A LOCAL bus service for Whitchurch area?

As is now fairly well known, Stagecoach are to change their bus routes again in Whitchurch following local consultations, lobbying from various groups and assessment of their own data. 

From July 17th the No.76 will no longer serve Evingar Road, the Station, or Lynch Hill Park. It will travel straight through the Square from Basingstoke towards Andover, and also the reverse. Meanwhile a limited hourly No.86 services will return to serving the Station 'loop'. Areas such as Caesar's Way, Bere Hill, and the Knowlings are also presently without a service, as are many rural areas.

These latest changes won't please everyone! Stagecoach is wholly a commercial company and make their own decisions. Meanwhile the Town Council has no direct role in routes or timetabling but encourages and facilitates dialogue between users and the company. It can be frustrating that they have no decision role, but that is a result of past government changes to legislation. 

Will you be affected? 

...is there an opportunity here?
Whitchurch is a growing town and there may be opportunities to introduce a community-based service to cater for trips to the shops, the surgery, the post office, or for visiting friends – and to cover routes residents are saying are essential. It could also serve outlying villages and link the surrounding rural areas to local amenities.

Ideas are in a very early stage, and demand has to be assessed both on need and viability. With the town's Community Bus service presently being examined by Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, the big question is whether it could be enhanced or extended.

Potential

Town Councillor John Buckley (me) and Borough Councillor Chloe Ashfield have met with Borough Officers and have been looking at the potential for developing a community service further. They would like to know what demand there may be for a local service.

Would you use a local service?

A focussed workshop for people who would like to contribute their support is to be held on Friday 15th July and John and Chloe would like to hear from anyone who would like to be involved. They are particularly keen to hear from those who might use such a service if it could developed, both for in the town and for outlying villages.

It needs to be stressed this is very tentative at this stage but rarely has there been such an opportunity for Whitchurch.

Contacts are:

John Buckley : 01256 892650 or via the Whitchurch Town Hall Office

Cllr John Buckley (Whitchurch Town Council)
Chloe Ashfield: 07717 175 368 or via Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
Cllr Chloe Ashfield (Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council)

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Feeling Proud

I must admit, becoming a Town Councillor was a bit of a shock – it was not expected and to be honest a little outside my comfort zone, not always being one for processes, policies and formality. I felt rather gobsmacked when I won, and the feeling of honour was fairly over-powering.
That will remain with me forever.

But over the last couple of years I have learned a lot, mostly that those who sit around the Council table are just like you and me – ordinary people who just happen to love their town and want to do the best they can for it, in their own time and often expense.
Yes, there is some red-tape, and yes there are things like Standing Orders and Regulations, but foremost it is the commitment by the volunteer Councillors to making Whitchurch a better place that comes across as paramount.

But rarely have I felt so proud and humbled as to the latest surprise development.

To be selected as the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Chairman of 'my' town is something I still cannot get my head around – something that confounds yet excites, and makes me shake my head at the sheer privilege of being chosen.

Right: The Deputy Mayor's insignia.

Words still fail me.
"Feeling Proud" will have to do – while I now make the promise to undertake the role to the best of my very limited ability.

Newbury Street – a history of crashes

Descending down Newbury Street in Whitchurch has always been 'dodgy' but until recently I hadn't realised just how many serious incidents had occurred.

I had read recent Police Reports that referred to incidents of a fairly minor nature, and as a pedestrian I was already accustomed to contending with vehicles – cars, lorries, buses and tractors – regularly mounting the narrow pavements and even hearing of wing mirrors hitting people.
 
An increase in traffic levels, vehicle size and more on-road parking, along with the blind bends, have only made matters worse. Buses presently no longer use the hill but other large vehicles still put lives at risk.

Whitchurch Nostalgia
But it was the recent creation of the excellent Whitchurch Nostalgia page on Facebook which raised my awareness to another level.

I already knew of the car driver who recently lost control descending Newbury Street, left the road and completely snapped one of the cast iron bollards at the Zebra crossing. It was more by luck than judgement this wasn't a family wanting to cross the road. It was not an isolated case though, as other bollards that protect pedestrians have also been knocked down.

I also knew of the cyclist of some years back whose brakes failed on the hill, then went hurtling across the roundabout and through the shop window of what is now Velvet Rose. Roads were closed for what was a serious and reportedly bloody injury with the rider lucky to survive with their life.

But this new Facebook page has shown that the hill has earlier histories of dangers too.

Right: Lorry hits shop front with fatality.

What I didn't know was about the lorry driver who lost control  in 1952, or was it '53, and almost demolished what is now Payne's Printers as they embedded their vehicle into the shop's frontage.
This reportedly resulted not just in injury and damage, but also in the tragic fatality of the passenger. Was this the first road related death caused by the Newbury Street hill?

Left: Driver loses control. 

Then there was the driver of a saloon car who, in 1982, crashed into the front of what was Culley's shop, now occupied by solicitors Barker, Son and Isherwood – a horrific experience for the staff working there at the time. The vehicle ended up on its side, the road closed and staff had to be evacuated.

But it was reading of a bus that caused most concern.

Right: Bus wedged across Newbury Street.

 The driver lost control on a slippery winter's road, and the Hants and Dorset single decker slewed right across the carriageway only narrowly missing turning over.
It finally became wedged between the buildings on both sides of the road just below Laundry Yard. For any passengers it must have been a stomach-churning experience and it was probably more by luck than judgement that multiple fatalities did not occur.

But these are not the only incidents to have occurred – there have been many others. A few years back Hampshire County Council recognised the dangers of this hill and apparently put down an anti-skid surface. They also placed a large sign to warn drivers of the risk of slipping. Due to the parking, it is not uncommon to meet vehicles on the wrong side of the road and a resultant head on collision could be horrendous.
That sign, remains to this day.

Left: Warnings in place today.

With several topical discussions taking place on 1) a proposed new Business Park on land at the top of the hill; 2) the revised bus route through the town, and 3) the increase in HGVs in Whitchurch, is the Real Question  – should ANY large vehicles use Newbury Street?
Maybe not close it, but perhaps a weight/size restriction?

Food for Thought?


Note:
Some of the pictures here have come from the Whitchurch Nostalgia Facebook site. It is hoped that is acceptable – apologies if not. Acknowledgements can be provided if photographers wish.
Meanwhile visit that excellent resource here:
WHITCHURCHHANTSNOSTALGIA

and also now...

WHITCHURCH HISTORY SOCIETY

Friday on the Bus

THE WHITCHURCH COMMUNITY BUS – a bus for everyone

To Betty, Molly, Alice, Graham and everyone else on the bus – thank you for your wonderful company on the little yellow bus. There can be no doubt, this service must be kept for the people of Whitchurch and the surrounding area.

A day on the Whitchurch Community Bus (which can be yellow, green or red, and is now white) was an eye-opener as I joined Basingstoke & Deane's Transport Officer on travelling the route and meeting the regular passengers. Basingtoke presently fund this much needed service so want to know how it is used – What could be improved? Did it meet users needs? What did passengers like, or dislike?

Left: Picking up in the Square

Serving the town and surrounds
The small bus was being driven by its friendly and ever-helpful driver John. It started its journey in Laverstoke, picked up in Whitchurch centre, wound its way around Micheldever Road and the Knowlings, then back into town. It served Evingar Road, the Railway Station before heading north out into the wonderful countryside to Litchfield and back. It even called into the Surgery on the way so one passenger could drop off a prescription and pick up their medicines.

Passengers got on and off, all knowing John by name, who helped with bags and shopping trolleys, often carrying them to the passenger's front doors. To many this bus is a lifeline. For some it is their only way of getting their shopping and essential services. But for everyone it is a wonderful social experience.

After its trip into the lanes, the bus came back into Whitchurch where it picked up those it had left earlier to shop, then again wound its way around the town's streets dropping off at homes. Once again it was the Town centre, Wells Lane, the Knowlings, Lynch Hill Park and Laverstoke that were served.

Right: The service at Litchfield

Twice a week
It presently only runs on Tuesdays and Fridays with a flat fare of £1.00 per journey, £2.00 return, with bus passes also being valid. The passengers are all well known to John and each other, although sometimes children will travel with their grandparents for the ride -– it's a lot of fun.
The bus runs on a very flexible  hail and ride basis, and passengers will also ring up to let John know if they are travelling. It seems little is too much trouble, and the personal touch is something a commercial operator may not easily replicate.

Could it do more?
Undoubtedly yes, and not just running more times a week. Perhaps it could serve some of those who have been disadvantaged by the 76 and 86 service bus changes and maybe provide such as access to lunch clubs or day centres? But the bus is for everyone. Maybe it could provide links to walking routes for those wanting to enjoy the countryside, or run trips out to rural pubs and support local businesses? Many ideas that came out of today's journey.

Not just transport – Social benefits too
The social benefits of this service are enormous. As one regular passenger said as she alighted at Litchfield on Friday afternoon "I'll not now see anyone 'til Monday". Who would that be? "My hairdresser who comes out to me," came the answer with a glint – followed by "then on Tuesday it's the bus again for a shopping trip."
She and all the others had a genuine fondness for the service, for without it many of them would be stranded and be confined to a lonely life. On what bus would every passenger be waving goodbye with wide smiles as they set off?

This service deserves our support - and further development

Details are available from Whitchurch Town Hall or Basingstoke Community Transport on:
01256 320501