IT IS surely a fundamental principle of good society that people should be at liberty to go about their lawful business as they please, but only to
the extent that they do not impinge upon the liberty of others to do likewise.
This weekend, Boris Johnson and his fellow cyclists, aided and abetted by Ealing councillors, have taken away that liberty from the residents of the streets commandeered for the Ealing Sky Ride. That is anti-social behaviour.
By their actions, they clearly consider themselves public masters rather than public servants, entitled and empowered to take whatsoever liberties they wish with residents at any time of their choosing.
Baron Boris and local government officials decided to go for a jolly cycle ride with their guests through the streets where we live, and so ordered the peasant residents to remove their vehicles to make way. No consideration whatsoever was given as to where hundreds upon hundreds of displaced cars could be located from 9pm on Saturday until 6pm on Sunday. Nor did organisers care a jot about the extreme inconvenience caused to residents.
Whatever the merits of cycling, this is a minority-interest group being awarded exclusive use of the streets where we live. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats had vowed to banish Labour's tendency to infringe upon civil liberties, so it is surprising that Boris should associate himself with Ealing's Labour dictators.
This is not NIMBY naysaying. Residents who parked in streets where it is permitted on only one side have lost the use of their vehicles on Sunday from 9am to 6pm while the roads are closed to traffic, as they are not allowed to drive out of the street.
Most who wanted to use their cars on Sunday could not find spaces in neighbouring streets because these already had large car populations, and had to park as much as a mile or more away from where they live.
Also, because it is a Sunday, the
parking situation is exacerbated by church traffic.
Anyone who had plans other than cycling, such as to buy soil and plants from a garden centre, cannot drive up to their house to unload.
The same goes for anyone doing DIY or supermarket shopping. And if the nearest parking space one can find is more than a mile away...
Owing to the breathtaking arrogance of Boris and Ealing councillors, affected residents were not consulted and were not given sufficient notice to have time to organise and consider their options.
For the future, are there any lawyers out there who can advise as to whether there is a possibility of obtaining Asbos and/or a court injunction against this kind of whimsical imposition by careless local government tyrants?
COLUM KEENAN via email
