There was a byelection in Unstone earlier this year. A Labour Party leaflet said the 40mph limit along the main road in Unstone - which includes the the part outside the school would be reduced to 30 mph by November. Unstine is still waiting even though we are at the end of November. 

I am very pleased to welcome the radical transport proposals to significantly increase long-term rail investment, introduce road user pricing to tackle pollution and congestion and hand control of buses back to local authorities which have been launched on June 3rd by the Liberal Democrats. This is due to be debated at the LIBDEM Conference in September

The additional investment will be paid for by introducing emissions-linked charges on road freight and internal flights.

The main proposals include: ·        Cutting fuel duty and abolishing Vehicle Excise Duty over the next 10 years and introducing a cost-neutral road user pricing scheme on motorways and trunk roads·        Building a high speed rail network paid for by introducing emissions-linked charges on road freight and internal flights·        Introducing rolling contracts for train operating companies to increase long-term investment and improve services·        Give power to control local bus services back to local authorities·        Introducing a new fund for rural transport ·        Giving passengers a stronger voice to improve local transport services through a new passenger watchdog .

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg said: “These proposals offer a radical alternative vision for transport in the 21^st Century, compared with the tired short-sightedness of both Labour and the Tories.” “At a time when families are feeling the pressure of the rising cost of travel, only the Liberal Democrats are setting out how to make our transport system sustainable, affordable and fair. 

Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: “With Labour’s 30 year plan for the railways stopping inexplicably in 2014 and no firm proposals from the Conservatives, we are the only party with concrete proposals to build a transport system fit for the 21^st century.  “Motorists and passengers are getting a raw deal under Labour. We are turning into cattle truck Britain, with rail services overcrowded and congestion growing on the roads, as any commuter will tell you.  “Motorway and trunk road pricing will cost the average motorist no more but the costs will be honest and upfront and rural motorists who have to rely on their cars will save money.”  

One area looked at in my meeting on site in Dronfield on Wednesday with Road safety officers from Derbyshire County Council were at the junction of Church Street and Lea Road.

At the bottom of Church Street we watched as literally hundreds of school children from Henry Fanshawe School came up in a wide stream at about 3.30pm onto Lea Road and crossed from an area where the footway runs out to Church Street and the footpath which runs along the Oaks Christion Fellowship building. I found this quite alarming at times when the traffic was also heavy due partly to the “school run”.  A solution to improving pedestrian safety here in not obvious but the officers (who should be the experts!) undertook to think about this and report back later.

Your comments about this would be most welcome - just click on “comments” at the beginning of this post.

I receive complaints on a regular basis about the road humps on Stubley Lane. These were originally put in when the school was still on site at Gosforth and many people wonder why they are still there. As a driver of a small car I have considerable sympathy with this as even driving at 15mph they are uncomfortable to drive over and probably damaging to the car.

I have tried to get them at least modified (they appear to be higher and sharper than many of the humps elsewhere) but the County C ouncil have been unmoveable on this over the last 3 years.  I am however going to meet one of their  officers on site soon and discuss this issue yet again alongside the fact that within a few months there will be more traffic arising from the 100 houses which are being built on the old school site

The local magazine, Dronfield Eye, published a number of letters expressing concern at the ludicrous train “service” currently provided at Dronfield Rail Station in 2006.  The  instigator of the debate, Dr Peter Hayward has enlisted  the support of the local MP, Natasha Engel, local councillorsand officers of the Public Transport Unit at Derbyshire County Council.

 Anyone who travels regularly into Sheffield and Chesterfield will know just how much congestion on the roads has relentlessly increased year by year.  Driving on the motorways is frequently a nightmare. Its good to see that a lot of local people are supporting this attempt to improve our rail service

The “Friends of Dronfield Station” the local Action Group set up as a result is holding its inaugural General meeting on Friday 28th September at 7.30 in the Dronfield Civic Hall.

I have recently become Dronfield Town Council’s representative on the Action Group