Civic duty
My civic duty score is
increasing.
Last night I attended a Council Meeting on the subject of the Jim Clark
Rally through our town. Clark was the local boy made good in car
rallying and Formula 1 racing cars. Every year, there is a motor rally
based in Duns. Quite unique as local roads get shut off for normal
traffic to let the big beasties have a run at speeds up to 145 miles
per hour. No 60 mph limit those days.
This years held a few weeks back broke new ground in having one section
run through the middle of the town. Residents and visitors were
strictly marshalled as to where and when they might be about in the
hour or so prior to the start of the stage. I put my 'even Hitler
didn't get to tell me what to do in my own home' hat on and felt
pretty negative about the whole thing. In the event, my stroppiness was
noticed and I was treated very well and properly.
One concern that did stay was safety. I live in the Market Square and
the course came into the Square and then made a 90 degree right turn to
go down a street leading off the Square. The Big Boys in the
International class came up to this corner at about 100 mph and drifted
sideways into the turn. A crowd of about 200 gathered on the outside of
the bend and, whilst there were straw bales in position, the bales were
not secured. A car hitting them would not be slowed but would merely
slide on with the straw as a battering ram. Three cars that I saw did
have difficult negotiating the corner but were brought under control
without too much damage and no injury. Somewhat proved my concern for
potential tragedy.
I wanted to comment and chose to go to the Council meeting. I was one
of about 50 mostly middle aged men and women. I had expected it would
be mainly boy racers with a sprinkling of coffin dodgers attending out
of boredom with life indoors. The majority of attendees had notebooks
and recorded the to and fro of the debate. Some had drafted what they
wanted to say. I got to make my observation without it being seen as a
complaint and had a full and constructive answer.
I was encouraged by what transpired. I'll do it again (so long as it
does not qualify me as a 'coffin dodger attending out of boredom').
Just another sign of how we seem to have a very good community spirit
up here.
