins/recycling baskets to the end for them to be emptied.
I find it hard to believe that the workmen would suddenly down tools and start moving several dozen bins, not to mention multiple recycling baskets for every household in Daly Way, Smith Close and Wheeler Close.
In any case, are they going to have someone on site all day on a Monday looking out (from behind their 6ft fence!) for the bin lorries, in case one arrives whilst the site is inaccesible?
Even if they spot it, stop everything and move the all the bins immediately, are the bin men going to sit politely and wait whilst they do so? I don't think so, do you?!
It would be laughable if they didn't expect us to be reassured by this unrealistic scenario!
Not actually sure where they'd fit this many bins anyway. In their big hole, maybe...
Well, perhaps Thames Water would like to come and explain to us how they can justify what they want to do.
The scale of this work beggars belief. How are we supposed to live around here while this is going on?
24 hour working on Tring Rd for a few weeks is not acceptable, so we are told. However 24 hour working/dewatering for months is acceptable on the green, according to TWU.
On TV last night, a TWU spokesman said record rainfall last year had caused flooding in the case under question, however according to TWU when discussing the lack of flooding in the Tring Road area, last year did not have record rainfall .
Talk about double standards, these people are just making it up to suit whatever circumstance they are talking about.
Their lack of customer support and liason also took a hammering. Best they could manage was an reluctant apology after a TV company had cornered them, months after their customer had suffered flooding. Poor devils had had to cope and clean up the sewage flooding themselves, TWU didn't even respond to their phone calls. Disgusting !!
"Never let the truth get in the way of justifying our position" seems to be the TWU motto. We can always apologise afterwards if the going gets rough and newsmedia gets involved!!
When asked how they were going to reinstate the green I was told they would just reseed it and wait for the grass to grow, that it would take 9 - 12 months at least before it could be used.
I then asked why don't you returf it so we can start reusing as soon as possible.
The reply came back that it was too expensive, and they would have to maintain it and water it etc to get it established.
The penny then dropped, Thames Water don't do Maintenance as they have already demonstrated that in this area on a number of occaisons in the past 18 months.
Its outrageous and it is time the Council stepped in and sorted out this situation once and for all.
Where is the Council Leadership
Post a Comment