The Group are in the process of circulating a draft letter to HCC and BDBC requesting that the existing 40 MPH restriction along Baughurst Road is extended through the narrow bending section of this road.
We look forward to receiving your views for and against the suggestions; to follow is a copy of the draft letter:
The Engineering and Traffic Group
Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
Civic Offices, London Road
Basingstoke
Hampshire RG21 4AH Date XXXXXX
Dear Sirs,
Baughurst: Traffic Matters represents local residents living in the Baughurst area.
The group was formed in order to highlight the concerns regarding road safety, expressed by our residents. Primarily the group is working to:
Protect and enhance the Parish’s roadside verges and the rural character of our narrow lanes.
Discourage through-traffic and inappropriate use by heavy goods vehicles.
Reduce traffic speeds to redress the balance of safety for all road users, especially those enjoying the countryside through walking, running, cycling and horse riding.
We are writing to your team and the Road Safety Team at HCC.
The group have identified a number of country lanes which are used as ‘regular routes’ by non-motorised road users and wish to make these routes safer and more enjoyable to use. We support the use of these regular routes as it encourages a healthy lifestyle and helps people to enjoy our rural environment without the need for use of a motor car.
We have recently worked with Hampshire Highways maintenance team to carry- out reinstatement of road side verges and this reinstatement work resulted in an improved rural character; it also acts as natural traffic calming (it gives the motorist the perception of a narrower road width) and reduces the wear and tear on the roadside edges that normally result in potholes and the crumbling of the road edge, leading to increased maintenance costs. We understand that Hampshire Highways have further maintenance planned for the Baughurst area in the near future.
Taking the above points into account, we are writing to request that consideration be given to extending the existing 40 MPH speed restriction along Baughurst Road, Baughurst. We would ask that this restriction be extended south from the point were it currently ends, close to the Wellington Arms public house through to the village boundary (close to Baughurst House). This section of the road is extremely narrow in places and is regularly used by those cycling, walking, running and horse riding
There are very narrow sections along the de-restricted section of Baughurst Road and as these sections form part of the ‘regular routes’ mentioned above, we feel strongly that action should be taken to make the road safer. The verge reinstatement and improved white lining are already sending a message to drivers to ‘slow down’ and a reduction in the legal speed limit will certainly make a positive impact.
In the longer term we would like to investigate with the Roads Safety Team the methods that could be adopted to enhance, protect and encourage use of our ‘regular routes’ and believe that some kind of ‘Quiet Lanes’ initiative could be extremely valuable.
The lanes identified that make up our 'regular routes' are identified on the attached map.
As you will see below we have copied this letter to other interested parties in the community and in doing so we invite comment and support. As always, we invite residents’ comments and support through our community website Baughurst: Traffic Matters (www.baughurst.org.uk) .
We look forward to hearing from you in the very near future.
Yours faithfully
For Baughusrt:Traffic Maters Group
C.C
Baughurst Parish Council
Baughurst Society
Marilyn Tucker, Hampshire County Council
Peter Eade Hampshire Highways Maintenance