Leighton Buzzard Writers’ LBO Column.
This week by Phil Wilkinson
The newly-elected police chief who announced that Leighton is, ‘on his map,’ might like to share that map with the helicopter pilots who regularly fly overhead at heights below 500ft.
The only other places I have experienced so many helicopter pilots apparently unaware that people are living below their chosen flight path, is in the towns and villages surrounding Silverstone race circuit, when they host the F1 GP each year. A cynic might suggest that gaining more height or going around urbanised areas would require greater fuel, cost more money, and the owner of the helicopter would realise less profit from whatever it is that has them flying about. Yes, only a cynic...
Leighton has been awarded £50k as part of a countrywide investment in encouraging cycle use. Meanwhile Leighton has been endeavouring to help the cause by digging up roads and ensuring that it is quicker to cycle from one side of town to the other than drive the distance. That’s called ‘joined up thinking’ where I come from.
I’m sure Andrew Selous, our local MP, is genuine in his pleasure when he sees that cycling is being promoted in the area. However, I’m not so sure he would approve of the way roadworks are seemingly being used to reduce the effectiveness of the car with regards to transportation.
Some are sure that the modifications to the roads in our town are going to benefit us all in the long run. Well they might be sure but I can’t help wondering how introducing roundabouts will help traffic to flow at peak times. Look at how the home of the roundabout - Milton Keynes - had to introduce traffic lights to some roundabouts on major routes because heavy traffic made it impossible for vehicles to access those roundabouts due to the prevailing flow.
Do those helicopter pilots know something the residents of Leighton don’t? The way things appear to be going; soon the only way to get from one end of the town to the other will be by travelling in those very helicopters which presently drive us mad.