Roadworks conveniently speed up

The new Kings Cross Library is due to open today. Those who have been given a tour say it's pretty impressive It's certainly one good thing to come out of the turmoil, neglect and backflips of two council administrations over the past few years.

However it does little to relieve the pain of the extended roadworks being suffered by local residents, and particulaly main street businesses. Despite repeated calls and half-promises for the delayed works to be accelerated, nothing substantial has happened -- until, that is, Council wanted the street tarted up for the Library opening today.

Suddenly, it seemed, someone found the will and the money to pay for extended hours of work over the weekend -- teams were racing all weekend to complete the street parking bays outside the council building, and work powered ahead on the building itself. One could see the pavement works growing metre by metre before one's eyes yesterday, Sunday.

Where there's a will, there's a way, it seems. Unfortunately the great progress over this weekend just goes to show what's possible -- and that only council's priorities matter while the rest of us can go jump.

It also goes to show that the realpolitik hardheads at council understand that while Kings Cross may jump and shout, they can afford to ignore us because beyond shouting and pleading we are not really a serious problem within their ivory tower. The only way to influence council, it seems, is by more direct action.

Any ideas? A rates strike would be the most effective, to teach these arrogant apparatchiks that they work for us, not the other way around. But most people would be too timid. Wouldn't they? What about a class action from main street businesses? Yesterday is proof that council could have finished the works much earlier if they cared a fig. Any takers?