Dear Baughurst Traffic Matters:
Being a Special Constable (and the occasional horse rider) I fully appreciate the safety concerns and the dangers associated with rural roads. Too many times have I been passed whilst on horse back by vehicles travelling in an inappropriate manner for the roads in our community. Two years ago it would have been a rare occasion to meet a HGV whilst riding around this area, only last month did I have to contend with three in a row! Some motorists seem oblivious to people on horses, let alone pedestrians walking.

The correspondence relating to Baughurst: Traffic Matters is now online. When permission is given by all parties we will endeavour to publish all documents on this site in an open and transparent manner.

To: Mr Peter Eade
Assistant Chief Engineer
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire Highways Basingstoke

Your reference: 1021745

Dated: 3rd December 2006

Dear Mr Eade,

Highway Issues in Baughurst

Thank you for your letter dated 3rd November 2006. As you can see from the letter heading we have formed a group with the aim of gathering the views and ideas from as wide a spectrum as possible of the local community.

We are pleased to read that for the future your team will look more carefully at verge repairs in Baughurst Parish. We are however still concerned that over the last couple of weeks we have seen that many verges are still being replaced with tarmacadam. For example, the junction at Shaw Lane and Rimes Lane has suffered many times from this treatment.

Dated: 03 November 2006

Dear Mr Round

Highway Issues in Baughurst

Thank you for writing recently on 15th October 2006 regarding the width of roads in Baughurst. I have read your comprehensive report on the matter and discussed it further with my local engineer.

As you will be aware the level of traffic on all roads whether rural or urban, major or minor is steadily increasing and the problem of overrun where tyres cause rutting at the edge of the road surfacing is unfortunately very common. As a result the Highway Authority receives a steady flow of tyre damage claims relating to this aspect of highway maintenance. To counteract this it is common practice to either fill in the ruts with hard material such as stone aggregate or tarmacadam or to construct kerbing to delineate the edge of the toad and then resurface locally up to the face of the kerbs. Timber posts are also used but this may set in train repeat maintenance visits.

To: The Road Safety Team
Hampshire County Council

Dated: Sunday 15th October 2006

Dear Sirs,

The Widening of our lanes is dangerous and is damaging the rural character of Baughurst.

I have been asked to write to you by Residents of Baughurst, we are extremely concerned that you have once again widened Baughurst Road without any local consultation. Despite your previous and recent commitments not to replace eroded roadside verges with tarmac, this continues to happen. The continuance of this inconsiderate work method has again increased the road width of this country lane by stealth. This process is encouraging vehicles to travel at faster speeds. Such actions are dangerous and will cause people to be injured and of course it is damaging the rural character of Baughurst.