Comments for Lobley Hill http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog Information, news and views about Lobley Hill Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:31:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Was it worth it for just 18 inches? by Karin Clark http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/transport/was-it-worth-it-for-18in/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Karin Clark Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:31:27 +0000 http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/?p=13#comment-112 Official response, for anyone who was interested, is as follows: - From: Ian McCran [mailto:IanMcCran@Gateshead.Gov.UK] Sent: 23 September 2009 14:17 To: Clark Karin Subject: RE: New Traffic Lights @ Lobley Hill/Team Valley Roundabout (A692/A1) Dear Madam, Thank you for your email which has been passed to me to issue a response. The issues that you have raised have been noted. Since the new traffic signals on Lobley Hill Roundabout were switched on I can confirm they have been monitored and accordingly adjustments are being made to the signal timings in order to optimise the flows and will continue to be implemented over the next few days. Regards, Ian McCran Transport Strategy Team Gateshead Council Official response, for anyone who was interested, is as follows: -

From: Ian McCran [mailto:IanMcCran@Gateshead.Gov.UK]
Sent: 23 September 2009 14:17
To: Clark Karin
Subject: RE: New Traffic Lights @ Lobley Hill/Team Valley Roundabout (A692/A1)

Dear Madam,
Thank you for your email which has been passed to me to issue a response. The issues that you have raised have been noted.
Since the new traffic signals on Lobley Hill Roundabout were switched on I can confirm they have been monitored and accordingly adjustments are being made to the signal timings in order to optimise the flows and will continue to be implemented over the next few days.
Regards,
Ian McCran
Transport Strategy Team
Gateshead Council

]]> Comment on Dear David Clelland MP – a few questions on behalf of the folk in Lobley Hill by James http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/politics/dear-david-clelland-mp-a-few-questions-on-behalf-of-the-folk-in-lobley-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-108 James Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:16:39 +0000 http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/?p=50#comment-108 I have been trawling through the published expense claims on the Parliament Website with a particular interest in the Council Tax claims. Under Council Tax rules only one main home is allowed.A second property must be given a discount of between 50% and 10% by the relavent authority although most give the minimum 10%. You would therefore assume that as 571 MPs claim an Additional Cost Allowance ACA, many for a property rather than hotel bills, that they would be entitled to a 'second home' CT discount of 10%. Indeed many MPs including David Cameron,Brian Jenkins and Philip Davies do, and it is shown on their bills. However, there are quite a number (in the 2007/08 year-latest available expenses) who claim a 25% single occupant discount (which is also shown on their bills) and David Clelland is one of them. As I stated, for Council Tax purposes you can only have one 'main' home, so these MPs have satisfied the relevant Councils that the home, that the taxpayer pays all the bills for, is their main home as they spend the most time there and thus qualify for the single occupancy discount of 25%. Why bother going to all the trouble of ensuring this is your 'main' home when, regardless of how much the Council Tax bill is, the taxpayer always foots the bill? I can only logically deduce that they are using the system as Ken Clarke stated in a Telegraph interview. With the MP's second home now his 'main' home, his partner/spouse is then, for council tax purposes, the only qualifying adult in the family home (usually in the constituency) and therefore also qualifies for the 25% single occupancy discount.So the MP and their spouse/partner qualifies for high discounts on both properties. Something which you or I would not be able to do. Perhaps you could ask David Clelland if this is the reason he goes to the trouble of making sure his 'second'home is his 'main' home. I have been trawling through the published expense claims on the Parliament Website with a particular interest in the Council Tax claims. Under Council Tax rules only one main home is allowed.A second property must be given a discount of between 50% and 10% by the relavent authority although most give the minimum 10%.
You would therefore assume that as 571 MPs claim an Additional Cost Allowance ACA, many for a property rather than hotel bills, that they would be entitled to a ‘second home’ CT discount of 10%. Indeed many MPs including David Cameron,Brian Jenkins and Philip Davies do, and it is shown on their bills. However, there are quite a number (in the 2007/08 year-latest available expenses) who claim a 25% single occupant discount (which is also shown on their bills) and David Clelland is one of them. As I stated, for Council Tax purposes you can only have one ‘main’ home, so these MPs have satisfied the relevant Councils that the home, that the taxpayer pays all the bills for, is their main home as they spend the most time there and thus qualify for the single occupancy discount of 25%. Why bother going to all the trouble of ensuring this is your ‘main’ home when, regardless of how much the Council Tax bill is, the taxpayer always foots the bill? I can only logically deduce that they are using the system as Ken Clarke stated in a Telegraph interview. With the MP’s second home now his ‘main’ home, his partner/spouse is then, for council tax purposes, the only qualifying adult in the family home (usually in the constituency) and therefore also qualifies for the 25% single occupancy discount.So the MP and their spouse/partner qualifies for high discounts on both properties. Something which you or I would not be able to do. Perhaps you could ask David Clelland if this is the reason he goes to the trouble of making sure his ‘second’home is his ‘main’ home.

]]> Comment on Was it worth it for just 18 inches? by Paul http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/transport/was-it-worth-it-for-18in/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Paul Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:56:38 +0000 http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/?p=13#comment-103 These new lane markings and traffic lights have been in operation for a few weeks now and all I can say is an utter disgrace that council has spent so much money turning a slight bottleneck into total mayhem. Are the people that conceive such schemes totally incapable or rational thought? The backlog of traffic is now totally crazy at evening peak time, with tailback now causing huge problems on Maingate roundabout. What’s worse, this is now not only restricted to peak times and can now causing traffic problem when previous it would be free flowing. Assuming that all this was to give an extra few metres of bus lane in readiness for the propose park and ride scheme at Watergate. They may have arguably save buses a few seconds descending the Lobley Hill, but assuming these buses will be making round trips to Gateshead. This mean on the back journey they will be stuck in these newly created jams with the rest of us. Never have I experience a traffic scheme have such a detrimental impact on traffic flow. As for the so called consultation process, I seem to recall an invitation to a display of the plans at Lobley hill library some years ago. This was of some interest to me, but as during the library opening time for this event I had to work this was not convenient for me. Furthermore when raising questions with our local councillor about possible impact of the then proposed changes we are then put in touch with the very same people in the highways department that conceived the idea. They have totally closed minds and totally blind confidence that they know best. Sorry we were given no option but to accept what these so called professionals inflict on us. But in this case they have been proved to be a bunch of money wasting clowns. These new lane markings and traffic lights have been in operation for a few weeks now and all I can say is an utter disgrace that council has spent so much money turning a slight bottleneck into total mayhem.
Are the people that conceive such schemes totally incapable or rational thought? The backlog of traffic is now totally crazy at evening peak time, with tailback now causing huge problems on Maingate roundabout. What’s worse, this is now not only restricted to peak times and can now causing traffic problem when previous it would be free flowing. Assuming that all this was to give an extra few metres of bus lane in readiness for the propose park and ride scheme at Watergate. They may have arguably save buses a few seconds descending the Lobley Hill, but assuming these buses will be making round trips to Gateshead. This mean on the back journey they will be stuck in these newly created jams with the rest of us.
Never have I experience a traffic scheme have such a detrimental impact on traffic flow.
As for the so called consultation process, I seem to recall an invitation to a display of the plans at Lobley hill library some years ago. This was of some interest to me, but as during the library opening time for this event I had to work this was not convenient for me. Furthermore when raising questions with our local councillor about possible impact of the then proposed changes we are then put in touch with the very same people in the highways department that conceived the idea. They have totally closed minds and totally blind confidence that they know best.
Sorry we were given no option but to accept what these so called professionals inflict on us. But in this case they have been proved to be a bunch of money wasting clowns.

]]> Comment on Was it worth it for just 18 inches? by NpowerStu http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/transport/was-it-worth-it-for-18in/comment-page-1/#comment-99 NpowerStu Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:06:49 +0000 http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/?p=13#comment-99 Hi, Well everyhting has been completed and the tail backs are just silly at peak times! I have sent an email to Gateshead roads department telling them how bad it during rush hour and asking them what they are going to do about it....probably nothing! Hi,

Well everyhting has been completed and the tail backs are just silly at peak times!

I have sent an email to Gateshead roads department telling them how bad it during rush hour and asking them what they are going to do about it….probably nothing!

]]> Comment on Was it worth it for just 18 inches? by Karin Clark http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/transport/was-it-worth-it-for-18in/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Karin Clark Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:55:39 +0000 http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/?p=13#comment-98 Well now the traffic lights HAVE arrived and what a flamin' disaster!!!! 30 mins in a lovely queue from Sunniside to reach the roundabout at the A1 - a trip that used to take me 10 mins at the most. Marvellous. Give the planners a medal for turning a bearable journey to work into an absolute nightmare. It wouldn't be quite so bad, if it was not for the fact that frequent commuters on the route all saw this disaster coming from the moment the additional traffic lights were erected! The roundabout didn't function too badly as such, so why try to fix something that wasn't broken!? Well now the traffic lights HAVE arrived and what a flamin’ disaster!!!! 30 mins in a lovely queue from Sunniside to reach the roundabout at the A1 – a trip that used to take me 10 mins at the most. Marvellous. Give the planners a medal for turning a bearable journey to work into an absolute nightmare.

It wouldn’t be quite so bad, if it was not for the fact that frequent commuters on the route all saw this disaster coming from the moment the additional traffic lights were erected! The roundabout didn’t function too badly as such, so why try to fix something that wasn’t broken!?

]]> Comment on Was it worth it for just 18 inches? by David Armstrong http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/transport/was-it-worth-it-for-18in/comment-page-1/#comment-63 David Armstrong Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:35:23 +0000 http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/?p=13#comment-63 I totally agree with the first comments. All that will happen is that Lobley Hill Road will become gridlocked with traffic piled up in all direction, Whickham Highway, Watergate Bank and all the way up to Bensham. The scheme was ridiculous from the outset. As for the money it must have cost it is nice to know that the council know how to spend it wisely NOT. I totally agree with the first comments. All that will happen is that Lobley Hill Road will become gridlocked with traffic piled up in all direction, Whickham Highway, Watergate Bank and all the way up to Bensham. The scheme was ridiculous from the outset. As for the money it must have cost it is nice to know that the council know how to spend it wisely NOT.

]]> Comment on Dear David Clelland MP – a few questions on behalf of the folk in Lobley Hill by Anon http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/politics/dear-david-clelland-mp-a-few-questions-on-behalf-of-the-folk-in-lobley-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Anon Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:08:03 +0000 http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/?p=50#comment-28 I wouldn't believe everything you read in the Telegraph or the tabloids. yes some MP's have done serious fiddles, but I don't believe Mr Clelland has, my understanding of the London flat situation is, his now wife put a large amount of inherritence into the London flat as a deposit, she then decided she wanted to invest elsewhere and quite rightly wanted her money back, during the time her money was tied up in the property the property market was booming and increased the price of the flat, thereofore she was entitled to her share plus the profit it had made. Mr Clelland in my eyes has done nothing wrong. In my opinion he works very hard for his constituents and we all should stand by him and ignore the rags that are trying to rubbish his good name. People need to realise that Mr Clelland is human and will be affected by these ridiculous allergations. Mr Clelland has my full support now and always! I wouldn’t believe everything you read in the Telegraph or the tabloids. yes some MP’s have done serious fiddles, but I don’t believe Mr Clelland has, my understanding of the London flat situation is, his now wife put a large amount of inherritence into the London flat as a deposit, she then decided she wanted to invest elsewhere and quite rightly wanted her money back, during the time her money was tied up in the property the property market was booming and increased the price of the flat, thereofore she was entitled to her share plus the profit it had made. Mr Clelland in my eyes has done nothing wrong. In my opinion he works very hard for his constituents and we all should stand by him and ignore the rags that are trying to rubbish his good name. People need to realise that Mr Clelland is human and will be affected by these ridiculous allergations. Mr Clelland has my full support now and always!

]]> Comment on Dear David Clelland MP – a few questions on behalf of the folk in Lobley Hill by george clark http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/politics/dear-david-clelland-mp-a-few-questions-on-behalf-of-the-folk-in-lobley-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-21 george clark Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:42:12 +0000 http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/?p=50#comment-21 clellandd@parliament.uk davidclellandmp@aol.com clellandd@parliament.uk
davidclellandmp@aol.com

]]> Comment on Dear David Clelland MP – a few questions on behalf of the folk in Lobley Hill by KrisBelucci http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/politics/dear-david-clelland-mp-a-few-questions-on-behalf-of-the-folk-in-lobley-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-7 KrisBelucci Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:27:22 +0000 http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/?p=50#comment-7 Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me! Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me!

]]> Comment on Was it worth it for just 18 inches? by LocalLad http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/transport/was-it-worth-it-for-18in/comment-page-1/#comment-2 LocalLad Mon, 04 May 2009 10:44:14 +0000 http://lobleyhill.org.uk/blog/?p=13#comment-2 Not sure what your gripe is? The plans were circulated and approved by the council. The work isn't even finished yet and you're complaining... Not sure what your gripe is? The plans were circulated and approved by the council. The work isn’t even finished yet and you’re complaining…

]]>