Muppets still on the fidlle, M6 closed and a ring road

9 April

The Muppets in Muppet Central are still playing silly games it seems. Another one of them has just resigned over claims she fiddle her expenses. But I wonder just how many more are still at it in one form or another. After all the fuss a few years ago, things were tightened up but there will still be weakness in the system where money can be fiddle. Let's face it, the reduced amount to be repaid still shows errors on her part. The initial amount to repaid was far higher and in a private company such an amount would lead to dismissal and possible criminal charges. Why should these muppets get away with it?

Last night on Midlands Today, there was a brief mention of congestion in Coventry because of four vehicle smash causing the closure of the M6 between junctions 3 and 2 southbound. Well, no doubt it was congested in Coventry, but so were areas of Dorktown too. The A5 southbound was also heavily congested and at some points was pretty much at a standstill. We were in the Anker yesterday evening and one guy who headed off home not long after we arrived, was back ten minutes later because the one-way system was at a standstill. Stockingford is around three miles from Weddington; yet another guy was saying that it had taken him 45 minutes to drive that short distance.

Dorktown is about five miles from junction 3 of the M6, which in reality isn't so close on normal days. However, there two major routes that go right through the middle of the town. The A444 from Coventry to Burton-on-Trent is one of them. The other one used to be the A47, which ran from Birmingham to the east coast at Great Yarmouth. Now it starts here in Dorktown and follows the same route east. From Dorktown west though, is had been reclassified as the B4114, but the road still carries as much if not more, traffic then when it was the A47.

In the centre of town runs the Roanne Ringway, which is the A444 really. This ringway is only 100 yards, at most, from the central shopping area of the town. During normal rush hours the congestion there is heavy and frustratingly slow moving. Add in the closed M6 with its traffic being diverted through both Coventry and Dorktown and we get the results we saw yesterday. The councils were warned of this when the ringway was planned and when it opened. No notice was taken of local opinion.        

What the town really needs is proper ring road that takes through traffic away from the town centre. There are a number of routes that could be used but most of them are close to, or would cut through the higher value areas of the town. There is a one route though that I think could be used successfully if planned properly.

It would start at Coton Arches and run along Avenue Road, follow the A4254 to its junction with the A47. From there down to the A5/A47 where a left turn takes traffic north of a couple of miles to the A444, or right to follow the current route of the A47.  That way through traffic would have a route well away from the town centre. However, I won't be holding my breath at it ever being taken up!

Today's photo is well away from traffic ... 

Doggy toys on a stall on the market.

And today's funny ...

SEX
Condoms don't guarantee safe sex anymore...
A friend of mine was wearing one when he was shot by the woman's husband.