Anger as lights at Leek roundabout removed
PART of a lamppost has been removed from a controversial roundabout – amid fears protesters will chain themselves to it when workmen try to bulldoze the floral island.
Staffordshire County Council used emergency powers to close roads surrounding the much-loved Derby Street roundabout, in Leek, and moved in at dusk.
Contractors cut the electricity supply and took off the head of the lamppost on Wednesday evening.
But their efforts were hampered by dozens of campaigners, who occupied the island after seeing a digger reversing onto the site.
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Police were called to help keep the protesters under control.
Now residents are demanding answers over why work was allowed to start without any warning, 12 days before the planned road closures were due to come into effect.
Leek Mayor Barry Cowie said: "It was under-handed and absolutely ridiculous. Everyone is really upset."
It was the latest twist in a long-running campaign to save the roundabout next to the Nicholson War Memorial. It is due to be replaced by traffic lights as part of a package of road changes linked to a new Sainsbury's development.
Families claim both the county council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council have failed to carry out proper consultation. More than 11,000 people signed a petition against the proposals.
Brian Pointon, who runs a youth band in Leek, has also previously threatened to chain himself to the lamppost.
The 69-year-old, of Leek, became aware of the contractors on Wednesday when he got a series of phone calls from other residents, informing him what was happening. By the time he got to Derby Street, the digger had already left.
He said: "I think they will come back in the night and do the dirty on us. They just don't care."
Sheila Plant, aged 61, of Queen Street, Leek, added: "I was just coming back from the swimming baths when I saw the road was closed. There was beacon lighting and a crowd of people. It's shameful what the council has done."
Her 24-year-old daughter Lily Michailidis said: "I've been working in Korea and recently came back to Leek. It's a lovely, old-fashioned town and I really like the roundabout. I can't believe they want to get rid of it."
Leek county councillor Neal Podmore said: "This emergency road closure and preparatory work on the roundabout was carried out in response to rumours that people could attach themselves to the lamppost."
He stressed the work took place after rush hour to keep disruption to a minimum.
He added: "We will continue to work with local people and businesses to keep them well-informed of the work schedule."
The council has yet to finalise a date for when main demolition work will begin.
Comments
by ObidiahFudge
Monday, May 07 2012, 11:44AM
“how the people from the faceless city mock a town with character. Leek is a market town, not a city, and surprisingly to residents of Leek, is quite picturesque in a weird way, and we even get tourists in summer. As that is the main draw, *** would we want it to look like a mini-city?
The council have already vandalised the light off the roundabout, they will be defacating on the Nicholson War Memorial next”
by focusboy
Sunday, May 06 2012, 1:40PM
“@leekbargains
Did you ever find it again?”
by Alberus
Sunday, May 06 2012, 10:54AM
“leekbargains...Er, we don't wish to know that.”
by Tonyjohnt
Saturday, May 05 2012, 7:57PM
“The people of Leek would do well to remember - dissent without civil disobedience is consent.”
by leekbargains
Saturday, May 05 2012, 7:26PM
“i lost my cherry on that roundabout in the early 80's”
by UnicornJones
Saturday, May 05 2012, 5:57PM
“I love roundabouts... Let me bang these two bricks together...”
by bogrocket
Saturday, May 05 2012, 5:03PM
“Has MR H BODE once said BRING BACK SPARROW PARK, COME ONE STAFFS C C , GET THE JOB DONE”
by Redpitlad
Saturday, May 05 2012, 2:28PM
“Try and get the police out to a burglary no chance,
but give the police a chance to flex there muscles and hey presto...! roads block off emergency powers brought in............ they would do Josef stalin proud..
the people of Staffordshire moorlands should remember this..! come election time with the council members who have run rough shod over them.”
by HAGGI5
Saturday, May 05 2012, 1:13PM
“Back from Korea eh? Sounds like a bit of brag advertising....yet absolutely nothing to do with the story. What is the relevancy of that comment?”
by Alberus
Saturday, May 05 2012, 12:14PM
“Feelings often run high in these small, self-absorbed English towns. To us mature, sensible and generally sane city folk, we can only look on with amusement and often incredulity, at what seems to us like very small storms in minuscule teacups over such trifling issues as roundabouts, lamp posts and small garden areas. Would people really chain themselves to a lamp post? The answer to that is, yes they certainly would. There's a long tradition of tree and lamp post bondage in this country which goes back centuries. It may be a futile gesture that only gives vent to impotent rage against a real or perceived slight, usually committed by an uncaring higher power, but a sincere gesture at that. I once lived in Bideford, a small Devon town where a protester bound himself with a rope to one of a doomed row of trees on the quayside. He was supported by a large crowd of supporters. Were the trees saved? I have to say they were not. But the protest was effectively mounted and was duly well reported by the media. It's only in these small towns, it seems, that people protest so vehemently against what might seem to us, minor issues.”