Headington Forum (Summer 2000)

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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4

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'Size Doesn't Matter'
a story by Roland Newman

Wilbur looked round at the mass of excited controllers at the Space Centre - beings from another planet were about to land on earth! He looked out at the landing field - an immense area of grassland in front of the Centre and spoke into his microphone. "Mishan, we have your ship on our screen - all O.K.?". "Yes, Wilbur, all OK" came back Mishan's voice, well known for they had been speaking to each other for over a year, since the alien space craft had first made contact with earth. "Can you see the landing area?" "Yes, we are preparing to touch down." replied Mishan. Wilbur saw on his screen the radar trace of the alien ship approaching - there was a splutter of static and then Mishan's voice announced triumphantly, "We have landed." Wilbur looked out at the landing area, but could see nothing, though his screen confirmed that the ship had landed. Puzzled, he asked Mishan. "We can't see you - what can you see out of your spaceports?" "Its strange," replied Mishan, "we are surrounded by a mass of green spiky jungle stretching up above our heads  - we are now leaving our ship." Wilbur trained his binoculars on the position his screen showed as the landing point. He saw a small cloud of tiny flies rise from  the spot.
He slowly realised size doesn't matter!   

Editorial Comment

It does seem to appear that the countryside based road lobby is determined that local  authorities do not tackle the urban traffic problems that suburbs like Headington face every day. Whilst other counties seem to tackle traffic congestion and pollution, it appears that the local authorities are holding back in implementing the wishes of local people in order to avoid being branded anti-car. This may explain the lack of political leadership for residents proposals for such sensible schemes as the installation of traffic lights at Green Rd roundabout and construction of a new direct road link between the JR Hospital and the Northern bye-pass. I just wish local authorities would think about our quality of life first rather than the views of countryside based lobby groups.