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.

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* 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.

Massive Plans for Popham

Plans for a major logistics centre at nearby Popham on the A303 have taken a step forward. 
The 200 hectare site known as the Popham Logistics Park is planned to provide up to 3 million sq ft of employment space and around 4,500 jobs. An intention is to also include community meeting places, sports facilities, facilities for eating and drinking, and early years care.

The proposals are claimed to 'complement' the plan for up to 3000 houses that is being controversially promoted at nearby Popham Airfield. 

In the recent round of consultation Cycle Whitchurch along with other partners in the Cycle Hampshire group have submitted concerns over the effects on the local road infrastructure and on the surrounding countryside. The proposals do not contain any meaningful details to support Active Travel nor of any infrastructure to support access by sustainable travel, while the increase in vehicle movements and densities, particularly HGVs is certain to place enormous pressure on our countryside.

The consultation is one where the developer is firming-up their plans prior to submitting a formal planning application hence it is essential to ensure that any proposals includes taking into account existing planning policies and strategies that protect our local area. Once an outline application is approved it can be very difficult to make additions.

The Town Council has been asked if it too has responded to the consultation.
The response (October 22nd 2025) was disappointing in that the Clerk wrote:
"The Town Council hasn't been sent any information on the Popham Logistics Park and therefore hasn't responded to the proposal."

Hopefully that will be remedied and they will follow up.

NEXT STEPS
A planning application is expected to be submitted in January 2026.
Plans are for work to commence in early 2027. 

The Sun comes out – and cycle parking is needed

As spring flowers start to appear with snowdrops lining the lanes crocuses starting to show and days getting longer, many people are now getting out on their bikes. Whitchurch is seeing more cyclists visiting the cafés and shops and enjoying the improving weather.

Here we have often mentioned the distinct lack of cycle parking in the town centre and already this is again becoming a matter of concern. 

Arguably the Whitchurch Silk Mill is the most popular refreshment stop having good parking at the front.
rides from other areas such as Go Ride, ladies Breeze groups, and numerous Cycling Clubs from other towns visit regularly. But it is the town centre where the greatest problems arise such as on the pavements outside the Co-op and Kudos. Some cyclists have said they won't stop in Whitchurch, preferring other nearby localities that do provide facilities. Visiting cyclists need to know their often very valuable machines can be secure and unlikely to be stolen, hence they need parking to be in sight. 

Cycling provision improves trade
Even in a locality like Whitchurch which suffers traffic congestion it must be recognised that for every cycle journey made it is very often one less journey made by car, thus easing the roads for those who have to drive. 
Everyone benefits those who cycle, walk or drive.
We have covered this before.

Need for Council support
Quite why our local councils are not supporting the provision of cycle facilities is bewildering, given the proven benefit cycling provides in providing trade to businesses. The lack of adequate cycle parking simply results in more cycles leaning against shopfronts or obstructing pavements which cause annoyance and doesn't help anybody. Suggestions had been made for the use of Plantlock planters but there was not even a response.
https://cyclewhitchurch.blogspot.com/2024/08/use-of-community-infrastructure-levy.html

Platitudes and reports made about supporting sustainable travel, having climate change policies, and supporting green initiatives are a waste of time unless backed up by real actions.

•

 

'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:

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Use of Community Infrastructure Levy

Whitchurch Town Council has put out a request for suggestions as to how it should spend CIL. Community Infrastructure Levy is a charge which can be levied on new development. It can be used to help deliver the local infrastructure that is needed to support the development. It is collected by the local planning authority, which in this area is Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The Town Council has stated that it currently holds £13,240.49 of CIL contributions.

It has also stated that:

"The categories of expenditure are Physical (highways & transportation, pedestrian and cycle networks, energy supplies, utilities, flood alleviation measures), Social (education, health, social care, community halls, sports halls) and Green (public open spaces, play areas, parks)."

A suggestion...
Cycle Whitchurch has asked that a small amount of the funding is used to improve cycle parking within the town that would both enhance the street scene, provide an amenity for local and visiting cycle users, and support business and travel needs.
Its provision also supports the aims of the local Neighbourhood Plan, Hampshire's Local Transport Plan and helps mitigate the Climate Emergency.

'Plantlock' cycle parking
It can be placed under
shop windows or in paved areas

Plantlock
The suggestion made is for 'Plantlock' style parking which consists of containers that are dual use – for both containing attractive street enhancing planting as well as providing a place to lock cycles without the need to use shop windows or similar.

It has also been suggested that they could be used for promoting 'edible community planting' such as herbs and similar plants. There are volunteers who could help with this.

Such features are used in many other locations enhancing the local environments.
At low cost it would be a very good use of the some of the CIL monies.
It is hoped Whitchurch Town Council agrees. 

About the Community Infrastructure Levy:
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/planning/policy-and-legislation/CIL/about-CIL

Town Council rejects call for cycle parking

Whitchurch Town Council has rejected a request from a local resident for increasing the cycle parking provision in the town's centre. 

Whitchurch is very popular with visiting cyclists, many of whom bring trade to the town being attracted by the cafés and shops. The town is also often a stop for organised cycle rides and events, and there are local people who use their cycles to visit the local businesses.

However, the lack of suitable cycle parking has led to some cycles being left against shop fronts and in some cases cycles have been left laying on the pavements or even taken into shops blocking doorways.

Council had previously removed cycle stands
Two years ago, in what many felt was a regressive move, the Town Councillors removed most of the cycle parking that had only recently been installed and was starting to be well-used.
Some had claimed that the cycle stands hindered certain businesses from parking vehicles on the pavements for loading/unloading! Meanwhile others considered the Council's decision a knee-jerk reaction to a small orchestrated campaign that went against improving the town centre for all.

The Council reacted by relocating the cycle stands to areas outside the town centre including to the sports ground on the edge of town at Mill Springs where they now sadly reside empty as the sports area remains unused.

Understanding
This latest rejection shows that the Council still has far to go in understanding the wider issues. Towns and villages that recognise the value of provision for cycling (and walking), including parking, invariably see an increase in trade and economic vitality, as well as improving the environment, encouraging Active Travel and supporting Climate Emergency aims. This is also recognised by the Borough and County Councils. Since the cycle parking was removed by the Town Council at least three businesses have closed their doors.

It is a shame the benefits are not seen by Whitchurch Councillors.

*Note: as an aside to the decision not to provide more cycle parking the Councillors requested Whitchurch in Bloom to remove their beautifully decorated cycles from some existing racks. This makes little difference as they did not prevent cyclists using those racks as they simply locked to the colourful bikes. Instead it just removed some lovely bright colour from the town provided by a keen award-winning volunteer group who understand that a pleasant environment attracts more people to use the town facilities.

This cycle parking that helped add trade and vitality was removed by the Town Council. Apparently it was obstructing the pavement – for motorists!

The result of failing to address the need for adequate cycle parking in the town centre means more cycles are still leant against shopfronts or left obstructing footways.
As the weather improves this will inevitably get worse.

Failure to provide adequate cycle parking can lead to obstructions.

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.

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

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: