But people power foiled the dastardly scheme and even with all the cunning of the council the work was halted before it could be completed by a wall of bodies getting in the way of the work force and its digger, picture Tienanmen square only round and without the tanks. So round one to the people of Leek but the fight is not yet over with the date set for work to start on the 14th.
My personal feeling is that the roundabout should stay, with more generic shops coming to the town, Costa, Sainsburys and the like, Leek will soon look like 100's of other towns with only its name showing you where you are. We need to keep Leek's individuality, because once it's gone you will never get it back. But also the people voted to keep the roundabout and if the council can ride roughshod over our opinion on this what will stop them in future, do our votes count for nothing, who do they really work for.
The picture shows the improved roundabout as it stands today, with the old top shown as it was just a few short weeks ago in the snow, I known what I prefer.
Well said brett, the roundabout is just stones and soil, grass and flowers or was to me, however the underhandedness of the way the council went about last nights shananigans was disgusting and i for one will happily say the roundabout must stay.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea what was going on and didn't they had started, or attempted to start, removal. I think the traffic in Leek will be much, much worse with traffic lights so I want the roundabout to stay for that reason but I do think it outrageous that the petition with however many signatures is not being recognised.
ReplyDeleteIts not the world's greatest roundabout ... Leek will not suffer when it goes.
ReplyDeleteJeez, get a life and put your energy into something more constructive! Its just a chuffing roundabout!! There are better things to do at night than sit on a roundabout. Leek is stuck in the 1950s, you still get power cuts fairly regularly. There isnt even a McDonalds or a Dominoes Pizza or a Cinema or any decent eateries so in hindsight in Leek there isnt much else to do at night lmao
ReplyDeleteThe shame is that the people of Leek see their identity, purpose, future, and hope in a round piece of concrete. How sad. Truth is the town is dying because of resistance to long needed change. Come on folks - use your energies in something really important.
ReplyDeleteBrett, Ange and Louise - you are spot on. Well said. Ant - congratulations for so spectacularly missing the point. McDonalds? Dominoes? Your breathtaking ignorance merely illustrates Brett's point.
ReplyDeleteWhat point am I missing?? The town needs to be moving forward else it will die. The people wanting the roundabout to stay are the older generation, what does the town offer people of a younger generation? How many people come to Leek who live further a field? When they get here what is there for them to do? You can walk round the town in 5 minutes. Your precious roundabout isnt exactly one of the wonders of the world is it?? Coming to Leek is like stepping back in time.I think a few decent fast food chains and a multiplex cinema would be a welcome addition to the museum that is Leek, they would bring jobs for the young 'uns and bring some money into the town, all the closed down derelict pubs could be put to use as fast food joints and maybe a lap dancing club would go down well. I think it best to admit defeat and stop trying to stop the tide that is progress.
DeleteOMG..good job you don't work for the Council. ..then again...may be you do.
DeleteSome of the people protesting are the same ones who were protesting when Aldi was built. Basically they're old people with a pension and a grievance against the council. Once the roundabout has gone they'll just find something else to protest about. Leek needs jobs for younger people not to be kept in the 19th century.
ReplyDeleteExactly, I remember when Costa Coffee was opening there was a petition as they didnt want another cafe!!?? What retail business would want to open apart from a charity shop? The best thing to do would be to flatten Leek 'town' and build a retail park, loads of free parking and no parking wardens and maybe M & S and Next and B & Q or The Range would open up and people would flock (yes flock was a sheep reference hehe) to Leek retail park.
Deletewhat a load of rubbish leek needs to get into this century kicking and screaming if needed
ReplyDeleteno jobs in leek !
no wonder people who run the council own most of leek and too bothered re feathering there own pockets to bother about progress get rid of the roundabout get sainsburys and others into town and lets get leek moving forward not stuck in the dark ages
Well, the issue brings up some pretty strong opinions. Interesting discussion.
ReplyDeleteWow it sounds like the hedonists and materialists have got loud voices and probably most of the money alas.
ReplyDelete