CONNECTING DERBY

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Changes to traffic flow along Friar Gate have helped created a baffling new road system. The feeling that those in power are unable to think or act strategically or coherently has never been so strong. It seems bureaucracy is out of control. The plans to complete Derby's inner ring road lay at the heart of the city's ambition for a renaissance of new and exciting development. Bureaucracy was firing on all cylinders and for once everyone appeared to be facing the same direction.

So, how on earth did they manage to design a road system that squeezes two lanes of high-volume traffic into a single lane, yards from a major intersection, bringing it all to a full stop at nearby traffic lights creating delays and congestion that only rivals the stupidity of the recent bus-lane fiasco. I am of course referring to the change of traffic flow along Friar Gate. So, instead of sweeping along St Alkmund's Way and into Ford Street to turn on to the A52 and head west, two busy lanes of traffic are quickly forced into a bottleneck leading to the inevitable block of oncoming traffic, which in turn moves the congestion further away.

Last week, I met a very prosperous company considering Derby for a new base. Having looked at other possible venues I directed them to our wonderful and charismatic Georgian business quarter only for them to waste almost 15 minutes on St Alkmund's Way while lights changed then changed again as they attempted to turn into Friar Gate. And it wasn't even rush hour. They were not impressed and made their feeling clear. The Georgian quarter will not feature on their target list and it's just possible that neither will Derby.

Also worth a mention is the debacle of the planning system, now a joke gone very sour. It had already been well and truly messed up by the incompetent thinking of the previous Government. There was a time when planning was a positive and encouraging discipline. This was a time when access to planning officers was straightforward and dynamic. When the system was capable of providing constructive advice without fear of contradiction.

Today, the entire system is mired by tiers of pointless and obstructive officer functions with inevitably conflicting views leading to the endless bureaucratic nonsense. We are blessed in our city with enthusiastic individuals who have made great efforts to encourage inward investment and put Derby on the international map. They have ensured that the city's fine features are known throughout Europe and beyond and have proclaimed an open door for companies seeking a UK home. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Jun/11)

A stretch of the new £36.2m inner ring road is to be named after computer game character Lara Croft following a public vote. More than 27,000 people took part in the vote to name the Osmaston Road to Burton Road stretch of the new route, with 89% opting for Lara Croft Way. A separate stretch of road will be called Mercian Way as a tribute to local soldiers. Lara Croft Way will be used to name the Osmaston Road to Burton Road stretch, with Mercian Way becoming the Burton Road to Stafford Street link.

Councillor Lucy Care, cabinet member for planning and transportation, said, "The vote really captured the imagination of people from across the world and, despite my lack of gaming knowledge, I accept that a majority of 89% for Lara Croft is too overwhelming to ignore. She was created in Derby and deserves to stand alongside some of the more traditional icons of the city. The vote for Mercian Way is also testimony to the passionate local support shown for the servicemen and women serving right now." (Source: BBC News, Feb/10)

Derby City Council has banned Derby Heart, which is campaigning against the Connecting Derby scheme to link the city's ring road, from sending any more requests through the Freedom of Information Act. In the past year, Derby Heart has sent more than 70 requests for information under the act containing more than 160 questions for the council. The council said that it had cause to stop answering the requests because many were repetitious and designed to annoy the authority.

Council leader Chris Williamson said, "We obviously want to accommodate genuine requests for information but we've had several which were repetitious. There are definite guidelines in favour of authorities when there's evidence that requests for information are becoming vexatious. Derby Heart's requests have certainly been designed to cause annoyance." Of the group's requests, more than 20 have related to information about compulsory purchase orders which were needed to allow the council to go ahead with its plans for the road scheme.

Derby Heart chairman Richard Butler said, "I'm aggrieved by this accusation by the council. I believe the last request I submitted was an awkward question for the council which they do not wish to answer. I asked for information on funding and where money has ended up." An e-mail has been sent to the group from the council's Freedom of Information officer. It states, "We believe we have now reached the stage where we will have to apply section 14 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000."

The section says that an authority does not have to respond to requests which are "vexatious" or "annoying" or where a request for similar information has already been made and answered. It also states that, if the requests are designed to disrupt or cause annoyance, have the effect of harassing the council or are obsessive or unreasonable, the council has grounds to refuse to answer them. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Jun/07)

Plans to begin work on completing the inner ring road have been delayed after a public inquiry was called. A six-month delay in starting work on the final part of the Connecting Derby scheme is envisaged because the council's attempts to buy land it needs have been challenged by 17 residents. Richard Butler has also launched a High Court challenge over the Government's decision to approve proposed changes around Five Lamps, as part of the road scheme.

Connecting Derby project manager Dave Powner said, "This is a delay which we knew was a possibility but it's disappointing nonetheless. We know of objectors who have been long-standing opponents to the scheme and who are unlikely to be willing to reach an agreement. We're also aware that the decision by the Government is now being challenged by Mr Butler through the courts. We're hoping that we'll still be able to start moving utilities by the middle of next year so we can start construction in 2008." (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Nov/06)

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