2-1-2000
MY REASONS FOR OPPOSING HOMLEWOOD
GARDENS BECOMING A HOME ZONE:
I
do not think that this area is suitable as a Home Zone for the following
reasons.
- We have
here a Road and Gardens of original, unspolit Victorian houses, most of
which are well maintained and cared for. In the centre we are lucky to
have a landscaped park/open space with play equipment for children and a separate
area for people to exercise their dogs.
- Most
of the residents have cars and, at present, those of us in Holmewood
Gardens are able to park outside or near to our homes.
- Although,
occasionally, we have irresponsible drivers speeding in the Road/Gardens
it is not, as some people seem to imagine, an accident black spot or used
as a racetrack. I do however believe that some method of speed restriction
would be beneficial.
- Home
Zones, I believe, are more suited to areas where roads suffer constant
speeding or there is a danger to children because they have nowhere else
to play but on the street and, also, areas where their appearance would be
improved by a Home Zone scheme.
- I
cannot possibly imagine how a Home Zone would improve Holmewood Gardens
and Road as, from what I have seen (Duncan's video) and read about Home
Zones, it would involve building road humps, bollards, road pinching, chicanes,
lines painted, signs erected and road closures. A good example of this is
the road narrowing at the junction of Holmewood Road and Brixton Hill. It
has made it difficult to turn into or out of Holmewood Road and looks a
complete mess and, I believe, has made it a more dangerous junction for
motorists and pedestrians.
- A
Home Zone here would possibly include more pedestrian areas with seats and
play equipment but, I would remind parents, that we have the fenced in
park/open space with a play area for children in the centre of the Gardens
and this must surely be the safest place for children to play.
- It has
recently been proven that pedestrianising some areas tends to create a place
where undesirables congregate.
- At
the last meeting it was mentioned that the project would have to be well
maintained by the Council -as we all know, it is extremely difficult to
get the Council to even sweep our streets regularly.
- It was also mentioned at the last meeting that
a Home Zone would increase the value of our properties -I am sure the
opposite would be true; a Home Zone would completely change Holmewood
Gardens and Road, detracting from the original Victorian appearance.
- I have
no doubt that a Home Zone would also include controlled parking; which
would involve parking permits for residents and we all know that this is
just another form of tax.
- Controlled
parking would make it difficult for family and friends to visit.
- Parking
permits do not guarantee residents a place to park as Councils sell more
permits than there are places to park.
In conclusion I would say that I am all for
improving our environment and making the area in which we live cleaner and
safer but I do not believe that a Home Zone is the right course for us, as
residents of Holmewood Gardens and Road, to follow.
TONY LITTLE
69 Holmewood Gardens