Danger at Primary School

 Vehicle conflict at local school

The school run is well-known throughout the country for the blocking of roads, parking on pavements and drives, stopping on bends and causing frustration and dangers to local residents and other more vulnerable road users.
Whitchurch in Hampshire is no different.

Primary School access road

Danger from drivers
Last week a young cyclist was involved in an incident at Whitchurch Primary School that led to a message being sent out to parents.
A driver was reversing out of a bay and "almost reversed into a child on a bike".
There was no report of the cyclist doing anything wrong.

The school responded
In a surpring response the school has asked cyclists to get off and walk saying:

"We had a near miss today where a car reversing out of the parking bays along the edge of the field, almost reversed into a child on a bike. Please can all cyclists dismount at the bottom of the hill and walk up the path, and be mindful of cars pulling in and out of bays".

There is no mention of any drivers being penalised, although there is an added line asking 'cars' (rather than the drivers !!) to "please be alert to anyone travelling up the road whilst reversing out."

Removing the danger
Perhaps these 'cars' should park elsewhere and the drivers/adults walk with their children so the cause of the danger can be removed rather than placing the onus on the young cyclists.
Maybe the 'cars' should also look to see if it's safe before moving, which would be in line with the hierarchy of responsibilities as set out in the Highway Code. 

There are solutions
Rather than putting the burden of responsibility on the young still developing child, perhaps there should first be a calling for slower speeds, safer road design and increasing driver skills.
Or is that too alien a concept in today's era of Motornormativity?*

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Not the first time
This is not the first time there has been a conflict on the entrance road to this school. Many may remember when a parent threatened to close the road to prevent the drivers causing danger to cyclists.

Mike Stead, a local resident at the time, who cycled to the school with his family, said:

"You are forcing my hand here. I will not stand by and see my wife and child physically endangered because the school, Hampshire County Council and the police dither and refuse to properly enforce the law/responsible behaviour ..... You have a week to sort this, then I shut the road down. Your call"

Times don't seem to have changed.

Whitchurch Primary School should be addressing the cause of the dangers first rather than penalising children for the dangerous actions of others.

*****************

* Motornormativity

Motornormativity (or Motornormality) is an implicit cognitive bias where society assumes private car ownership and usage is the normal, natural, and necessary mode of travel.

This bias leads to a high tolerance for the risks, pollution, and spatial demands of cars, often treating them as inevitable compared to sustainable travel options. 

and

The bias is reinforced by cultural narratives that supremacise cars and their drivers, and stigmatise and marginalise pedestrians, cyclists, and other modes of transport.

 

The Horror of Pothole Deaths and Injuries

The true horror of pothole injuries and deaths were revealed in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Department of Transport.
Over a five year period there were ten fatalities and 262 life-threatening serious injuries reported concerning cyclists. There were many more lesser injuries and it is not known how many were not reported.

While much social media comment revolves around the damage and costs to motorists the burdens borne by those cycling are disproportionate. The figures are quite staggering.

Claims
Analysis of claims by cyclists against local authorities shows the massive cost of poor road surfaces have for those cycling. 

This is shown in a report on showing Councils make an average settlement of £80,000 for cycle incidents reflecting the higher costs of death or bodily injury, while in comparison the average claim settled for drivers was just £338 over the five years, which were primarily damage only. This is not to downgrade motorist claims which must be addressed but simply to set a scene on the levels of effect.

Both are wholly unacceptable and our Councils need to take their responsibilities towards ALL road user safety seriously. In Hampshire this responsibility has been poorly lacking.

A local Hampshire incident
Cycling UK has published a video over a tragic incident in Southampton where:
"Martin Wilson set out on a short, familiar 1-km bike ride to collect his daughter after finishing work. Minutes later, he was lying unconscious in the road outside his own home."

"He suffered facial fractures, spinal injuries, brain bleeds, and months of recovery."
Take care as it contains some graphic images.

Locally...
In Whitchurch the road surfaces are horrendous and all road users are suffering. The poor maintenance and haphazard temporary patching is telling its toll. A wad full of dry asphalt flattened down with a spade or a boot is not a repair but a pathetic bodge. 

Cycling UK developed 'Fill that Hole' as a tool that passes road defects to the bodies responsible.
Reporting a pothole can significantly increase the likelihood of the council fixing it – because the local authority can’t claim not to have known about it.

"Crucially, if the authority fails to take action, these reports can help others in the future should they need to claim for damage or injury against the council if that road defect hasn’t been fixed."

PLEASE REPORT HERE
https://www.fillthathole.org.uk/

Town Council action
Whitchurch Town Council has also asked for residents to inform them of potholes as they are inviting the local County Councillor Tom Thacker to one of their meetings.
The Council is being asked what the result of this has been. Once received it will be shared.

Cycle route improvements in Andover

A section of the National Cycle Network (NCN246) that passes through Andover is planned to have improvements made.

Hampshire County Council is planning to make it easier and safer for people to walk, wheel (use a wheelchair or mobility scooter) and cycle in Andover and have launched a Survey (details below).

The proposed scheme will improve the route connecting Western Avenue, Folly Roundabout, and Charlton Road, helping people travel more safely without needing a car. This is also part of National Cycle Network Route 246.

It comprises of:

New walking and cycling route

A grade separated path will be built for people walking, wheeling and cycling from the Western Avenue underpass to Folly Roundabout and linking to Charlton Road.

This will help keep everyone safer by keeping them away from busy traffic.

Safer road crossing

A new parallel crossing for walking, wheeling and cycling will be created on the Charlton Road arm of the roundabout and there will be improvements to the crossing of Western Avenue, by the roundabout.

This will provide facilities so that people walking, wheeling and cycling can cross more easily and safely.

Better local connections

The route will make it easier to get to schools, shops, and bus stops, helping more people choose walking, wheeling or cycling instead of driving.

It will also link to existing routes north of Andover Town Centre and complement Test Valley Borough Council’s Riverside Park regeneration scheme.

It supports:

• cutting carbon emissions by encouraging walking and cycling
• helping people live healthier, more active lives
• making it easier for everyone to get around, especially without a carIn the majority of cases funding comes from external grants and / or Section 106 contribution from developers.

Full details including the SURVEY are here:
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/5bsbiGWuxXJaZ3Qr?ref=Link

Route 246:
https://www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-246/

'Barriers' to Walking and Cycling – a Survey

Hampshire County Council has launched a Survey to determine what issues are 'barriers' to walking and cycling in local areas.

The kind of 'barriers' they are seeking that put people off from walking or cycling include:

• Locations for new cycle parking, or places where existing cycle parking is not meeting demand;
• Staggered or chicane barriers;
• Bollards placed too closely together.

Well-used cycle parking
removed by Whitchurch Town Council

WHITCHURCH has a number of the above 'barriers to cycling' and in particular has suffered from removal of cycle parking and a reluctance to deal with staggered railings on cycle routes.

 
In the town centre, because of parking removal by the local councilpartly to allow motor vehicles on to the pavement (!!!) cycles are again regularly leant against shopfronts causing annoyance to shopkeepers.
This can also make the town unattractive to visit and creates a safety hazard for pedestrians and the mobility impaired.

The town also suffers from excessive congestion, narrow streets and pavements, HGVs and speeding traffic. This is likely to worsen with planned expansion of housing areas.
There are also very few off-road routes with only one bridleway leaving the town that heads northwards.

As a small rural town in the Test valley that attracts a considerable number of cyclists and walkers, facilities need much improvement.

Whitchurch
has several of these

Other examples sought by the Survey are:

• End of route/cyclists rejoin carriageway signs (these are often used interchangeably) and no cycling signs. There are no current plans to remove these, but knowing where they are will help plan better in the future – for example, showing people cycling and where to go when a route ends;
• Crossings that are difficult to use because they don’t have dropped kerbs and tactile paving;
• Dropped kerbs which are not flush with the road; these can make travel difficult for wheelchair users;
• Items such as guard railing, lampposts and signposts which make the pavement too narrow.

The Survey runs until 11:59pm on Sunday 22nd December

The SURVEY can be accessed HERE:
https://www.hants.gov.uk/barriers-walking-cycling

Below

Staggered railings on Council land restrict use
for users of many types of cycles and mobility vehicles.
This is discriminatory and goes against national and local policies.

Below
Cycle parking was removed in the town and cycles are now parked against windows, causing difficulties for cyclists, pedestrians and those with mobility issues:

Below

A suggestion for a combined planting and parking installation was made to the Town Council.
SEE: 

https://cyclewhitchurch.blogspot.com/2024/08/use-of-community-infrastructure-levy.html
A response has not yet been received.
See below, as used in many other heritage locations:

•

Fill That Hole – Pothole reporting site relaunched

Last week, to mark National Pothole Day a refreshed version of the reporting tool Fill That Hole was launched (https://www.fillthathole.org.uk/) by CyclingUK.
The site is now simpler than ever and helps councils keep roads safer.

Almost all councils accept reports through the new site, and for the small minority that don’t, the tool will link you directly to the council’s website.
Hampshire County Council are one that does accept reports.

Potholes are a plague
Potholes plague roads across our country and for all road users can become a hazard that far too often has resulted in loss of life or serious injury. Since Fill That Hole was originally launched in 2007 by the Cyclists' Touring Club (now the charity Cycling UK) nearly 200,000 potholes have been reported in the UK.

255 seriously injured or killed

Potholes are dangerous for everyone, but as Cycling UK has recently highlighted, they pose a particular risk to people cycling.
It is known that 255 people have been seriously injured or killed due to road defects in the last seven years, but the real number of injuries is likely far higher given these figures only include reports which reach the police.

Road maintenance budgets are being cut
It’s therefore little wonder Fill That Hole has proved so popular over the years, especially as councils have seen their roads maintenance budgets increasingly squeezed, worsening the nation’s pothole crisis. The latest round of proposed cuts by Hampshire County Council will make this worse in this area.

The Relaunch
However, technology has moved on since 2007, which is why Cycling UK has relaunched Fill That Hole, with support from Cycle SOS, to ensure it’s easy to use, gets reports to the right places, and can help campaign for increased investment in local roads maintenance.

About Fill That Hole:
https://www.fillthathole.org.uk/about/about

Report a road defect
https://www.fillthathole.org.uk

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.

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.

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

Dangers at Mill Springs

Mill Springs on the edge of Whitchurch is in the news again as a young cyclist lost control which nearly resulted in her suffering a serious injury.

The quality of work has often been criticised with the latest concerning the granite setts that have been installed into the roads at various points around the development.

At a minimum there should be a filling between the setts or cycle wheels can fall into the gaps that can result in a fall.

It is another example of planning and construction that fails to recognise the safety needs of those who cycle.

Hopefully the failure to build a safe surface that is suitable for all road users will be addressed before someone is seriously hurt.

Reporting defects
Whitchurch is also suffering a large number of potholes and broken road surfaces which can result in a loss of control leading to injury or worse. 
These should be reported to Hampshire County Council.

REPORTING HIGHWAY PROBLEMS

Dangerous surface for cycling.

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