Just a note to Austin to say that even if there are no meetings that
one can still campaign, support and thus be part of the group. I
recently decided to write to my local councillor (copy of my email
below). Having said that, I have so far received no response from
her, I suppose my email should have asked for confirmation of
receipt, as otherwise one is never sure whether emails get through or
not. I guess I'd better email again.

However, I did find that at the meetings I absorbed alot of
information which has helped inform me & hence given me ammunition
for some of my letters... I guess I should contact Peter Lilley next.

Phil

copy of my email to Councillor Clare Body:
Dear Clare,

I think you are my local councillor and so I thought I'd write to
let you know about one of the issues I care about.

I was spurred to write to you as I noted in a recent BBC news
article about obesity http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6989002.stm
that Dr Tim Crayford, president of the Association of Directors of
Public Health ,mentioned that one of the contributory factors that
causes obesity is the levels of car ownership, and also that "We need
to make it easier for people to make healthier choices, for example,
that means having better cycling and walking networks."

There are so many positives to cycling, not only being
particularly environmentally freindly, but it if more people cycled,
according to Dr.Crayford, it would presumably contribute to saving
the NHS money in the future by reducing the number of obese people.
This is not a thought which had occurred to me before!

The thing which puts most people off cycling is safety. I
recommend going round the Three Moorhens roundabout on a bike if you
don't believe me! I simply won't let my children out on the road on
their bikes. I would encourage you to vigorously support us cyclists
as best you can - maybe 20mph speed limits, and any other measures
which can reduce the dominace of cars on Hitchin streets.

Your sincerely,

Philip Barron



--- In Cycle_Hitchin@yahoogroups.com, "Alasdair Massie"
<a.massie@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Austin (and all),
>
> Hitchin Cycling meetings - there was no conscious decision to stop
> meetings but we are all busy people so haven't really got around to
> organising one after the summer. Perhaps it is time that we did, we
> talked about tagging on to the "Green Drinks" at the Millstream,
which
> might be a good way of taking it forward.
>
> NHDC Cycle Network - unfortunately it seems impossible to get this
> moving. There is just NO political will, at either district, county
or
> national government level. Please do badger your district and county
> councillors, and MP (Peter Lilley). It will only happen if people
demand
> it. There is a lot of concern about health, environment and
traffic, we
> need to translate that concern into some constructive action.
>
> On a positive note, at the recent NHDC Local District Partnership
> workshop (attended by myself), transport and the environment came
out as
> the two key concerns across the board. Now is a good time to
reinforce
> that message. If I ever find the time I will write a brief report
on the
> LSP workshop and circulate it around the group.
>
> "... Is there any point in pressing them, or are they doing all
that's
> practicable at the present? ..."
> At present they (NHDC and HCC) are doing nothing. Press as hard as
you
> can - write to Councillors rather than officers.
>
> We did talk about producing a newsletter, anybody got any time to
pull
> something together ? Don't do all the work yourself, delegate, we
could
> do half a page each on some key events.
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Alasdair
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Austin Smith [mailto:ajdsmith@...]
> Sent: 17 October 2007 14:31
> To: Alasdair Massie
> Subject: Hitchin Cycle Plan
>
>
>
> Dear Alisdair
> Last Autumn I attended a meeting of a Hitchin Cycling Group in
> the Highlander pub. Since than I seem not to have heard of any
further
> meetings. Are they still continuing?
>
> Could I also ask if you could comment on the reply -
attached -
> I received, after putting a question about the Cycling Plan to
> councillors at the Hitchin Town Talk on September 25th?
>
> I appreciate the complexities of funding, but I just have the
> impression that North Herts could put a bit more effort into getting
> more. Is there any point in pressing them, or are they doing all
that's
> practicable at the present? If so, do we know how soon more money is
> going to be available?
>
> Yours
> Austin Smith
>
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