Crossing 8216by
summer8217 at
crash hotspotCampaign to
cut wasted
prescriptions www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk
Observer March 13, 2008 G15A MUCH-needed pelican crossing in
Dumow Road 8211 the scene ofa fatal acci-
dent more than two years ago and
another crash last week 8211 should be in
place by the summer.That was the assurance ofHerts
County Council after a Bishop8217s Stortford
councillor called for action to be taken
following a two-car collision at theRaynham Road junction last Tuesday.Firefighters cut one ofthe drivers out
ofhis Ford Focus and he was taken to
Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow,
with minor injuries and discharged the
following morning. The driver ofthe
other car, a blue Peugeot 406, was unhurt.
Police closed part ofthe road for half
an hour, setting up temporary diversions
outside the Nag8217s Head pub and at the
Parsonage Lane roundabout after the
smash at 3.15pm.
Cllr Mike Wood, Liberal Democrat
member for the All Saints ward, said that
residents living near the accident site
had complained that the junction was
unsafe without a crossing.
8220There was a fatality at this same spot
a few years ago and it has been a point of
contention ever since. When the new flats
at Whareatea Court on the other side of
the road are completed, there will be even
more cars using that junction and a
crossing needs to be put in place.
8220This is a dangerous stretch ofroad
and some people drive too fast down it 8211
there have been several near-misses.8221
In November 2005, consultant
histopathologist Dr Richard Letcher died
two weeks after being struck as he
crossed the road. Police investigations
showed the driver had been travelling
along the 30mph road at about 50mph.
A county council spokesman said there
were plans to install a pelican crossing in
Dunmow Road opposite Raynham Road
after some further investigation ofthe
area has been carried out. 8220The crossing
was a condition ofplanning permission
for a private housing development of13
flats and we are hoping that the crossing
will be in place before the summer.8221RESCUE:
Crews
attend to
the injured
man last
week(s)By
James Burtonburtonj@hertsessexnews.co.uk A CAMPAIGN to reduce the amount of
wasted medicine in Hertfordshire was
launched in Sawbridgeworth.
Unused medication costs the NHS
millions each year, and on Tuesday
last week East and North Herts
Primary Care Trust launched an
awareness drive at Bell Pharmacy to
re-educate patients about the cost of
wasting their prescriptions.
The campaign, supported by local
GPs and pharmacists, also encourages
people to order only the medication
they need and not to stockpile it at
home.
Chiefpharmacist Heather Gray
said that unused medicine cost
Hertfordshire 1637m a year, adding:
8220Once dispensed, medicines can8217t be
used again and it8217s a shame to see
money wasted that could fund other
NHS services locally.8221WILDLIFE lover Janice Hobbs
managed to get this stunning
close-up of a blackbird that
regularly visits her garden
using camouflage and plenty
of patience.
The bird has been stopping
by her garden for more than a
year to feed from the bird
table.
8220I8217ve always been very
interested in birds. My father
had an aviary full of British
finches when I was little, so
my interest goes back a long
way,8221 said Janice, 48.
8220This blackbird seems to be
the dominant one, always
ready to have a fight with
rivals for the food I put out. I
first noticed him because of
his brazenness 8211 the way he
stood there looking like he
could take anyone on.
8220He8217s definitely the one in
charge of the bird table. If any
other birds come along to
feed there he will try to push
them away. It8217s really
fascinating to watch.
8220I managed to get the
photograph on my digital SLR
by hiding behind camouflage
netting and staying very still.
You have to wait a while but
eventually all sorts of wildlife
start coming out.8221
Janice has lived in Abbess
Roding with her husband,
Roger, and sons Thomas, 20,
and Adam, 17, for 25 years
and works as an engraver in
Bishop8217s Stortford.
Her garden is a regular hive
of activity for local wildlife,
including a family of badgers
who come to scavenge
peanuts that drop from the
table.Janice on winner8217s perchSNAP
HAPPY: Our
February
Photo of the
Month
winner
Janice
Hobbs Photo:
BMVPSWMW-011Visit www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk
to enter March Photo of the MonthWEDDINGG
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