A young lady was recently seen to ride the full length of Winchester Street on the pavement - but was it because she was frightened of how the roads are used today? Had it been instilled into her at a young age how dangerous 'roads' are? If that's the case, shouldn't we be addressing that danger?
While pavement cycling often receives the harshest complaints drivers seem to be able drive on and park on our pavements and verges with impunity, causing obstructions and increasing dangers to all who move around on foot – whether it be for shopping, taking children to school, or going to work.
It is not the 'roads' which are dangerous but how they are used.
Regular obstructions
Yet the same laws that apply to cycling also apply to motor vehicles – a very old Highways Act of 1835 – but every day in Whitchurch vehicles are seen driving onto and being parked on pavements. The town's social media regularly sees complaints, yet the practice continues and little or no action is taken.
However, many of the problems are by the drivers of over-sized commercial vehicles, complete with few safety features and many blind spots. These have been allowed to become far too large for the streets and narrow footways of a small rural town like Whitchurch.
They drive across road corners, crack kerbstones, knock down street furniture, break paving slabs, damage inspection covers and even swipe pieces off our historic buildings.
All this is at a massive cost both in physical damage and quality of life. Children, the elderly, and those with sight and mobility difficulties are most at risk.Streets are for people
Streets are for all people but is this something we have allowed to be lost; and need to redress? The Town Council has responded where it can but has very limited powers, however it can try and influence the decision makers on behalf of local residents.
Many people do need to drive into and around town. It needs to be easy for those whose livelihood and lifestyles require access and this must remain. Deliveries and access for essential services must be able to continue, but the impact on safety, damage and the fabric of out town must also be addressed.
PreventionIn a number of places dragons teeth – chamfered wooden posts – have been installed in verges to prevent anti-social and illegal parking; the most recent being in Winchester Road. These protect the ground, reduce obstructions and help maintain our open space but what else could be done? How can we return our footways to places for safe walking, rather than for the dodging of the motor vehicle?
What could be done?Perhaps placing restrictions on HGV sizes at certain times of the day? Maybe banning large vehicles that don't have side protection bars? Perhaps a rogues gallery of pavement parking? Maybe reporting of commercial companies that put our safety in danger? Perhaps even employing a Whitchurch 'warden' who could issue on the spot penalties?
Any ideas would be very welcome.
The next time it may not just be a bollard that is knocked over.
