Comments on: Andrew Gilligan: A Hole Lotta Trouble

By: Tired

Tired — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:46:25 +0000

I don’t drive so don’t get so irate with all this road digging up – although I am a reformed driver, so maybe that makes me worse – but I’m struggling to find the justification/rationale/sense for day, sorry, night, two of roadworks on the A2. It’s 12.43am and my flat is literally shaking. Who on earth approved this joke? No doubt it will go on all week, much to the detriment of my work colleagues!!

By: Will

Will — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:45:48 +0000

I’ve dealt a lot with Greenwich Council over the years and I share your observations on their traffic planning and road maintenance efforts, but road works are just part of the picture. Their lack of common sense and their ability to twist DfT guidelines are just beyond belief. I’ve also often found that they hide their plans and motivations and even some of their traffic monitoring reports have been declared secret, probably because they would have exposed inconvenient truths or dubious methods.

I think an independent review into their activities is required as they are wasting millions of pounds, creating unsafe roads (highly unconventional/illogical traffic arrangements, rat runs past schools, insufficient pedestrian crossings where they would be needed, poorly planned cycle routes etc.) and making people’s daily lives a misery.

By: Fat Cat

Fat Cat — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:42:43 +0000

I said that the people digging up my roads were cults.

By: Jason Good

Jason Good — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:23:01 +0000

It’s a cult, just like scientology.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are noted for their chief doctrine that Jesus had his second coming in 1914 and going door to door with Watchtower magazines,google * Jehovah’s Witnesses Watchtower * for facts on this group.

The whole door to door thing is risky now-days and less effective in the Internet age,I google everything first. Jehovah’s Witnesses are schooled in ‘finding common ground’,if you like pink elephants they will become experts on pink elephants.

That’s the beauty of religion and superstition, it has no limits.Religion is the most profitable legal business because religions can misquote, misrepresent, and use unethical practices without fear of punishment. It’s the absolute best way to scam people I have yet seen.

By: julia

julia — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:09:16 +0000

I have always liked your writings. However this time I am a little cross with you, and am going to give you a small telling off. So I hope you are sitting comfortably.
You are no doubt wondering why. Simple really this paragraph

“No road appears too insignificant to be turned into a trench. And rather like the Jehovah’s Witnesses with new converts, no road completed is seen as simply an achievement in itself – but more as a God-given opportunity to dig up the next one.”

That is an unkind and unfair statement and beneath a man of your standing.
I have to ask you what was the need for this?

Your an accomplished writer, award winning, insightful, witty and highly intelligent. I find it rather odd that you would say such a thing.
While many people, may well find the “WITNESSES” annoying at times, there is no doubt that they are peaceful, respectful and happy people’s who just want to spread the word of God as they see him; and do go away with a polite no thank you. So to use them to embellish your report was in my opinion and little unfair of you and I can only assume that you had a headache or writers block when you wrote that.

But please these are a religious group of people who live quite peaceful lives and while they may knock on our doors from time to time, they never do so without respect or politeness, something that was slightly lacking in your writings. And before you go thinking, “I bet she is one of them”, I’m not, I just feel that you wouldn’t have said such a thing about other religious groups and that maybe it would be a good idea to leave religious groups out of your writings, unless off course you are writing about religion.

Any way you are in the words of Monty Python, ” a very naughty boy”.(Life of Brian)
Consider your normal good self told off.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:48:16 +0000

I suggest a street party be organised for the first day when Greenwich Town Centre is clear of road works in a 0.5 mile radius of St Alfeges.

By: Blissett

Blissett — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:35:32 +0000

I don’t know about Croom Hill but the workers on Royal Hill/Greenwich South Street have been working from the early hours until late in the evening. On that basis alone, I’d assume it’s something relatively important but I’d be interested to know for sure.

By: Ash Grover

Ash Grover — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:25:18 +0000

I vaguely remember getting a notice several months ago saying that the new development on the Greenwich High Road required power lines to be laid. The trench does seem to be headed that way; down Royal Hill accross South street and down Ash Grove before turning right onto Egerton Drive.

By: Tom Chivers

Tom Chivers — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:58:29 +0000

Some budgets are granted on a “use it or lose it next year” basis. Maybe they are digging up the roads so next year’s road digging budget is not decreased.