Tranquil Nun's Walk to become a Rat run?

MILL SPRINGS WHITCHURCH – Effect on Countryside access

The tranquil single track Nun’s Walk country lane is one of the most popular routes for cyclists who as individuals, families and groups use it to access the lovely countryside and the valley of the River Test south west of Whitchurch.
It is at threat of being overrun with motor vehicles, increasing danger for all, and destroying the tranquility of a beautiful area of our countryside.

Nun’s Walk – a narrow, pleasant green lane

The narrow rural lane is a direct access to Sustrans National Cycle Route NCN246, was part of the Jubilee Cycle Trail introduced this year and is regularly used by both cycle events and cycling groups to visit the town bringing trade and custom.

It is also a popular walking link to local footpaths joining with the Test Way and towards Longparish and used by local farm vehicles.

The new cycle route to Nun’s Walk

Safe access under threat
The importance of this single track road was recognised by this year’s welcome construction of a new cycle path link by Hampshire County Council to make access safer for walking and cycling between Whitchurch and the River Test and surrounding area.

Improvements were also made to ease access through the dangerous A34 slip roads. was that superfluous? The safety implications at the Tufton junction are now very concerning as many more vehicles will be turning into Nun’s Walk towards Tufton/Hurstbourne Priors/Longparish. The potential for serious collisions has multiplied massively.

200+ houses
Yet that safety is now under serious threat of being compromised by a proposal to build a further 200+ houses and associated facilities at Mill Springs on the southern edge of Whitchurch, right where that new cycle route starts.

A Dangerous Rat Run
Approval of this application would encourage Nun’s Walk and Tufton to become a drivers’ rat run through to Andover and the B3400.

It would become the shortest route and reduce the distance by nearly a mile as Mill Springs homeowners will be seeking avoid the already heavily congested and restricted Whitchurch town centre.

There are no plans in the application deal with the traffic generation on this narrow rural lane.

• To the motorist using Nun’s Walk would be a no-brainer – shorter, cheaper on fuel, faster, with no school runs, HGVs, refuse collections, supermarket lorries or buses to contend with. And it misses the notorious Micheldever Road junction and the clogged roundabout.
  
  
• To those cycling, walking, riding horses or who live and work in the countryside, it will mean suffering increased danger, pollution, speeding drivers, noise and road damage.

Single track lane

Increased traffic
In addition, a new medical facility is also proposed on the land which will also encourage use of Nun’s Walk from the surrounding areas, further increasing pressure on this narrow green lane. Meanwhile villages such as Longparish are also likely to affected as drivers use it as a shortcut to access the A303 to avoid the Bullington interchange.

Local Council representations
Longparish and Hurstbourne views:
It is notable and pleasing that both Longparish and Hurstbourne Priors Parish Councils have lodged official objections both citing the effect the detrimental proposals would have on Nun’s Walk.
Whitchurch views:
Whitchurch Town Council‘s Development Committee took a decision not to object although it is not a preferred site in the local Neighbourhood Plan. This Plan which was adopted by a 93% in favour Referendum also supports ‘Access to the River Test’ which Nun’s Walk provides so this view is bewildering.

However there is still the opportunity to raise these issues with the planners as the ultimate decisions are made by Basingstoke and Deane.

Do we want Nun’s Walk and this access to the Test to be overrun by traffic?

PLEASE OBJECT
The application (ref: 22/03219/FUL) can be seen here and comments should be registered with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council:


https://planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=RM5MFRCR0AQ00&activeTab=summary

Next stage
The planning application now rests with Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council.
This proposal in its current form will adversely affect the safety, enjoyment and biodiversity of a large area of beautiful sensitive Hampshire countryside.
Let them know how you feel and let’s hope they make the right decision – and reject this application.

The River Test, off Nun’s Walk

The Cake Stop lives on

It is a rare person who goes for a bicycle ride and does not also want some tea, coffee and cake. From the turn of the first ever bicycle pedals cake has been as essential as air in the tyres.

Whether your choice is a Victoria sponge, a flapjack, or a slab of bread pudding, a stop for a cake and a good natter can be the highlight of the day.

As more discover the health, environmental, and cost benefits of the bicycle more are exploring the countryside and seek out the cycle friendly cafés who cater for the needs of the wheeler.

That need for a café stop continues
Today, the large ‘club runs’, once a tradition of the cycling club world who shared enormous pots of tea, are less prevalent. Such traditional club runs still exist but with changes in lifestyles, road conditions and other commitments, groups tend to be smaller. However, that essential base requirement remains – cake although espressos and americanos have become more popular. The cyclists’ café stop lives on.

The very best cafés have always tended to be some of the cycling world’s best kept secrets shared by word of mouth, but with web/app access they are becoming more well-known.

In Whitchurch…

There is an excellent reference resource created by cyclists which lists recommended cafés including a map. Whitchurch has two entries – The Silk Mill and Kudos.

The Silk Mill is very popular with groups, has bicycle racks, a friendly policy towards bringing bikes into the grounds, and is a cyclist Refill Station. Kudos, in the town centre is an independent coffee shop serving quality coffees and cakes and is very popular with smaller groups.
Whitchurch also has three pubs in the centre and convenience stores that can also provide refreshments.

The Cycle Coffee & Cake Stops Map can be seen here:
https://cafes.cyclingmaps.net

Value of Town Centre Cycle Parking

  Whitchurch Town Council removed the ‘new’ town centre cycle parking earlier this year as it was deemed to restrict access to some businesses – amongst the reasons it was claimed that it prevented them using the pavements to park on for loading/unloading.

The result is as expected – those visiting town by cycle are again using shop windows, bollards, street signs and drainpipes to lean their cycles against.
This can justifiably upset some people.

Survey
The Town Council ran a survey to seek where parking was required with a number of respondees wanting parking in the town centre close to where they were visiting. However Councillors decided cycle parking should go elsewhere with the racks being moved to locations away from the town centre – in locations totally useless for using the shops or businesses.

But cycling is good for trade
There are numerous studies that have shown provision of such facilities increases trade and they have made themselves into planning policies including those adopted by National Government, County and Borough Councils. Unfortunately Whitchurch lags behind and the town centre with its car congested roads along with pavement parking is seen by some as making it unattractive to visit.
See:
PARKING VALUE and ECONOMICS

Missing the point
Some believe that painting some of the buildings, or smartening the town street furniture with black and gold paint will revitalise the centre into a tourist hotspot. These are in themselves admirable aims but they will not address one of the main underlying blights – that too many unnecessary motor journeys clog the town with motor traffic, increase dangers, raise air pollution, damage the infrastructure and create an unpleasant experience.
At least giving some support to other means of travel would help as has been proven in other localities.

Meanwhile the Urban Cycling group has produced the following image.
It seems to be very pertinent to the situation in Whitchurch in order to support trade and business owners.

20-Minute Neighbourhoods and Whitchurch

Whitchurch is under immense pressure from developers keen to build houses, houses, houses. The town has a Neighbourhood Plan Group that is actively and rightly challenging the government’s numbers but there is one issue that also needs progression – the physical design and layouts of developments and how they cater for and affect local areas and their residents. That becomes a national planning subject.

Developers lining up
In Whitchurch developers are lining up for building at Mill Springs, Bere Hill, Hillside/The Gables and north of the Railway. And that is before the estates at Evingar Road and Owlsa Park/Watership Place are anywhere near completion. Developers have one aim of making money which too often means local needs are pushed down their priorities and they build what they say is popular, rather than what is best for a local community.

Catalogues for profits
Thus developments are to formulaic catalogue style layouts that fail to address the biggest issues over infrastructure, local services, travel needs and liveability. Profits for developers, landowners and shareholders come first above whether Adie can reach a chemist or Jim can get to school.

Come in the 20minute Neighbourhood – PEOPLE FIRST

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) describes them as:

“…a model of urban development that creates neighbourhoods where daily services can be accessed within a 20 minute walk. The aim of such neighbourhoods is to regenerate urban centres, enhance social cohesion, improving health outcomes and support the move towards carbon net-zero targets through reducing unsustainable travel.”

Complying with such planning principles should be part of all developments. Sustrans, the national sustainable travel charity makes an excellent assessment of the 20-minute Neighbourhood stating that the minimum features should revolve around three main areas:


Destination and services

• Food retailers and supermarkets
• Education, including early years, primary school and nearby secondary schools
• Health services, such as a pharmacy, GP and dentist
• Financial services, such as post office or bank
• Employment and jobs either within the neighbourhood or nearby
• Public open space, such as parks and recreation grounds
• Entertainment, such as leisure, culture and entertainment facilities.

Transport provision

• Public transport, including access to a regular bus, tram or train service
• Walking and cycling infrastructure
• Walkable access to a local centre
• Designed for low speeds, reduced traffic, and limited car parking.

Inclusivity

• A mix of diverse housing types to suit different life-stages
• Genuinely affordable and social housing present.

PLANNERS SHOULD ADOPT SUCH PRINCIPLES FOR WHITCHURCH
Not to do so could lead to the rural town being an anonymous characterless suburbia, dominated by traffic and a lack of local services.
PEOPLE SHOULD COME FIRST

Sustrans:
SUSTRANS – 20-minute Neighbourhoods

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Update

 

Just a very brief update:
As with all plans and consultations this is no different – it takes a long long time. These are being produced throughout the area and the Basingstoke and Deane plan is towards the end of the programme.

These LCWIPs,
Set out a recommended approach to planning networks of walking zones and cycling routes that connect places that people want to get to, whether for work, education, shopping or for other reasons.

The latest batch of six have just been released for Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, New Forest District (Waterside) and Test Valley Borough (South) and early feedback from other campaign groups is that they seem to have addressed some of the issues raised in the consultations, but ignored others.

That’s the way consultations go, and we await both the Basingstoke Plan which covers Whitchurch, and the adjacent Test Valley (North) Plan with much anticipation.
It is expected that comments at that time will be requested.

Full details of all the LCWIPs are here:
TRANSPORT STRATEGIES

Transport Survey 2022

 

The Hampshire Countryside Service is calling for participation in the National Transport and Highways Survey 2022 and in particular the section relating Public Rights of Way for Walking and Cycling.

They say:
“There are eight short independent surveys in total – the Countryside Service would really like to hear your views on the Walking and Cycling survey as it includes questions regarding the quality and maintenance of Public Rights of Way and their importance.”

Councils across the UK are asking residents to tell them what they think of highways and transport services in their area. The results will help the County Council measure its performance and identify areas for improvement.

Cycle Whitchurch supports completion of this Survey also encourages the other sections should be completed if time permits, although it should only take a few minutes.

The Survey can be found here:
National Transport and Highways Survey 2022

E-Bike Charging Points for Whitchurch?

Whitchurch has been asked to consider electric charging points for cycles due to the increase in cyclists visiting the area.

E-bike growth
The growth of electric cycle or e-bike use is an exciting development in the world of sustainable travel where climate change is such a concern. The sales of electric cycles* has dramatically increased over recent years as more people see their advantages, ranging from leisure and utility uses to economic and health benefits.

Whether for a trip into town, a ride to work or exploring our local bridleways and countryside, they can open up a world of independence and fun, while being ‘green’ and supporting the environment. They can support people with mobility/strength problems, assist the elderly to obtain exercise, help office workers arrive fresh and unsweaty, and get you up that hill to the station!

Electric bikes have certainly arrived and they are here to stay.

Electric cycles now outsell cars globally and in China there are even now more e-bikes than cars on the roads. In Europe Germany is leading the way, while in the UK the market is growing by the day. Neither do you have to buy a full bike as there are now many e-bike kits you can fit to an existing bike.

Supporting the e-bike
Meanwhile vast sums are spent by Councils and public bodies for the motorist, so what infrastructure and support can be provided for this expanding and much more environmentally friendly mode of transport?

Charging options
Most e-bikes are charged at home, but many businesses such as cafés will also allow users to quickly top up batteries in just as they allow laptop use or phone charging. Of course buying a coffee and cake while waiting brings trade to the business too.

There are other options too.
One company that has looked at electric charging points is Bosch who in 2018 introduced a ‘PowerStations’ network in certain tourist areas. These consist of secured indoor lockers where batteries could be left to charge.

Others have followed suit with more easily accessible outdoor e-bike charging stations often being installed as part of cycle parking facilities and sometimes linked with repair stands incorporating pumps and sometimes basic tools. However these need to be visible and accessible such as in shopping areas or outside public buildings. If they are hidden away as afterthoughts or located in car parks or service areas they won’t be used.

Will Whitchurch recognise the benefits of supporting the e-bike, its users, and the environmental and economic benefits?
We shall see.

* note that ‘electric cycles’ or ‘e-bikes’ here refers to the legal ones for use in the UK which are pedal assist where the power is only of assistance when the cycle is being actively pedalled and also where the power is shut off at 15.5mph. Other countries have different regulations.

There is a mass of excellent information and advice here:
https://www.cyclinguk.org/cycling-advice/type-cycling/e-bikes

Barrier Audit continues

 

The national audit of restrictions on cycle routes continues apace with travel focussed charity Sustrans undertaking the exercise on all the National Cycle Network (NCN).

Members of Cycle Whitchurch are helping in carrying this out where Route NCN246 passes through Andover.
NCN246 also runs close to Whitchurch and links to it are promoted such as its inclusion in year’s Whitchurch Jubilee Cycle Trail which connects in both at St Mary Bourne and also near Chilbolton.

Users of NCN246 also often call into Whitchurch to collect supplies or to enjoy a coffee and cake at the cafés bringing trade to the town. The Silk Mill and Kudos are particularly popular.

Access denied to many
The presence of restrictive access controls and barriers means that users of many adaptive bikes, mobility scooters, wheelchairs, buggies and other non-standard equipment are currently unable to use significant sections of the National Cycle Network.

Barriers are not acceptable
Barriers on cycle routes are no longer considered acceptable particularly when they are of the chicane type as was on the Whitchurch Mill Springs path.
This poor design had been raised with Whitchurch Town Council nearly two years ago but the problems were eventually addressed after a resident took up the cause directly with the developer. however, while there has been some limited improvement, the barriers remain.
Meanwhile local cyclists have been hoping this path and the newly shared use route out to Tufton may become part of a feeder to NCN246.

128 barriers have been removed
Nearly two thirds of the traffic-free miles in the south of England have now been audited by volunteers of the Sustrans charity, providing high quality information. 
128 of the restrictive barriers have been removed as the exercise gathers momentum and understanding grows over the importance of complying with current legislation and design requirements.
There is still a long way to go as has been experienced locally, but Sustrans and its volunteers are helping speed the process up.

————

Note:
“Sustrans is the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. We connect people and places, create liveable neighbourhoods, transform the school run and deliver a happier, healthier commute.”
Join the journey. http://www.sustrans.org.uk/

Safer Primary School Access for cycling and walking

 

NEWS: Safer Primary School Access for cycling and walking

Work has commenced this week (w/c 25 July 2022) to improve safety for walking and cycling to the Primary School in Whitchurch. It has been scheduled to take place in school holidays.
The area of Alliston Way is notorious for drivers mounting and driving along pavements, and parking on corners and footways, particularly during the school run. This has increased dangers to all and has also resulted in casualties.

Safer for all
The scheme, one of the Whitchurch Accessibility Projects, is designed to make the area safer for all. It is being managed by Hampshire County Council with the support from Basingstoke & Deane and Whitchurch Town Councils.
Funds are primarily from developers’ contributions.

The path alongside Alliston Way and the Play Area is being widened to become ‘Shared Use’ and users are to be given protection from drivers by the use of dragons teeth ‘bollards’ along the kerbside.
A pull-in is also being provided to assist with the difficult sightlines that drivers have to deal with.

New school access
The verge alongside McFauld Way is also to be made into a shared use path, with a raised ‘cushion’ across the entrance to Sheppard Close. This is to provide a road surface level with the path for all who have pushchairs, mobility buggies, wheelchairs, scooters and cycles. There will also be tactile paving.
Pedestrian/cycle access to the school is to be around the rear of the existing garage court to avoid the daily foot/vehicle conflicts in McFauld Way.

Other changes include a better turning within McFauld Way particularly for larger vehicles visiting the school, while there will also be two additional parking spaces.

An earlier report shows the traffic problems in the area. It has taken 7 years for action – but at last something is taking place.
See: A HORRIFIC 20 MINUTES

This pavement driving MUST not be allowed to happen again

Whitchurch on the Map – after 10 years

 

Ten years after a special cycle ride one of the main suggestions has come to fruition.

A new cycle route
The new cycle/foot path linking Whitchurch to Tufton and the Test valley countryside is now open. It followed years of lobbying that started with a special cycle ride in April 2012 arranged for Town, Borough and County councillors, the Mayor at the time Barry Jackman, and the cycling baronet MP Sir George Young.

Safer access to the countryside
2022 now sees a much safer access route has now been constructed joining the town to Nuns Walk at Tufton and southwards into the tranquil countryside with its chalk streams, thatched cottages and country pubs. This also leads through to the National Cycle Network route No.246 (NCN246) which follows the Test and Bourne valleys.
It is also encouraging to see wild flowers starting to appear adjacent to the path, adding colour to the roadsides and providing habitats for insects and wildlife.

Cyclists are already being attracted to use the route which runs from Webbs Farm Close, along Winchester Road, past Mill Springs to a 90 degree crossing point near Clock Barn turn. It then goes under the A34 to Tufton, avoiding the necessity to cross the notorious A34 exit slip road while improving sightlines and visibility.

Part of a network
With an existing cycle path at the Shuttle Street junction into Mill Springs, it also has potential to join up with the cycle route through to the new Sports pitches and Micheldever Road, as well linking into the rear of Testbourne Community School. Cycling into school or to the sports area open space from the south of town has never been easier.

The project has been funded from developers contributions and put in place as a part of a wider Whitchurch Accessibility Scheme by Hampshire County Council.

Teething problems
Signage
As with all schemes there are a few teething problems. The signage seems rather awry in places and there are no clear signs at the start.
It would also be helpful to have Cyclist/Pedestrian crossing point warning signs when approaching the southern Winchester Road crossing from the north and also at the exit of Shuttle Street and Webbs Farm Close.

Bollards and bins
Some wooden bollards have also been placed in a section near the Charlcot housing entrances which have already caused danger to some users while refuse bins have also been stored on the path. However these are all relatively minor issues and should be easy to remedy, so maybe some more friendly lobbying is required.

“It’s great…”
For now the route it is a welcome addition to the area, and summed up by a recent family of cyclists heading towards the countryside with “It’s great, isn’t it” 

Where it all started – April 2012
Pictured below are those who took part in the cycle ride in April 2012 to look at the town’s cycling facilities, or rather lack of them, and which kicked off the idea for the new route. It’s a good plan that has now come to fruition.

Left to right in 2012 (below):
Harriet Titcomb (resident), Barry Jackman (Town Mayor), Jackie Day (Town Councillor), Claire Isbester (resident), Dave Titcomb (Town Councillor), Sir George Young (MP), Eric Dunlop (Borough Councillor), John Buckley (Hampshire Cycle Training and organiser), photo by Andrew Reeves-Hall (resident).

ABOVE: April 2012
Discussing the possible crossing point near the A34.
In 2022 this was eventually provided.

ABOVE: July 2022
Cyclists using the new crossing point near the A34.

Cycle for Ukraine Refugees

 The last few weeks has seen work being carried out on donated bikes to help others enjoy the pleasure of cycling, for shopping trips, riding to work or leisure rides into the countryside.

This has included servicing of bikes which have been passed to Ukrainian refugees who have fled the horrific situation in their own country.
However it also helps anyone else who wishes to take up or return to their bike.

Whitchurch Bicycle Users (BUG) undertakes a free ‘Dr Bike’ cycle safety check that can assess and highlight any work required before any expensive repairs are commissioned.
The ethos driving the service is simply to help people get back on their bikes.
See: DR BIKE SAFETY CHECKS

Small safety critical adjustments can be undertaken for a donation to charity, and advice is freely provided for any further work that might be needed along with independent advice on other providers.

Cycles prepared for Ukrainian refugees

Elsie Whip??? – Local Cycling and Walking Plan Consultation

 

Elsie Whip – Eh? That’s what it sounds like.
The LCWIP (local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan) is now out for consultation for our area. 
It heavily affects Whitchurch.

A draft  Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)  has been developed by Hampshire County Council, Sustrans (a charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle) and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Investment in Cycling and Walking brings benefits
Hampshire County Council (HCC) and Basingstoke and Deane Borough (BDBC) want to invest in sustainable transport measures, including walking and cycling infrastructure.
Research has shown that such investment repays itself many times over, including increasing the local economy. If there is no approved LCWIP it is much less likely there will be any government funding for any improvements.

The introduction states:
“If we are to meet our 2050 Vision, our Climate Change Emergency targets, and our Public Health goals we need walking and cycling to be safe, direct, and attractive for everyone from ages 8 to 80+.
We need our networks to be accessible to everyone and cater for the majority of users, whether they are walking with a double buggy, have a health condition or disability that makes our public spaces more difficult to use. We have been challenged in recent years by walking and cycling advocates to do better.“

This is the chance to have a say on local routes, facilities and infrastructure.
What is needed in Whitchurch to help you walk or cycle? Traffic levels, speed, pavement widths, surfaces, cycle parking – they can all have an effect, but what is most important?
All these can be commented upon and specific locations plotted on an online map.

“Walking and cycling are practical everyday ways of travelling, for even just part of a journey, that can help to make us healthier, happier, greener, and more equal…”

The LCWIP can be accessed here:
LOCAL CYCLING and WALKING INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN

WHITCHURCH has an opportunity to ensure it becomes a better place.

Visitors to Whitchurch using the Silk Mill cycle parking.

Mill Springs Update

 The Mill Springs sports pitch area which is to be transferred from developer David Wilson Homes to Whitchurch Town Council seems to be fraught with problems and delays.

The much needed football pitches have not yet been commissioned to the dismay of players and their teams wishing to use them. Wildflower areas were missed, then planted and then inexplicably mown down. Cracks appeared in the cycle/foot path while the ‘chicane barriers’ continue to prevent access for many who have mobility issues, contravening equalities legislation.

Remedial surface work
This week part of the top surface of the cycle path was removed after some test holes were made to see what was causing the cracks. It looked as if planting left under the surface had begun to break through. Around an inch of tarmac has been scraped off, in an area stretching from Micheldever Road to about halfway down the hill.

Let us hope that the remedial work is successful and that it includes removing the source of the issue and not just covering it up only for it to appear again. Will there be a guarantee on this?

Top surface has been scraped off.

No progress on ‘chicane barriers‘
Meanwhile there has been no progress on the two access points where ‘chicane barriers’ remain as hazards and obstructions. It has been brought to the attention of Whitchurch Town Council that the barriers breach the 2010 Equalities Act and do not comply with government DfT requirements (LTN 1/20) for design and construction.
There are other more suitable solutions that can be used but ‘chicane barriers’ are invariably unacceptable as they discriminate against many mobility buggies, adaptive wheelchairs and disabled cycles.
Such ‘chicane barriers’ are currently being removed throughout the country and have also been the subject of court action resulting in costs being awarded. But in Whitchurch they remain.

There is a very simple solution.
If David Wilson Homes remedied the designs before they become the responsibility of Whitchurch Town Council it could save the Whitchurch taxpayers thousands in potential future lawsuits should there be an incident or a discrimination claim. Hampshire County Council has provided a simple low cost solution; however…
We shall see if common sense prevails.

Restrictive barriers remain.
At least someone added a ‘cone’ – maybe to warn users 

Transport and Climate Emergency

 

A Day in Whitchurch? 

No its not like this; at least not all of the time.
Yet too often it is, with congestion, traffic danger, street furniture damaged, driving on pavements, pedestrians blocked, children at risk, cycling threatened, cracked footways and pollution…
Is that what we want?

Hampshire CC’s Local Transport Plan 4 which will affect us all is out for public consultation.
With Whitchurch due to grow further and with the resultant pressures there will be on the roads, rail and the environment, LTP4 really needs implementing now with over 50% of CO2 emissions coming from transport.

A really useful workshop meeting was held on Saturday (14th May) in Winchester for discussing responses to the HCC’c consultation on its Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4), which sets Travel and related Climate Emergency policies for the next decade and onwards to 2050 – and importantly ‘putting people first’.
Walking and cycling were to the fore along with reduction of car use, improvements to public transport and meeting climate change targets.

Around 40 attended the meeting, mostly in person, but also including some on Zoom with good presentations from County Councillor Martin Tod and Phil Gagg of WinACC. There followed an excellent sharing of ideas along with group working on various aspects of the proposals.

The strongest message was that this a massive opportunity for change and it needs to be grasped.
Delay in dealing with the issues of Travel and Climate cannot be put off any longer.

Although there are some reservations relating mainly to the long timescale, the lack of budget commitment and unclarity on the methodology used. However the principal aims of this Plan are to be commended.
PLEASE respond to the consultation.
LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN

https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/localtransportplan