Hi,
for me this rates along side building a 5m high wall between the Rec Pond and Dormans Pool in the list of stupid ideas. All I can see is more people pulling off at the top of the bridge which is dangerous enough and I have already seen many near misses there while I have seen none in the 9 years cars and people have been sharing this track. Perhaps Natural England would like to explain why it is so much of a danger now? Would their time not be better spent trying to save local habitats by stopping dogs fowling at the end of the Zinc Works road or chasing roosting birds on the Snook!
Regards,
Jamie
I agree with everything you say, Jamie, and I am really incensed over this, as it is totally unnecessary. It is simply a rather arrogant and high-handed action by Natural England, which has no bearing whatsoever on the 'pervceived problem'. All it will do is alienate the organisation further from the local birding fraternity in general and TBC in particular, including the volunteers who undertake all the WeBS counts around the Tees Estuary. It will particularly hit those members who have mobility problems and rely on this access to make birding safer and more pleasurable. We did make a plea to Natural England but our reasoned argument fell on deaf ears. I am discussing with others what further action we can take on this.
Ted
I note that there are already concrete posts in place preventing vehicular access along the old road,adjacent to the main road from the turn off immediately opposite the car park. I concur with Ted and Jamie.Natural England appear to want to go out of their way to antagonise birders.
The Club has got a petition together to protest against the closure of the old A178 for vehicular access and we would be very grateful if as many people as possible could sign this. It may not result in the reopening of the old road but at least it will show the extent of public feeling over this pointless act. The petition comprises an A4 sheet with space for 10 signatures. Anyone who feels they could help to get a few signatures would be greatly appreciated and copies can be obtained by emailing me at: ecparker@supanet.com
Ted Parker
Could you add my name to the petition please Jamie/Ted, my parking space has gone, have they thought about the disabled drivers parking here on a weekend? I doubt it!
Same circus, different clowns.
Dave.
(it will be a few weeks until I can make a trip down there.)
As someone who drives this road on a daily basis from billingham to hartlepool the only danger i see on this road are the idiots that Able U.K are employing I am an HGV driver and the driving standards of these people cannot be believed so to me what is going to happen with these bollards when Able closes or am I just being facetious
What hasn't been mentioned regarding parking next to the Greatham Creek bridge is the security it brings. Being reasonably mobile I like to walk the Long Drag as well as using the hide to overlook Seal Sands. it's always handy being able to keep a check on the car even at a distance. I'm sure the cars parked in the official car park are much more vunerable to criminal activity where we can't see them.
I've been thinking of joining the forum for a while but was under the (wrong) impression that you had to be a member of TBC.
This thread has prompted me into registering so I can add my two penneth.
Closing off of this road is for me a catastrophe.
Those that know me are aware of the problems I have with mobility, some may also know that for three years I have been involved with INCA, on a voluntary basis, in the monitoring of the seals at Greatham Creek.
My role is to photograph the seals in such a way that we can build up a database that will allow us to recognise seals by their markings.
I have special permission to access and set up on the saltmarsh to the north of the flyover to allow me to get close enough to take the type of shots I need for this work.
It's hard enough for me to walk to that point with my equipment from the top of the disused road but to walk from the car park is impossible for me.
I now have the regrettable duty of phoning Robert at INCA and informing him I will no longer be able to be involved in the project.
Having been a sea angler for 40 years, before ill health, I know the problems Natural England can wreak on peoples hobbies and pastimes - even to the point that they were happy to try and over ride the Magna Carta which gave all anglers the right to dig bait. Fortunately the National Federation of Sea Anglers fought one case in the high court and won, so it is possible they can be challenged. How is a different matter.
I'm trying not to put a selfish slant on this but I am sure there must be some disabled access laws that exist that may help at least some of us.
I (for my sins) have a couple of contacts at Natural England (not high flyers) and I will ring them over the next couple of days to get the lie of the land.
If names are needed for any petitions etc please add mine. (John Bridges)
There is a law that may be relevant if Greenabella, Greatham Creek, the hides etc are public facilities.
If they are public facilities then access is subject to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as amended in 2005
Natural England are currently being taken to task elsewhere for blocking access.
http://www.walneyisle.co.uk/BoulderdashBarrier.shtml (http://www.walneyisle.co.uk/BoulderdashBarrier.shtml)
A lot of disabled people turn to watching/photographing wildlife to get away from the everyday problems.Having being disabled for many years my experiences of many companies/councils and governing bodies is that they will do only what they have to by law ie, stick a couple of ramps here and there and maybe the odd automatic door, to help disabled people.
Graham
This issue has also prompted me to join this forum. I've had my rant elswhere, but hope to remain calm this time.
I'm sure there are alternatives, if they could be bothered. Cynically, I believe they are trying to do the job on the cheap under the guise of H&S. They need to carry out a proper risk assessment of the alternative they are proposing: expecting a lesser abled person to 'run' the gauntlet of 'dashing' across the fast road out an alleged car park is sheer lunacy. Add onto this, concerns of vehicular security in said car park..............starting to rant.
Do the TBC have enough support from the local RSPB to promote the petition in their establishment? I'm sure more signatures could be obtained.
Went past today and it looks like they have competed the path refurbishment and erected bollards to stop cars getting access from the path end. It is still possible to drive your car onto the grass patch at the bridge providing your car has sufficient clearance to negotiate the steep kerb.
Had a chat with one of my Natural England contacts today.
She is a communications & partnership Specialist at the Quadrant.
Though Teeside isn't her area she did say she would make a few calls to find out details and get back to me.
One of the things we talked about in an "even if they did this" manner was an option of some type of barrier so far up the pathway which could be opened by disabled people holding a key (even if the key cost a couple of quid)
Of course that was only a chat on the phone and she has no powers to offer that as a definite outcome.
It was also a chat about one particular group of people (disabled) but I think it would at least be a sensible idea and make it easier and safer for that vulnerable group.
Quote from: Renton Charman on December 10, 2009, 08:26:26 PM
Went past today and it looks like they have competed the path refurbishment and erected bollards to stop cars getting access from the path end. It is still possible to drive your car onto the grass patch at the bridge providing your car has sufficient clearance to negotiate the steep kerb.
Looks like my chat (post above) was too late then.
Out of curiosity have they erected any signs to say that vehicle access to the road or parking on the road is prohibited?
If people (with suitable vehicles) continue to pull off at the bridge and park at the top of the road it makes the bollards (and the cost) even more of a stupid idea and waste of time and energy as well as creating the possibility of potential disaster as people drive on and off the road there.
The Teesmouth Bird Club has raised a petition against the closure of the old A178 and nearly every member signed it who attended our evening meeting on 7th December. If anyone, member or non-member, would like me to email a sheet of the petition (which takes 10 signatures) then please contact me at: ecparker@supanet.com
The bigger response we get then the greater the chance we have of reversing this ridiculous situation. What Natural England seems to forget is that it is almost exclusively TBC members who undertake the monthly WeBS counts around the Tees Estuary. This is thanks, indeed!
Ted Parker
Sorry John, just picked up your post. I don't think I saw any signs in the area banning parking at the bridge.