Barrier work continues

The excellent work by Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, in removing barriers on cycle routes throughout the UK continues.
Barriers can seriously hinder and stop use of cycle routes by a great many people.

Regretably Whitchurch has some which have been brought to the attention of the Town Council.
These barriers have led to several instances of the less mobile not being able to access the Council's Mill Springs open space. 

Sustrans this month issued the following statement:

"Removing barriers will lead to an increase of illegal use and antisocial behaviour."

This is one of the most common concerns we get when removing restrictive barriers on the National Cycle Network. But did you know removing barriers can actually do the opposite?

In our experience barriers often stop people with wheelchairs, adapted cycles, prams and trailers from using the path, but don't actually prevent those with motorbikes from illegally accessing the path. People with motorbikes can often wheel them under, around or lift them over barriers, or if they're really determined simply find an access point further up the path.

 

Removing barriers enables more people to use routes, making them busier, which can in turn make illegal use and antisocial behaviour less likely. In a trial in London, barrier removal led to a 20% increase in use and a reduction in anti-social behaviour.

This creates a positive feedback loop: people are more likely to use safe paths, so as a route gains a reputation for being safe, the number of people using the route goes up, making illegal use and antisocial behaviour less likely. It's a win-win.

Removing barriers is a key priority for us as we work to make the National Cycle Network more accessible.

 

Ride and Stride 2023

Ride + Stride is back on Saturday 9th September when you can join in the enjoyment of visiting the historic church buildings of the area. For example there are currently 29 churches participating in the Whitchurch area.

During Ride + Stride people all over Hampshire walk (or cycle, or scoot or ride) between churches, exploring and enjoying the countryside. 

As there are over 400 due to be open you can have fun choosing which will be part of your cycling itinerary. Many will have refreshments, some will have loos open, and all should offer your group a warm welcome.

Funds are raised through sponsorship that helps fund repairs to historic churches.

Full details are here:

https://hihct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/ 

A Draft Cycling Charter

Whitchurch Cycling Charter – Draft
Draft Charter for cycling has been put together by Whitchurch Cycling Bicycle Users Group.

It is hoped that given the increasing population and the expected growth of housing numbers, schooling, employment and business needs, that the importance of recognising all means of transport will be given the attention it deserves.

It is hoped that local councils, organisations, businesses and residents can adopt the aims of the charter as part of improving the town of Whitchurch.
If anyone has any comments or suggestions on this Draft it would be extremely welcome, whatever your main means of road use.
Please use the Contact Form or email whitchurchcycling@gmail.com
Very many thanks.

__________________________

A Vision for Cycling in Whitchurch and its surrounds — Connecting People to Places.

"We, residents, businesses, organisations, schools and colleges of Whitchurch and its surroundings, want a safe cycle network in and around our rural town, connecting surrounding villages and helping to create a sustainable, healthy and vibrant place for our living, working, leisure, health and education."

Whitchurch and its surrounding should be a place where:

• Children and students can cycle to school or college safely.
• People of all ages and ability can feel confident to cycle to places of work, shops, businesses, amenities and for leisure uses.
• Cycling will be the safe, natural choice for a large proportion of everyday journeys.
• Road dangers are removed. 
• Cycling is given equal consideration in all highway planning considerations.
• Visitors and residents using cycles are welcomed and feel safe.

We believe that prioritising cycling would:

• Address the challenges of pavement parking, constricted residential streets, noise and air pollution, inactive lifestyles and the impact of a rising population.
• Help to create a calmer, friendly, carbon-neutral town where people will want to spend more time shopping and socialising, bringing benefit to shops and businesses.
• Enable visitors and residents to more fully enjoy our rich cultural and community heritage.
• Support business by boosting physical and mental health, well-being and productivity of the workforce, bringing local economic benefits and reducing the burden on local health and care services.
• Help achieve Climate Change goals and improve the environment by reducing carbon emissions, air pollution and noise.
• Help to support Neighbourhood Planning by creating better places to live and making it easy for people to move around.

We want cycle amenities to:

• Be an integral part of all highway design.
• Be convenient to users and locations. 
• Provide safe and secure cycle parking throughout the town.
• Include provision for tricycles and non-standard cycle designs including adapted cycles for the mobility impaired and for cargo and family uses.
  
• Comply with current cycle planning legislation including DfT's LTN 1/20.
  
• Comply with all Equality legislation.

We want cycle routes to:

• Link housing, workplaces, shopping and business areas, schools and community amenities across the town and surrounding area.
• 
  Link our local villages and countryside with the centre of Whitchurch.
• Utilise the easiest and most direct routes.
• Be designed to cater without hindrance for non-standard cycles including disability adapted cycles, cycle wheelchairs, hand cycles, tricycles, tandems and cargo cycles.
• Be planned and designed to safely accommodate other users including families with buggies, wheelchair users, disabled people and those who may be visually or hearing impaired.
• Include dedicated cycle infrastructure that ensures safety for unaccompanied 12-year-olds and is designed in line with best practice from around the world.
• Complement public transport to ensure excellent connections within and outside the area.
• Include comprehensive direction signage to localities and facilities in the town and surrounding area.

We want to work with and support our public and private bodies in delivering this better future for the people, businesses, organisations, services and schools of Whitchurch and its surroundings.

Whitchurch Social Cyclists – a Message

A Message:

My name is Grant and I live in Hurstbourne Priors.

Are you a local road cyclist and want to join a riding group that isn’t too serious?

Whitchurch Social Cyclists

Me and some other locals run a very informal cycling group out of Whitchurch called the Whitchurch Social Cyclists (or WSC).
There are no rules, no club fees and no discrimination. Anyone can join with just one proviso (I’ll come to that).

It’s just a social group with the aim of getting people on their bike so they get some fresh air, exercise and have a chat as they go.
We plan routes that are away from main roads as much as is practical and usually try to offer a destination worth going to; like a nice café or a country pub.

Group Rides
The group rides are advertised using a WhatsApp group and we try to ride on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. You’ll need to be self-sufficient i.e., know how to repair your own punctures and have suitable cycling gear (helmet, gloves, spare inner tube, water bottle etc).

Thursday rides are about 20 miles and we tend to set off at 7pm. Sunday rides are about 45 miles and tend to set off at 8:30am. 

Further details will be provided once you make contact.

The proviso 

Whilst we try and accommodate everyone, it can be frustrating if the ability range is too great. We have tried to accommodate really slow riders before, who do not have a road bike, and it just doesn’t work. 

As a result, we kindly ask that you can maintain the following minimum speeds on flat smooth ground: Thursday rides 10mph and the Sunday rides 14 mph. These are nice steady paces (no ‘Tour de France’ contenders here!) and they should be possible for anyone that rides a road bike occasionally and maintains a basic level of fitness.

Join us?
If you’d like to join us one Thursday evening, or Sunday morning, to give it a go, please contact me by text message, WhatsApp message or call me using 07818 057588.

 
You will be very welcome and it would be great to see you.

Cycle to Work Day 2023

 Thursday 3rd August is Cycle to Work Day 2023, the UK's biggest celebration of cycle commuting.If you haven't got your bike out yet, then this could be the ideal time.

But it doesn't have to be for a ride to work. It could be any kind of cycle ride, and on any type of cycle whether it’s cycling to the shops, to pick the kids up from school or meeting up with friends for a group ride.

Hampshire is a lovely place for cycling – from a potter to the shops, a ride out for a coffee, or a leisurely cycle in the gorgeous countryside.

As well as being great fun, low cost, efficient, cycling helps you keep fit and can make our environment a much more pleasant place.

 
All that is needed is to get that bike out and turn those pedals.

See:
https://www.lovetoride.net/cyclescheme

Incident in Bell Street, Whitchurch – a Message

Take care on our roads – there was an incident in Bell Street on Monday 19th June, around 6.00pm

From Cycle Whitchurch to all who use our roads:

Early evening on Monday 19th June there was a serious incident in Whitchurch at the junction of Evingar Road with Bell Street, where a person who was cycling had to be taken by ambulance to hospital with injuries. Evingar Road was closed for some time by the police.

This is the fourth known incident at this cross roads, three involving cycling.

And then this happened...

A passing person loudly announced: 

"Its only a cyclist – f*** 'em; they cause me enough bl**** trouble when I'm driving".

To this 'person' there is a message:

"A cyclist, like anyone else, may be someone's father, a mother, a son, a brother, a sister, a husband, a wife, a friend, a colleague..."

"Let us hope no one you care for suffers injuries or worse in any incident.  Such selfish, dangerous and uncaring attitudes have no place in any part of today's society."

We wish the best in recovery to all those who may have been involved in any way in this most recent incident.

Bike Week 2023 in Whitchurch

Today, Monday June 5th, sees the start of the annual Bike Week, marking a century of Bike Week celebrating everyday cycling.
This year it has a theme of Active Travel for everyone.

Active Travel
Cycle Whitchurch is asking residents and local organisations to embrace Active Travel as a means to help reduce harmful emissions and help us meet net zero targets.
It is also calling on our Councils and Government to act in a more meaningful way to support Active Travel by encouraging initiatives that address the Climate Emergency – safer roads, slower speeds, designated routes, and joined up thinking!

Take a spin
Whitchurch is a popular destination for visiting cyclists, being a lovely rural town on the River Test, and also makes a wonderful centre for both utility and leisure cycling. 
Bike Week is the perfect opportunity to take a few spins on two wheels, perhaps to work, to the shops or with the children to school – and not only will it be enjoyable it will help the environment, reduce travel costs and be healthy too.
Maybe our local Councillors could cycle to their meetings?

Visit our Whitchurch page here:
WHITCHURCH

National Bike Week:
BIKE WEEK 2023

 

Larger Lorries for Whitchurch

Our roads are to become even more hazardous as longer 'super-lorries' are set to become more common.

As from 31st May longer lorries with trailers up to 61 feet (18.55m) will be permitted, an increase of 6ft 9in (2.05m). It is claimed they "increase efficiency".

Road safety groups fear that these will cost lives with greater dangers for pedestrians, cyclists and road infrastructure.

Whitchurch damage and danger to increase
Whitchurch already suffers from HGVs that mount pavements, knock over bollards, hit parked cars, break up surfaces and kerbs and have difficulty dealing with the tight corners. 

This will only get far worse. The longer lorries will have increased blind spots, greater tail swings and potentially heavier weights all adding to greater risks for other road users, especially in urban areas and country lanes. 

Leading Charity CycleUK has said: 

"Given that lorries are already seven times more likely than cars to be involved in cyclist or pedestrian fatality, a longer lorry rollout represents a serious step backwards for safety."

 

WHAT CAN WE ALL DO?

We can call on our MP and Councillors to take action
One only needs to look at the Whitchurch town centre to see the amount of damage heavy vehicles cause, with the concerns recognised within the Whitchurch Neighbourhood Plan as requiring action.

We call on all our MP, Councillors and representatives to respond on how this unwelcome growth in large vehicles is to be dealt with in Whitchurch and on our country roads. 

Heavy Lorries and excessive traffic is already a scourge on Whitchurch and has destroyed so much.

Do we want that to become worse?

Kit Malthouse MP
kit.malthouse.mp@parliament.uk

Tom Thacker (HCC County Councillor for Whitchurch)
tom.thacker@hants.gov.uk

Hampshire County Council
Main HCC website

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
Main BDBC website

Whitchurch Town Council (and for Neighbourhood Plan matters)
Contact details

Footpath to Bridleway?

 

Start of new surface

FOOTPATH 29 – Could it be a Bridleway?

With the resurfacing of the lower few metres of Footpath 29 at Webbs Farm Close to Mill Springs Bus Bay and the rear Testbourne school gate, the question arises again as to whether the designation of the Public Right of Way should be amended from Footpath to Bridleway.

Archaic law

Currently Footpath 29 is restricted to foot use only and those using cycles or horses are prohibited. The law on the right of way is archaic and it can be argued not fit for purpose. 

Cyclists do not have a 'right of way' on public footpaths, but they are not committing a crime. They are committing the tort of trespass against the landowner, who is the only person who can seek a judicial remedy -– i.e. damages. 

The newly surfaced section of FP29

If you aren't doing any damage then all the landowner can do is ask you to leave. Should you refuse they can call the police and argue a case to have you removed. Realistically this doesn't very often happen!

And then? 

It will still remain a civil matter and the owner would have to pursue you for damages through the civil courts, a very expensive option.

However, regarding Footpath 29, there is a very strong historical case including some clear evidence that it served as a Bridleway in the past, serving local farms. This has led to a current application to have Footpath 29 officially, some would say correctly, designated as a Bridleway. 

Networks and links

From a cycling point of view designating the lower newly resurfaced part as a bridleway, or even as a shared use path, would make a lot of sense. The short resurfaced section joins into the new cycle route to Nun's Walk and Tufton and would provide a link for cycling to school (or even by horse should you wish to travel that way!).  Nun's Walk could also be designated as a Green Lane with access for light local traffic only, providing a safer access to the Test valley, Longparish and the National Cycle Network Route 246.

In addition if the upper unsurfaced section of Footpath 29 were designated as a bridleway, it could create a direct link to the Mill Springs sports pitches/open space as well as providing a route out into the countryside, again promoting active travel and tourism.

Winchester Road

This needs improvement
along Winchester Road

As a supplementary issue, some have called for the footway on Winchester Road between Webbs Farm Close and Micheldever Road to be improved.
Again this makes much sense and provide a much safer pedestrian and cycle route link to the town centre as well as to the Primary School. If the additional Mill Springs housing development takes place such a route would be highly beneficial, as well as it linking directly to the Tufton path.

Summary

In summary, development of a safer network for walking and cycling would greatly benefit the town. It would encourage use of 'greener' and 'active' travel for local school, shopping and business journeys, promote tourism and leisure activity, assist the climate emergency, reduce pollution and assist in reducing the congestion on the roads. These would also relate to some of the Neighbourhood Plan policies.

Designation of FP29 as a Bridleway would help enable all this.

And on horse use

Whilst this 'article' has focussed on cycling, a lot of recognition for the equestrian fraternity should be given particularly for their excellent work in making a case to Hampshire County Council for Footpath 29 to be officially designated as a Bridleway. Their strong case has been submitted to Hampshire County Council for consideration. Unfortunately it is a very long drawn out process. 

Let us hope it happens sooner rather than later.

A map showing suggested links and proposals to improve network:

POTHOLES and DAMAGED PAVEMENTS CAN KILL – Call for Action

Potholes on roads and damaged pavements with trip hazards are becoming an increasingly major problem as Councils cut back on road maintenance.

Whether your main method of travel is as a pedestrian, cyclist, motor-cyclist or driver, this lack of maintenance and repair work affects us all. 
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

They not only cause damage but can result in serious injury and even death, and while we all continue to pay increasing taxes, our Councils are seemingly becoming less responsive in dealing with the problems.

On a major school route.

In Whitchurch there is barely a road that is unaffected, or a pavement that does not have loose paving slabs or cracks. And when a journey is made further afield the situation is the same.

• For the pedestrian and especially anyone with mobility impairments the lack of maintenance can result in trips or falls often requiring medical attention. 
• For the cyclist potholes as well as causing severe damage can result in loss of control, falls, and serious injury or worse, and can place increased strain on the health service. 
• For drivers and motor-cyclists serious damage can occur to vehicles ranging from burst tyres and wheel misalignment to steering and suspension damage.
  Loss of control can result in life-threatening situations.

Potholes kill and maim

Department for Transport figures show that EACH WEEK one cyclist dies or suffers life-threatening injuries as a result of the condition of our roads. And the trend is increasing.

ACTION IS NEEDED – NOW

Stop passing the buck
The legal responsibilities rest with Hampshire County Council and pressure needs to be put on them and the Councillors who are elected to represent us, to make our travel safe.

However, both Basingstoke & Deane and Whitchurch Town Council also have duties to support their residents. 

As Hampshire are failing and putting our safety at risk they too should be taking action and increase pressure on HCC.

No longer should they say "Its not us, it's Hampshire".
Passing the buck is no longer an option.

Let's all work TOGETHER

Call on the Councils to ACT NOW and allocate adequate resources – before someone you know is injured or killed.

_________________________

REPORTING LINKS

Hampshire County Council
Main HCC website
For reporting highway/road/pavement/cycle path/verge problems
Reporting Problems

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
Main BDBC website

Test Valley Borough Council (for areas to west of Whitchurch)
Main TVBC website

Whitchurch Town Council
Contact details

A Film Powered by Bicycles

A full feature film powered by bicycles is planned for later this year in Andover.

 
As part of Andover Cycling Festival, a giant cinema screen will pop-up in Vigo Park on Saturday, 29th July to show a classic feature film.

 
Test Valley Borough Council say:

The film will be powered solely by energetic volunteers on static bikes, so come along with your sports gear and lots of energy if you fancy taking part.

Don't worry if you're not in the mood to pedal, as you can still bring a blanket and enjoy this the film in the open air.

 
They have also asked people to choose which film should be shown at the outdoor cinema, with the selected film soon to be announced.

Hazards of removing Cycle Parking

Last year Whitchurch Town Council voted to remove a number of cycle parking stands from the town centre. This followed representations from some businesses which believed they restricted the use of the pavements for their loading/unloading. Yes, they wanted to park vehicles on the pavements despite there being parking just yards away.

The irony
As previously covered here, there is much evidence that provision of cycle parking can enhance a town centre's economy yet in Whitchurch that reasoning was not accepted.
Ironically after the cycle parking was removed a number of businesses have closed including the main objectors.
See:
CYCLING BENEFITS

But taking cycle parking away does not remove its need.
Whitchurch is already popular with visiting cyclists who use the cafés and shops, yet they now have to lean their cycles against frontages, which naturally can cause annoyance to shopkeepers.
Worse, some cycles are now left lying on pavements as obstructions, causing trip and unnecessary dangers to pedestrians and are particularly hazardous to the less mobile and sight impaired.

Left lying on the pavement.

The Town Council is urged to follow the aims of both Basingstoke and Hampshire Councils in supporting active travel and to make adequate provision for both local and visiting cyclists, and to show that it supports bringing trade and tourism to the town.
Whitchurch needs Town Centre Cycle Parking.

Bicycles adding colour to the streets

The wonderful team of volunteers from Whitchurch in Bloom, led by Kathy Hardy and Caroline Wells, have continued in their quest to add colour to the town's street scene, this time using the Bicycle.

Decorated cycles
Whitchurch in Bloom have started to add themed decorated cycles to the town centre. 

First was a February 14th Valentine's Day special, painted in loveable pink and adorned with roses and hearts. 

It turned a few eyes.

Now they have created a March 17th St Patrick's Day wheeler, finished in Irish Green with shamrocks. 

Brightening the town
The team have also been locating planters and baskets around the town in an aim to brighten the streets, generate pride in the town, build a sense of community and to make a challenge in the Britain in Bloom competition.

They have been out planting bulbs, weeding streets, laying wood chippings, collecting rubbish and fundraising through quizzes – and have lovingly been called Whitchurch's "Nutty Heroes".

In 2022 their work achieved 'Silver Gilt' recognition in the Small Town category, and were just two points away from gold.

With the help of the bicycles they may achieve that honour.
They certainly deserve it.

Fundraising
Whitchurch in Bloom are currently running a fundraising campaign to purchase new planters and flowers for 2023.

Their page is here:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/whitchurch-in-bloom-spring-summer-2023

Whitchurch in Bloom
Adding colour to the town.