Kidderminster, traffic, potholes, and TV.

Had to go into Kidderminster on Saturday, 11:30 and reasonably busy. I note that the Discount Megastore (where M&S used to be) has finally closed down, but I also note that the Cafe Pacifica in the Roland Hill has also "Closed until further notice"so there's another blank spot in the centre to go along with the rear entrance of the Megastore and where the Fagin's bookstore used to be.

On a plus note a new store has opened up in the Swan Centre where the sports shop used to be. Appears to be called something along the lines of the Fridge Shop (The Shuttle has it as a Costcutter), anyway enough confusion for me to overhear someone in WH Smith asking a member of staff if they happened to know if it was a food store or a white-goods shop; for the record it's a food store - looks like a cheap version of Iceland, the frozen food equivalent of the Pound Shop. Bold and brash signage and from a glimpse through the window it seemed busy enough.

As per the recommendations of the study I'm pleased to report that the Market Square at Weavers Wharf is now being utilised, at least I saw two kids happily kicking a football up and down it. Otherwise it remains, as always, a void.


Ah the pedestrian crossing in Bridge Street what a joy. I turned the corner of York Street into Bridge Street facing the bridge and joined the queue, the crossing lights changed to red and the van in front took advantage to drop someone off in front of the Pennywise shop, she then walked down to the Factory Shop. The crossing lights changed to green and we moved forward so that the van was now at the crossing. Traffic continued up from the bridge.

The lights changed, we remained stationery. The lights changed back and traffic flowed up from the bridge, we sat still.

The lights changed again, we stayed put. Changed back and yet more traffic came from the bridge. At last we moved forward, then stopped, and I now had the crossing directly behind me. The van took advantage again to pick up the person they'd previously dropped off.

We all started moving, the van decided it was turning off the bridge towards the Amusements, and so a large gap formed between it and the car in front. I raced past to hit the sensors before they assumed there was no traffic waiting and hit the bridge lights as they changed. The car behind me of course didn't make it, possibly because they were still in town stuck at the crossing lights that had changed again.

Now I know there was mutterings about removing the crossing lights while the work was being done, and I understand and agree as to why this is not feasible. What isn't mentioned however is that the settings were changed a few years back to make them more pedestrian friendly, a factor which is causing problems at this time. So why not switch them back to the way they were?


Potholes again, the one on the bridge is getting deeper, the one they only filled in recently in York Street is getting depressed (someone go along and tell it a funny story), the collection at the end of Areley Common are slowly wearing through, and both the ones just before and after the bridge are showing solidarity with the York Street one. Meh what's the point in doing a decent job they'll be resurfacing the lot in a few months time; well not York Street or Areley Common of course, but still.


Nope no comments on CBB other then to echo the remarks of one reporter

"Why are we rewarding ignorance?"

just once again lamenting the dearth of good programmes; ITV has a "CSI Effect: Tonight" regarding how the simplification of forensic science my be affecting real-life cases, Channel 4 has a worthy "Dispatches: Labour's Gambling Addiction" as you might expect both of which are on at the same time at 8:00pm (Dispatches is repeated later at 3:05am - prime-time!). Tomorrow's a treat; I note that Channel 4 again are showing "Kind Hearts and Coronets", which must be classed as one of the best of all the Ealing comedies, in order to maximise viewage it's been shown at 1:35pm... damn what a waste of good material. Ah who cares, I've been working my way through all eight series of "Red Dwarf" on DVD, now there's something worth watching.

Did catch the Anne Widdecombe "Tonight" special. Taking her fearless leader's "Hug a hoodie" statement to heart she stayed at some rough estates, talked to the residents and attempted to talk to the 'hoodies' in question; and got a firework thrown at her for her trouble. Discussing the problems with one of America's zero-tolerance police officers, they'd be clamping down on everything; according to our police if they arrested everyone for petty misdemeanours they'd be no police around on the streets... well there aren't any anyway.

Postscript: seems I'm not the only one looking hard at the amendments to the Companies Act pushed in just before Christmas. IT Week's Madeline Bennett mentions how ironic it is that a law designed to ensure companies share information when communicating with customers is causing confusion due to a lack of information-sharing on the government's part.