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.