M4 Protest - has it been successful?

M4 Protest - has it been successful?

Author
Discussion

maxrider

Original Poster:

2,481 posts

237 months

Thursday 9th June 2005
quotequote all
Just wondered, not heard the outcome of this lately as it was several weeks ago. So was it successful or have the 'authorities' done their usual trick of oppressing the masses in spite of their disquiet.

Are there now no scameravans on the M4 or, as I suspect, we really do live in a dictatorship where the views of the majority count for f:censored:k all and peaceful protest does nothing? (in fact these days I wouldn't be surprised if it saw normal citizens locked up for daring to stand up to our rulers... sorry, 'politicians' :mad:)

princeperch

7,931 posts

248 months

Thursday 9th June 2005
quotequote all
Yes, I would say it was a success. It raised the profile of what we believe is right and just and touch wood, I havnt seen any scam vans on that part when ive been on the m4.

What is needed now is to continue the fight and branch out to other bits of major roads affected. Im certainly up for this, and attitudes on PH and other sites have indicated many others are too...

maxrider

Original Poster:

2,481 posts

237 months

Thursday 9th June 2005
quotequote all
Glad to hear it, maybe all is not lost yet then. Surely 30 odd million should be a powerful enough force if we can just get the crap together?

deeps

5,393 posts

242 months

Thursday 9th June 2005
quotequote all
I've travelled that section of the M4 every day this week and havn't seen any scam vans parked on bridges at all. Apart from all the road works, the average speeds seem to be back nearer a normal 80-85ish too.

I think the scammers quickly realised that their actions on the M4 were going to bring much bad publicity on them, especially with the cluster of accidents happening as they started scamming there.

rs1952

5,247 posts

260 months

Wednesday 15th June 2005
quotequote all
Evening all …

Sorry about the silence from me for some time – I’ve been getting on with the day job!!

I have not seen a camera van on the M4 since the time of our protest, and neither has anybody else reported to me having seeing one. My personal view is that the local politicians were probably a bit surprised by the level of support and media attention that we got and that “quiet words” have been had with the partnership to keep a low profile, at least for the time being.

In fact, last Sunday evening I saw a traffic car on the motorway near Swindon, actually on patrol (rather than waving an ANPR unit!!), the first time I’ve seen that for quite some time.

Putting the police back on patrol, and scrapping the speed cameras was, of course, one of the major issues of the campaign.

Not, of course, that the camera partnership would admit to any of this, of course!!

However, one of my correspondents has recently tried to find out how many people have been issued with FPNs since the partnership announced their figures at the end of the first week, AND THEY WON’T GIVE HIM THE INFORMATION!!!!!! If they had any good publicity to issue, you may rest assured that they would be issuing it !!

I have also had a very interesting e-mail forwarded to me from a Philip James, that came from the partnership in answer to some of his questions. I shall post its contents on Pistonheads, together with some comments, later on this week.

I shall finish by saying that I still feel more momentum can be gained if other people organise similar protests in other parts of the country. If anybody wants to do so, and wants some advice from me on how to do it, then please get in touch. I do have to add, though, that if I organise any more protests it would be easy for the media to label me as “just one loudmouth” – it is important that future protests are organised by others.

TripleS

4,294 posts

243 months

Wednesday 15th June 2005
quotequote all
Hi Robin, nice to hear from you again.

I hope you are right and that the event on 30 April has had some effect in our favour.

Other PHers have recently expressed an eagerness to see further protests in other parts of the country, and I feel the same.

I would be happy to assist an organising group for such events, so who else would be minded to join in?

Best wishes all,
Dave.

princeperch

7,931 posts

248 months

Thursday 16th June 2005
quotequote all
count me in ...

apache

39,731 posts

285 months

Thursday 16th June 2005
quotequote all
ditto

TripleS

4,294 posts

243 months

Thursday 16th June 2005
quotequote all
OK thanks for that - so now we are three!

I'm sure there were several others around a few weeks ago, so where are they now?

Anyhow do let us try to do something meaningful.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

timtonal

2,049 posts

234 months

Thursday 16th June 2005
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I'd be up for drive somewhere!

Couldn't make the last one

puggit

48,476 posts

249 months

Thursday 16th June 2005
quotequote all
I'm in

And Deltaf will join in if it's 5 minutes from home in the West Midlands

winnebago nut

168 posts

259 months

Thursday 16th June 2005
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I saw a traffic cop using a laser today, just after junction 15 westbound at about 13.00 hours. Atb Derek.

rs1952

5,247 posts

260 months

Thursday 16th June 2005
quotequote all
When plod wave hair dryers on the Wiltshire section of the M4, they are generally ANPR devices, not cameras.

SpudGunner

472 posts

260 months

Thursday 16th June 2005
quotequote all
I loved the last one, so will definitely be up for a drive...

tim.tonal

2,049 posts

234 months

Thursday 16th June 2005
quotequote all
How about a nice scenic landscaped stretch of motorway up north?

You know, the one where people fall asleep or knock pedestrians over?

winnebago nut

168 posts

259 months

Friday 17th June 2005
quotequote all
rs1952 said:
When plod wave hair dryers on the Wiltshire section of the M4, they are generally ANPR devices, not cameras.


Sorry mate, This was a laser, Had a scope on top. Atb Derek