General Discussion
Interestingly I hear that today at the Chamber of Trade meeting the Mayor voted against pedestrianisation of the Strand.
Now that he has publicly expressed his view has he ruled himself out of participating in any further discussion/vote at Council due to predetermination?
If so - how foolish.
Although it seems as though things might have changed
http://peterblack.blogspot.com/2011/01/doing-away-with-pre-determination.html
It is, after all, a basic tenet of our form of democracy that politicians should pretend not to have made up their minds before a debate. Following the debate they will either vote as their party tells them, irrespective of their personal opinion, or else in accordance with the pre-conceived ideas that they were pretending not to have.
The less the substance, the more important proper form becomes.
Can I suggest slight variation on your theme DP?
Politicians will invariably know which way they will be voting even before any debate takes place in the council chamber/house of commons as they will be subject to the party line (whip) which will have been decided either by a) party policy or b) the majority of the group of councillors. Either way the debate won't make any difference to the way any of them vote because how they will vote will have already been decided.
Unless of course the politician in question is a bit of a rebel or is an independent or it genuinely is a free vote - like I believe the subject of abortion is for MPs.
@Lynne
Agreed - but more of an elaboration of my theme than a variation.
In any event, it seems ludicrous to me that the rules constrain local government when they patently do not with national politicians. Imagine the Prime Minister saying, "I can't express a view because there may be a debate on the issue."
It is about as inconceivable as him saying, "I can't express a view because I don't know anything about the subject."
Don
Congratulations to the Mayor, pity most other people can't be honest and say where they stand instead of the usual waffle.
I'm in fully against pedestrianisation. The town cant afford it, and I dont believe the current Strand traders want it. As a car enthusiast and a hater of walking for the sake of it, I like the herringbone parking option which should also be subject to locals having 30 minute free parking permits issued with the rate bills in March, these could have your address coded in barcode fashion so the warden could check legibility
Pedestrianisation will kill the Strand, to compare The Strand with a town centre which has National Stores in the pedestrian areas is ludicrous. Or is there a master plan to bring in WH Smiths, M&S, etc etc for the pedestrians who are going to be flocking to the 'new' Strand to do their shopping.
What exactly is pedestrianisation supposed to achieve apart from driving away all the motorists who shop there every day.
Am sure Sainsburys would be very happy to see Dawlish 'driving' all those extra customers to them.
Wriggler and Mugonhead you are both right, the majority of traders are aginst this. The strand could do with being paved as in Teignmouth with no kerbs but coloured pavers to demark areas, parking one side (lawn) with wall being removed, but I dread to think how far the roots go from the large chestnut trees, the pavement can then be widened to accomodate mobility scooters wheelchairs and pedestrians who have time to wander. I personally due to work am not afforded the luxury of time on my hands and need to drive down to the strand and do my shopping in 30mins paying the 40p fee , if I walked down it would mean one and a half hours of time Ive not got!!!!! If the WORSE happened it would be easier for me to drive to the big Coop in Teignmouth where I can park and get my money back, only adding most probably 10mins to my time. I do not find Sainsburys cheap here in Dawlish and very limited in certain depts
I had a vision today Dawlish was pedestrianised and the town died, so they moved the main railway line inland and built a by- pass around Dawlish with the help of the regenaration money!!!! Sainsburys put all their prices up because they now had no competition. Sorry folks mad moment!!!!
Brazilnut - you know that saying "Be careful what you wish for" well........ you know that by-pass that you talk about in your post above well.......howzabout having a bet that if we do get 1000s of new houses built out Shutterton way that a road similar to the one you describe actually does get built. After all, what with all the cars all those new houses would bring the present main road just wouldn't be able to cope would it? Let's face it, it can hardly cope now.
Just think - all those cars by-passing Dawlish and on a road funded by the money the new houses have generated and which was supposed to have been used to help regenerate the town.
How ironic is that?
There's a free car park at the Co-op, and another free car park at Costcutter. They would still be there if the Strand was pedestrianised, as would the pay and display car park at the end of the Strand. All very close to shops. Dawlish residents are spoilt rotten when it comes to parking! They moan if they have to walk more than two feet from their cars to a shop.
Bring on pedestrianisation I say! Let there be room on the Strand for people to stroll, look in shop windows, walk onto the lawns and enjoy themselves without having to dodge cars, car doors, delivery vans and car fumes!
The car parks in most towns are much further from the shops than they are in Dawlish.
but and its a big one we all know people like to park nearby and a certain supermarket now has this and its free as well and soon a bus will take them there, just a slim chance that people will resist this but do as you advocate and that will be the end of ryders stokes lloyd maunders and coop with all the locals that work there losing there jobs!!!!!!!!!!
I was being facitious when I wrote that but in my own mind could see it becoming reallity
