The most recent letter sent by Baughurst: Traffic Matters to Hampshire Highways was authored with significant input from half a dozen or more Baughurst residents. Writing letters in this way takes somewhat longer than rattling off a few sentences, but adds significant value because a number of different views can be expressed.

Discussions about traffic matters in the village frequently provoke passionate debate. I have not met anyone who does not have a strong opinion about something to do with the state of our roads and/or what should be done about them. Often there are opposing views about how to address the issues, but there is one concern that is shared:

There is a problem with the speed of traffic through our village that is detrimental to the safety of residents and to the environment in which we have chosen to make our homes.

Given the rise in the use of satallite navigation systems and the government's proposed 'pay as you go' scheme (don't get me started), there is little chance of traffic volumes subsiding. In the ten years I have lived in the village, the width of some parts of the roads have increased dramatically. In particular, the 'straightening' of bends has led directly to higher traffic speeds through blind corners. If we do nothing to to stem this, the pattern of erosion will increase until Baughurst becomes a village defined by the traffic running through it.

Baughurst: Traffic Matters is an attempt to arrive at a consensus on what can be done. I don't want to see Baughurst 'urbanised' any more than any one else but quite frankly, the roads and verges in the Parish are currently in such an appalling state that one could be forgiven for thinking that no-one really cares about how the village looks.

I am convinced that traffic can be 'calmed' using methods that are sympathetic to the village environment and would be acceptable to the overwhelming majority of residents. There is no 'quick fix' or easy solution. The options mentioned in the letter are simply ideas that have been suggested already. They are not proposals or solutions being offered, but provide an idea of what some residents would like to see.

We have no plans to put forward any proposal to Hampshire Highways until there has been a full and open discussion about it by all interested parties. There is little point wasting what little budget is likely to be available.

I do not yet know how we solve the problem, but am sure it can be resolved with a little creating thinking. So please let me know your thoughts and ideas, either as comments below or via the contact page.

~Philip