Itchen Stoke & Ovington News
A Raft of Speed Limits
Thirty limits are causing confusion - say some drivers - does it catch you out? Are you getting in the habit of 30 yet?
Please put your Choose 30 sticker over the 40 one- Jackie will be dropping more through your doors this month as the 40's that are left on bins are preventing the Enforcement team from taking action on speeding vehicles.
I am getting into the 30 habit now - soon it will become as automatic as the forty used to be.
Itchen Stoke's new 30 limit seems to make sense to most drivers but I have requests for the remainder of the B3047 to be 40mph - at the Farm Shop and Princes Mead school.
Others say they have been overtaken.
The whole road is under consideration in the A and B road review, due to complete by the end of 2009. The facts are that speed kills and more people are killed on rural roads than urban ones. The dreadful accident record of three local deaths since Christmas bears testament to that fact. Please let me know how you are getting on with the new limits:
- Does it make you feel safer or more vulnerable?
- Are you being overtaken?
- Are you more confident to walk along the road now?
Graces Farm
The new surface will be done this Summer
The accidents at Christmas caused a great deal of concern as well as damage to the properties.
I asked for a friction test on the road: it is agreed that the surface is slightly below par, so it will resurfaced this Summer
Itchen Stoke Church
The Churches Conservation Trust own Itchen Stoke Church and according to their local representative, Frances Hurd,the Trust is keen to see the building open and used. This was a complete surprise to both Brian and Barry from Itchen Stoke and Ovington Parish Council and to Jackie when they met with Frances at the church on a chilly Friday morning in November.
The Parish Council doesn't have a public building for its own use and is interested in holding meetings there, and making the church fit for public use.
It needs lighting and heating and a lot of love to move on to the great step of regular use.
A small working party is being set up to develop this project.
Are you interested in being on that working party?
Are you an expert in Victorian heating systems, lighting, exhibitions, health and safety?
Are you, like some of us, entranced by the beautiful building?
Are you in a position to hold a concert there?
Could you help host an hour or a day at the Church during the National Labyrinth Festival in 2009? (the Church has an internationally acclaimed prayer labyrinth )
Please let Jackie know if you are interested.
Tel/text:07973 696085 downhouseporter@btinternet.com
Itchen Stoke gets 30 at last!
After years of campaigning, Jackie is pleased to say that the 30 wanted by most residents in the village should be in place according to HCC by March 2009. Easton rejects 30 after worries about street furniture. Despite a campaign by some local residents, the final verdict from Easton was a clear ‘ No’. Many residents did express a desire for a 20 limit. Liberal Democrats recently placed a motion to WCC recently requesting 20 on residential areas where local people wanted it.
I know that some people have been seeking a lower weight limit too, but there appears to be no reason for this on the B3047. However, the lower speed limits will increase the journey time to and from Winchester considerably and I hope that this will have an effect on the number of vehicles travelling, choosing the A31 instead.
We know the number of vehicles which travel daily along the route, measured last year, so there is a baseline figure to test the theory after Spring 2009.
I know too that more signage is not ideal in the Itchen Valley, but I have been assured that all the signage on the B3047 would be reviewed when Itchen Valley villages become part of the proposed National Park.
Thank you for your support for this campaign- your work has been invaluable in getting to the point it is today, and as far as I know, being right on the criteria borderline, Itchen Stoke is the smallest village in Hampshire to be on the list for a new 30mph limit !
