NCN24

Official Opening Day!
15^th July 2004

The three new sections of bike path into Radstock were officially opened today by Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins, B&NES Councillor for Transport & Highways.

The proceedings started with a "ride-in" led by local Sustrans Volunteer Community Rangers from Shoscombe Primary School to the site of the "unveiling" of a new finger-post situated on the green space adjacent to the car park in Waterloo Road.

Among the cyclists were a group of children from the School who had just completed their Cycling Proficiency training and were to receive their certificates from Councillor Jenkins, accompanied by school staff, parents, Sustrans Officials and Supporters, totalling about 25 people.

Soon after departure from the school we had a slight contretemps with a horse and its produce: one of the children quickly learned that the coefficient of friction of horse poo is not conducive to safe braking; the horse took exception to a group of cyclists wizzing by, in spite of warning the rider of the situation before we attempted to pass. A good object lesson for the children when they encounter horses on bike paths in the future. After a short delay we proceeded on our way and regrouped at the Waterloo Road exit ready for the "grand entrance".

After the usual greetings Councillor Jenkins, assisted by the children unveiled the new signpost.

Then followed the usual speeches welcoming the new paths and thanking the various official bodies, grant funding organsiations and contractors involved in the construction of the paths. Councillor Jenkins noted that the paths should encourage more people to take up cycling and walking "...so that we can all get fitter, live longer and be an even bigger burden on the pensions system than we would otherwise be..." He then proceeded to demonstrate the alternative - to be a bigger burden on the health care system than one would otherwise be - by struggling to lift a leg high enough to get astride a small folding bike, let alone manage to ride it.

BBC Bristol's "Politics Show" crew in the shape of Dave Harvey, his cameraman and his "Politics Bus" were also in attendance to film the proceedings. However, the cycle path opening was just a side issue to the "Politics Show"'s main interest - a proposed new road linking the M4 round the south of Bristol to the M5. Dave Harvey interviewed Somer Valley Cycling Club President Peter Head, and SVCC member Liz Shoosmith at length on the subject; some 25 seconds of the interview with Peter subsequently got broadcast at Sunday lunchtime.

After the ceremony, officials and invited guests retired to the nearby Radstock Museum for tea and cakes.