Government need to act on cable theft

Early this evening I happened to watch an item about cable theft on the regional news. I learnt that the Metropolitan Police have set up a task force in an attempt to tackle the problem. I already knew from work with South West Trains, Network Rail and British Transport Police that they are putting extra resource into dealing with this serious crime that led to up to six hour delays for passengers during SWT Jam last June; is costing the country £700 million a year and led to operations being cancelled in Wales last week and roads being plunged into darkness in Yorkshire.

I received a message from a friend a little before 11pm tonight telling me there was a power cut affecting parts of St Johns, Hook Heath and Mount Hermon. The cause - attempted cable theft. Thankfully it appears the power cut out before any cable could be removed and a loud bang sent the thieves running. Power was back on within an hour or so.

As the price of copper has soared on global markets thieves are attempting to steal cables containing copper from signal boxes on the railways, electricity sub-stations and street lighting cable.  Copper can then be sold on the black market.  Copper is being sold for around $9,000 a tonne so is an attractive commodity.

So much money is being lost, so many are being affected, so much resource is going into dealing with this issue. The government needs to do what many have called for and license scrap dealers. This will close the market for illegally obtained copper and solve much of the problem.

Bedser Bridge Victory for Residents

I am delighted to announce a victory for residents on the Bedser Bridge.  The bridge originally proposed to provide access to the new WWF offices on Brewery Road car park and over the canal for residents and visitors was too high and inaccessible.  The bridge was to be 5ft higher than the current bridge and required users to climb many steps or follow a lengthy ramp.  The design seemed better suited to a motorway or dual carriageway.  Residents felt this design was for the benefit of WWF rather than local residents and visitors to Woking and was not in keeping with its surroundings.

After receiving over 2000 public responses on these concerns the Council has taken note and WWF's architects have re-designed the bridge.  The new proposal gives us a bridge 4ft lower than that originally proposed with a much shorter ramp and a separate access arm for the WWF offices.  There will be direct access across the canal and the bridge will be built from timber so won't look like something removed from the side of a motorway.

This is a great victory for residents. I am so pleased to have been able to raise this issue back in September and to see it through to a successful conclusion.

The full details of the new plans will soon be on the Woking Council website and you will be able to see the plans at the Lightbox, Council offices and the entrance to Peacocks shopping centre.