Community SpeedWatch - some thoughts

Last week I attended a Community SpeedWatch meeting in Basingstoke.  It was quite eye opening on several levels, given that it can be a contentious subject.

The following are my personal views from that meeting.

Firstly it was very well-attended with a mix of representatives from existing groups, and several just trying to find out more.

The meeting was led by Chief Superintendent Dave Powell who has overall responsibility for the schemes in Hampshire.

Driver education
SpeedWatch schemes are designed for educating drivers rather than enforcement. Presently the volunteers record drivers who exceed limits then log these with the Police. Drivers may then receive advisory letters and visits, but SpeedWatch in itself does not lead to prosecutions.

However it was also made clear that the Police are intending to make better use of the information from SpeedWatch, perhaps as intelligence for locations for enforcement by the Police Roads Policing Unit that could lead to legal proceedings for speeding.

Starting a Scheme
Setting up a scheme is fairly easy. There needs to be six volunteers including a local Coordinator, ownership or access to a SID (Speed Indicator Device) and ancillary equipment, plus support from the Parish/Town Council.
Total outlay is in the region of £2500 for the equipment with match funding of £1000 presently available for around 70 new schemes from the Police. Ongoing costs are small – just maintenance and new pencils. To break a misconception, no hair dryers are required.
Volunteers need to complete an application form, be approved by the Police and undergo training – and a scheme can be set up within a couple of months.

Locations
The local SpeedWatch groups select the locations which are then checked to ensure they are suitable on safety grounds - for insurance purposes. SpeedWatch can take place in 40, 30, and 20mph areas.
I wonder where would be best in Whitchurch?
Winchester Street? Newbury Hill? Evingar Road? London Road? 

Some concerns
Despite reassurances, I came away with some niggling concerns, particularly after one attendee wanted a more 'Police-like' uniform – the word vigilante came to mind.
That scares me more than a bit. But speeding is a crime, it frightens people, and is a factor in many deaths and injuries.
I have also heard of someone who thinks it should be used for collecting information for other uses other than driver education. Is that a valid use of SpeedWatch? I'm unsure. There is a risk people with hidden agendas could become involved.

I also question whether the finance should instead go towards more local policing, but looking at the limited funds being made available, and seeing the massive cuts being made to the Police, that would look to be pie-in-the-sky.

I am undecided
At the moment I am very much keeping an open mind as despite my concerns there are benefits too. Road crashes are the biggest single killer of our young people and excess speed is very often a cause. I oppose the cuts that the Police force is presently suffering and question some of the priorities being set by our Government and County Council.

For what it's worth: MY CONCLUSION 
I have reservations, unless it is controlled and managed fairly, used correctly, and there is full trust in those running it.

You could not make this up

Should an 8-year old to walk to school over two miles along one of Hampshire's worst roads?

Rotten Hill on the B3400 between Laverstoke and Overton is one of the most feared roads in the area, and indeed was recently reported as having the third worst collision rate in Hampshire and worst in the Basingstoke & Deane Borough. Collisions are many, near misses even more, while vehicles often mount the poorly maintained unlit roadside pavement.
Yet a mother is reported as being expected to allow her 8-year old son to walk over two miles along this dangerous road to reach his Primary School in Overton. She has reported that the County Council have informed her they are removing the previously provided pupil taxi-service, despite her suffering a medical condition that prevents driving herself.

Further danger to come
The road is already treacherous, and will become even more so with the opening of the Bombay Sapphire Distillery and Visitors Centre, which is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors a year, plus hundreds of extra lorry and coach movements.

And that is before taking into account the massive increases in housing planned in both Whitchurch and Overton together with its associated employment and school traffic journeys.

Not fit for purpose
So welcome to the world of HCC's road safety strategies. Requests to improve this road go ignored - yet this road is not fit for purpose. The County takes millions from the government for the Sustainable Transport Fund and supports the building of bus stations like Andover, while at the same time cutting bus services. In whose world do they live?

Why not provide safe routes?
What about making cycling and walking safer? Why not provide a safe segregated walking/cycling route? And in this family's case why not let the child travel in the HCC taxi which is already passing their front door as it travels from Whitchurch to Overton? Did I mention they had so far not allowed that?
Instead they seem to expect the 8-year old to walk immediately adjacent to all the speeding lorries and buses.
The family is of course appealing. Let's hope sense is seen.

Is the emphasis wrong?
It should be asked why are Hampshire's casualty figures for the most vulnerable road users amongst the worst in the country? Perhaps it is because their emphasis on handing out leaflets and hi-viz materials is just a box-ticking sticking plaster which some claim verges on victim-blaming, while their refusal to invest adequately in safe routes or enforce speed limits just beggars belief given the benefits to all.

Appeal, but note the day chosen
Meanwhile the mother frets and awaits their final decision. Five months later another site visit is being made to re-assess the route – and they choose a day when the local Secondary schools are closed so the buses, taxis, parent-run trips between Overton and Whitchurch are much reduced.
You couldn't make that up if you tried.

Young people have died here
As these HCC road safety 'experts' and their Councillors walk over Rotten Hill they should stop gather their thoughts at a roadside memorial – which the 8-year old would  pass each day.
The cross and plaque to an 18-year old young lady who lost her life when in a car that left this road, should be a poignant reminder of their responsibilities to provide safe travel for all.

"the most dangerous stretch of road"
At the time of that tragic loss, several comments were made regarding the safety of this stretch of road, including by one local resident: "I lived in the area for 19 years, and it is in my opinion the most dangerous stretch of road I've come across. Something has to be done."

HCC Councillors please take note, that was five years ago.
More incidents have occurred since and nothing has been done.

Please make a sensible decision for the sake of this family, then look seriously at the dangers on this and other roads that affect us all.

(note that these views are entirely my own)

Improving Communications in Whitchurch

Whitchurch Town Council is to have a new Communications team

What is the best way to share news, opinions and ideas?

There is no doubt that the Town Council has gone through an unfortunate rocky patch with the recent resignations, together with the associated press and social media fallout.

There has been a massive change with half the Council having joined in the last seven months - with SIX new volunteer Councillors elected or co-opted.
 
This means new ideas and approaches may come to the fore – and good communication becomes even more important than ever. All public bodies needs to be open and approachable or they cannot serve the people it represents. 
Whitchurch Town Council should be no different.

Effective communication builds trust and confidence and can generate wider interest, increase active involvement, and improve greater understanding within the town about 'how it works'. After all, who fully knows who is responsible what, be in Town, Borough or County?

THE PLANS

I thought I would present a proposal to the Town Council – pleasingly it was accepted.

Over the coming months improvements are to be made in how the Town Council communicates with local residents with a small team being established to oversee this.

This is a chance for local people to be more involved.

Amongst the plans there will be production of a simple and easily read news bulletin to highlight the work of the Town Council and its responsibilities. Personal contact is to be encouraged together with opportunities to tour the Town Hall and ask questions of Councillors.
In addition online presence will be developed with greater use of social media channels, something that has had some discussion on the town's Facebook pages.

It is hoped to promote a culture of openness, accessibility, and two-way communication – and with it an improved understanding of the role of the Town Council in our wonderful town.

It won't happen overnight and will be a slow process but the whole town could work together on this. 

If anyone has any suggestions as to how they would like this to develop, please be in touch.