Faster Lorries around Whitchurch

Whitchurch already suffers large lorries.
They may soon be travelling faster over the country roads.

Updated
While our town of Whitchurch already suffers lorries driving on pavements, blocking bus stops and violating parking restrictions, we may soon have them driving faster along the B3400 including towards Overton and to Andover, adding further to existing dangers.

Faster Lorries
In an incredible move when casualties are increasing, and the more vulnerable are being scared off our roads,  the DfT (Department for Transport) has put forward proposals to allow larger lorries to drive faster on single carriageway roads. Presently those over 7.5 tonnes are restricted to 40mph but this may rise to 45 or 50mph.

Driving faster will, according to the freight operators, help stimulate economic growth, reduce fuel costs and lower congestion. They even claim there will be fewer collisions as lorries would not be overtaking so much!
Meanwhile the DfT say that 70% of HGVs already travel above 40mph. It is said that this is an unfair advantage to those that are restricted so we may have to suffer the bigger lorries going faster than ever on the roads in and out of Whitchurch.  
So they are proposing to allow them to go faster!
OUR ROADS WILL BE MORE DANGEROUS

ROTTEN HILL - the road to Overton!
Incredibly this includes the already recognised danger spot of Rotten Hill between Whitchurch and Overton. In a recent study this stretch of road was claimed to have the third highest collision rate in Hampshire and was highest within Basingstoke and Deane area. It has been reported that over the last five years it has seen 13 collisions, including five that were fatal or with serious injury. And now there are proposals to allow larger lorries to travel at possibly 25% faster!

The proposals are out for consultation and need to be resisted.
Will our Town, Borough and County Councillors fight these proposals?

Let them know:

Member of Parliament
Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt MP: sirgeorge@sirgeorgeyoung.org.uk

County Councillor
Tom Thacker: tom.thacker@hants.gov.uk

Borough Councillors
Keith Watts: cllr.keith.watts@basingstoke.gov.uk
Eric Dunlop: cllr.eric.dunlop@basingstoke.gov.uk

Town Councillors
Clerk to the Council: whitchurchtowncouncil@whitchurch.hants.gov.uk

CONSULTATION