Tufton Junction - the Public Meeting

Around twenty people attended the Tufton or Death meeting in the Gill Nethercott Centre, arranged by Whitchurch resident Mike Stead who is calling for the A34 / Nun's Walk junction at Tufton to be improved to ensure safety for all.

The Dangers
Mr Stead opened the meeting explaining the dangers, in particular for users of vehicles from Whitchurch turning right towards Tufton. These were also covered HERE.

If this van met someone cycling or driving from the other way
the results would be horrendous.

Throughout most of the evening Liveable Whitchurch's photo of a white van crossing the existing hatching was used as an example of the potentially lethal dangers that exist.

Difficulties
Hampshire County Councillor Tom Thacker explained that the junction had special difficulties as it was on a boundary of responsibilities between HCC and the Highways Agency, and also that in these days of austerity, funding was very limited. Despite local worries it seems it is listed number 73 out of 78 in order of concern for the Highways Agency. The Councillor described Mike as "very tenacious" - a credit to his commitment - but agreed over the junction's problems and was progressing various ideas including upgrading the footpath to improve access for pedestrians.

Suggestions
Some excellent ideas came out of the meeting including use of bollards/concrete barriers to narrow the road and force drivers to keep left, together with moving the road signs but again the issue of who was responsible was raised.
Quite why these public bodies cannot work easily together seems a question that needs resolving!
Meanwhile every day that passes when vehicles leaving the A34 don't keep to the left increases the risk of a head on collision.

Not all drivers keep to the left when leaving the A34,
putting those turning into Tufton at serious risk.

Cllr Thacker argued against the idea of redesign with a T-junction and Give Way signs at the end of the A34 slip road to slow traffic, despite Mike showing some good examples of where these existed and indeed worked. The Councillor claimed that 'putting in signs that people won't obey can sometimes be worse than doing nothing'. He added that police would not support changes where most people would ignore them as they would be unenforceable. Of course whether a T-junction would be ignored is highly questionable.
Some believe such logic is flawed. If the majority of people became shoplifters, would the law then turn a blind eye?
There are certainly junctions with slip roads and T-junctions that DO work, some quite close by such as the A303 Micheldever/Overton exit, as shown HERE on Google. There are many others.

It has been proposed this path at the Tufton junction
may become a cycle route.
Would you ride here with a 60mph traffic flow
coming towards you just inches to your left?

Cycle Route
Cllr Thacker also mentioned a possible shared use cycle route with a central white line back as far as the 40mph signs, but as many cyclists know these can cause more difficulties than they solve, so this will be followed with interest. Any such work should be of proper segregated provision rather than the usual UK poor relation to continental practice where cycle facilities are far more advanced. He also said was that he would not support any spending on a route that was for recreational cycling. That raised some eyebrows!

Horses
It was a positive meeting although it strayed at one point into a complaint about horses that regularly left their calling cards on the footpath at the junction!

Progress
It is excellent that Cllr Thacker said he will be progressing some of the ideas including upgrading the footpath on the Tufton side of the bridge and investigating the concrete kerb/bollard idea, but Mike Stead is also to be much thanked for raising this issue and encouraging the authorities to take notice of the real dangers that exist here.
Let's hope the junction is improved before anyone is killed or seriously injured.

Congratulations to Wiggo

Slightly off topic for a 'Liveable Whitchurch' blog but congratulations go to Bradley Wiggins for winning the 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award last night. Indeed we think there could only be one winner after his fantastic achievements in being the first Britain to win the Tour de France, then following it up with an Olympic Gold, but we do admit some bias.

Bradley Wiggins

Cycling has now truly been put on the Agenda and it is hoped the successes will lead to more investment for making our communities and our roads safer places for cyclists.

Wiggo attended a cycle-training session a few years back, run by Hampshire Cycle Training which was founded in Whitchurch eight years ago. He joined in riding with the children as they learned some of the skills to ride a bike safely. Maybe one day they will follow in his wheel tracks.

On related news it is great to learn that the Tour de France is to start in the UK in 2014 - many of us will remember when it came through Whitchurch in 1994 on only its second visit to these shores. In 2014 it is to start in Leeds with two Yorkshire stages before heading down to London for a third stage finish. Perhaps we should start growing those famous Wiggo sideburns!

Meanwhile Hampshire Cycle Training is still offering its free Dr Bike cycle safety checks to anyone in Whitchurch who is having Santa deliver a bicycle this Christmas. We also recommend North Hants Bikes in Church Street to purchase new bikes, spares and gifts for Christmas - a great bunch of guys.
See: FREE CYCLE CHECKS

Free Bicycle Checks in Whitchurch

FREE SAFETY CHECKS

All new bikes
should have safety checks.

Free Doctor Bike cycle checks are being offered to anyone in Whitchurch this Christmas by accredited national standard cycle trainers, Hampshire Cycle Training - with small donations to local charities encouraged in return. HCT is a non-profit organisation committed to the promotion of safe cycling.

This December nearly 80 children in north Hampshire have already received pre-road riding control skill training from HCT and many of these young people will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of new bicycles under the Christmas tree. Some of these may live in Whitchurch.

The wide beams and smiles will be a joyous occasion as paper is unwrapped and shiny new bicycles are acquainted with excited new owners.
"I want to ride now" will go out the enthusiastic cries.

Bikes need to be safe
The festive season is not the best time for warnings, but to all of Santa's helpers we stress that the bikes must be safe and assembled correctly before they are wrapped with paper and tinsel.

A good bike shop will have carried out a detailed safety check on the wheels, brakes, frame, gears and all the other bits and bobs that make up a bicycle. We highly recommend North Hants Bikes for new purchases.

Regretably every year some don't meet standards. These have usually come from a large chainstore/supermarket or through a mail order operation and can, if not put together correctly, be lethal. The cries of joy turn to shouts for help, or even worse as brakes fail, saddles slip or even handlebars come away while riding!
Yes these are all far too common and are regularly found after Christmas.

Some common problems
Examples include forks turned back to front causing steering to be difficult and feet to hit the front wheel. Brakes are often misaligned so they fail to stop the bike properly, and brake levers are not adjusted for small hands - there is often a special screw few know about. Handlebars are all too often not tightened correctly and can turn unexpectedly throwing the rider to the ground.

All these things can cause serious injury to the rider, but can be avoided.

For a FREE bike check just fill in the Contact Form at:
HAMPSHIRE CYCLE TRAINING

Limited number of checks available before and after Christmas - Whitchurch town area.

Tufton A34 junction - dangers in the spotlight

Cyclists regularly use the Nun's Walk junction at Tufton.

A local Whitchurch resident Mike Stead has commenced a campaign to have the junction of the A34 slip road and Nun's Walk at Tufton improved, and in particular has called for speed reductions and layout changes. This junction is particularly unsafe for anyone turning into Nun's Walk from Winchester Road, a popular route into the nearby countryside for both drivers and cyclists. The new Jubilee Cycle Route also passes through here.
Jubilee Cycle Route

PUBLIC MEETING
In an internet Blog named 'Tufton or Death', created by Mr Stead, he sets out the correspondence already undertaken with Councillors and highways engineers, both at the County Council and with the Highways Agency.
In addition he has called a public meeting, open to all, on 19th December at the Gill Nethercott Centre, to which he has invited representatives and officers from various public bodies - so it could be a lively meeting!
Anyone interested in seeing much needed improvements are urged to attend and to support Mike's excellent campaign.

Many drivers ignore the hatching to cut the corner.
Would the cyclist in the first picture above have survived?

SERIOUS RISK
Traffic leaving the A34 puts anyone turning into Nun's Walk at serious risk. There are reports of drivers ignoring the two way signage that could result in a fatal collision. Many drivers ignore and cross the hatching to cut the corner on the slip road leading to a potential head on crash.

 As with so many road safety issues in Hampshire it once again seems as if it is the victims who will suffer before any meaningful attempts are taken to reduce dangers.
In fact Mr Stead and his supporters state they have a:
"firmly held belief that someone - a spouse, child, partner - has to die at this clearly dangerous intersection before the Highways Authority will commit funds to any sort of review."

DfT proposals would allow lorries like this to travel faster.

FASTER LORRIES
Separately, the DfT are proposing that heavier vehicles (over 7.5 tonnes) will be able to use this road, and other single carriageway roads, at up to 25% higher speeds than at present. Unbelievable!
See:
Higher Lorry Speeds around Whitchurch!
County Councillor for Whitchurch, Tom Thacker, has yet to confirm whether he will be personally objecting to higher speeds.

CASUALTIES RISING
As already highlighted here, cycling KSIs (Killed and Seriously Injured) have been rising unacceptably in Hampshire. While it is pleasing to see all-mode overall figures reducing, these rises for cycling indicate that HCC's strategy on cycle safety is failing. Handing out hi-viz and selling bells and plastic head coverings do not address the prime causes - bad driving and bad highway design.

SUGGESTIONS
Several ideas have already been suggested from more hatching on the slip road and physical barriers, to creating a 'T' junction or roundabout at the end of Nun's Walk. There are no doubt many others too.

There may also be suggestions for a shared path/cycle route from Tufton to Whitchurch. Unfortunately shared paths are often poor substitutes to proper segregated facilities and are rarely successful; often increasing conflict situations and dangers. Given the importance of safety for all it is hoped that any 'improvements' for cycle routes do not simply result in a few blue signs on a gravel path. A well designed junction should also incorporate properly designed cycling facilities, otherwise it would remain, as it is now, unfit for purpose.

Please support Mike's campaign to get this junction changed before anyone is killed.

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

Why are so many killed or injured?

HAVE ROAD SAFETY POLICIES COLLAPSED?

Casualty figures on our Hampshire roads seem to have soared according to a summary taken from recent figures, so what has gone wrong?
From 2005 to 2011 pedestrian KSI (Killed and seriously injured) have rocketed from 66 to 119.
For cyclists the figure  up from 54 to 90.

Yet at the same time the KSI for car occupants has remained stable, in fact it has even fallen slightly from 300 to 287.
Overall the total has risen from 613 pa to 764 pa over the six years, a 25% increase, coming from the most vulnerable groups.

It is these who are suffering the most - those who should be encouraged, those who follow healthy travel, reduce congestion and are least drain and cost to the environment and to society.

This needs to halt.

__________________________________________

Following the above, Cllr Tom Thacker has provided the following.


Here is HCC's detailed response to the figures you asked about:


Back in March 2000, the Government published Tomorrow's Roads - Safer for Everyone its road safety strategy and national casualty reduction targets for 2010. By 2010, the government wanted to achieve, compared with the average for baseline 1994-98, a:

* 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents;
* 50% reduction in the number of children (under 16 years) killed or seriously injured

In Hampshire we achieved a 40% fall in total KSI's, and a 52% fall in child KSIs over the ten year reporting period.

In 2011 the Department of Transport's new Strategic Road Safety Framework set out national principles for road safety. Whilst this document did not prescribe casualty reduction targets either nationally or locally, it directed Highway Authorities, such as Hampshire, to set their own casualty reduction targets. Accordingly, Hampshire County Council's Local Transport Plan 2011-2031, which was formally approved at a full County Council meeting on 24 February 2011, sets our casualty reduction targets as follows:

· To reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) in road traffic accidents on Hampshire's roads by 20% from the 2004 to 2008 average by 2020.

· To reduce the number of children killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents on Hampshire's roads by 20% from the 2004 to 2008 average by 2020.

There is an Interim target to achieve 50% of the targeted reduction by 2015.

The Road Safety Team continues to work towards reducing casualty figures and meeting our targets as outlined above. The Road Safety Team also continues to deliver and develop road safety education, training and publicity initiatives to raise awareness about road safety and the actions people can take to help keep themselves safe.
Road safety education campaigns include Be Bright, be seen, pedestrian training for children and Bikeability cycle training for young people.

Whilst we have no specific casualty reduction targets for pedestrians and pedal cyclist, we undertake comprehensive analysis of accident data and produce detailed statistics of sites, routes and areas. This information is used to identify locations where treatable accident trends and patterns exist, which can addressed through casualty reduction measures. As part of this process, we pay particular attention to collisions involving all vulnerable road users including pedal cyclists and pedestrians

However, our studies have shown that the distribution of the majority of accidents involving pedestrians and pedal cyclists across our road network are randomly located, without forming any significant cluster sites. The exception to this is a handful of sites, two in Gosport, one in Eastleigh and another in New Milton. Although we are looking at potential safety led improvements at these locations, we have recently made an expression of interest for these four sites to the Government (in response to The Times cycling campaign). as part of their capital support for safety improvements at junctions identified as having a record of cyclists being Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI).

The following table summaries the yearly casualty figures for all casualties and those involving pedestrian and pedal cyclists which have occurred on Hampshire road network that the County Council is responsible for. This excludes the Motorway and Trunk road network.

All casualties                                                                
       2004   2005    2006    2007    2008    2009    2010    2011  
All Severities  4417    4295    4075    4127    3526    3396    3422    3542  
KSI severities  558     531     553     632     516     569     561     669   

Pedal cyclists                                                                
       2004    2005    2006    2007    2008    2009    2010    2011  
All Severities  416     413     395     399     361     368     380     450   
KSI severities  55      59      48      75      71      89      75      105   

Pedestrians                                                                   
       2004    2005    2006    2007    2008    2009    2010    2011  
All Severities  437     387     361     393     312     298     306     355   
KSI severities  86      62      88      84      71      86      78      116   

The figures in the table indicates that the between 2004 and 2010, both pedal cyclist and pedestrian KSI's have remained relatively stable. The numbers are relatively small and subject to random fluctuation from year to year. Over the last few years the total number fatal accidents has remained consistent, accounting for one per cent of the total number of all casualties. In 2011 we experienced a sharp rise in serious severity injuries compared with previous year records. The greatest increases were recorded in pedestrian, cyclists and motorcyclists road users groups.

The overall situation in Hampshire for 2011 broadly reflects the National picture. A range of factors may have contributed to this which has significantly effected the 2011 statistics. These include the economic downturn leading to a reduction in the amount of travel, fuel prices influencing car usage which in turn may have increased pedestrian and pedal cycle activity. Additionally it is recognised on a National level that the adverse weather (heavy snow falls) experienced in the first and last quarters of 2010 but not in 2011 are likely to be a factor in the increase in serious road casualties and fatalities recorded in 2011. It is important to note that year to year changes do not always show reductions, particularly when relatively small numbers are involved. It is the longer term changes which are most important.

We are, of course, approaching the end of the current year and we anxiously await to see whether 2012 is an improving situation. Please be assured that the County Council, in line with its statutory responsibility continues to undertake studies into road accidents and to take steps to reduce and prevent accidents through education, training and publicity campaigns. We will continue to work to help make Hampshire safer and more secure for all.


The final paragraph should reassure you that we take this very seriously. I await the 2012 figures with great interest.

Regards

Tom T


Tom Thacker
Hampshire County Councillor, Whitchurch and Clere Division
E-mail:  tom.thacker@hants.gov.uk

New cycling website for Whitchurch

With the growth in interest in cycling for utility, leisure and health, Whitchurch now has a dedicated cycling website with the launch of CYCLE WHITCHURCH

The site is aimed at promoting both the wonderful countryside of the area, as well as the advantages of using cycles for short journeys, such as popping down to the shops or cycling to school.

It also includes the Jubilee 2012 Cycle Route, devised as an easy 25-mile circuit that anyone can ride, and which uses a combination of quiet lanes and off road cycle-routes. This passes both through Whitchurch and Andover, where it uses part of the National Cycle Route No.246, launched last year by the transport charity Sustrans.

Coming soon - participants will be able to visit Jubilee related landmarks along the route and obtain a Certificate in recognition of their ride.
Plans are in hand to look at signing too, which will put Whitchurch truly on the Map.

Whitchurch is an ideal location for cycling, with all local facilities within a short trip. With quiet countryside with river valleys and downland on its doorstep it is also a perfect base for leisure riding.
The site also includes links to places where further information is available.

The website can be seen here: CYCLE WHITCHURCH

In the Beginning...

WHY LIVEABLE WHITCHURCH?

The idea bubbled up while attending a talk by Danish urban cycling advocate Mikael Colville-Andersen from Copenhagen when he was giving a presentation on increasing cycling levels - it was entitled Bicycle Culture by Design.

Make your towns "liveable" for all and everyone will benefit - pedestrians, drivers, mums with buggies, shoppers, children going to school and yes, those who want to ride a bike. That word struck a chord, and although used elsewhere it could also be applicable to Whitchurch.
So on that wet October evening in Chelsea Old Town Hall, while enjoying Danish nibbles and hospitality, Liveable Whitchurch became a seed to be sown.

So what can make a community more 'liveable'? It seems the biggest block so often cited is 'fear of traffic', yet traffic has a rightful place in our society. But traffic also frightens people from walking, cycling, letting their children out to play, or crossing the road to visit friends.

This blog will focus on related issues; why cycling and walking is presently a poor relation, why facilities are under-provided, what could be improved and how in creating a 'liveable town' we can all benefit, whether driving to work, cycling to the shops, or walking to school.

Expect some tangential thinking too, maybe some sideswipes - like a wheel on a bicycle, revolving and throwing out its personal thoughts about the journey it travels along.