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Special Notices
Choose 30 - your decision makes all the difference
Following public consultation, the St Mary Bourne ‘Village 30’ scheme took effect on 10 June 2010, with all new signs in place and enforcement on existing and new restricted sectors coming within three months. Please Choose 30 - or get caught!What is it? Choose 30 is a campaign aimed at persuading people that reducing their speed in a rural village can have a positive impact on the local community. It was created to complement the County Council’s Village 30 project, an ongoing scheme to reduce speed limits to 30mph in villages where the community requests it and the location fits set criteria. Why? Speeding is a concern to many, particularly in villages where local communities want to reduce traffic dominance and improve the quality of life. The definition of a village is set as 20 or more houses within 600 metres which should give an adequate message to drivers to reduce their speed or to Choose 30. Choose 30 is a message to drivers that all communities deserve the same respect whether they live in villages or urban areas. Reduced speed limits in rural villages can have a big impact on the quality of life for residents in those communities. The intention is that with reduced limits, appropriate signs, enforcement and education we will achieve a significant reduction in the speed of traffic through villages. On request to the St Mary Bourne Parish Council Office, t: 01264 738039 or e: clerk@stmarybourne-pc.gov.uk , there is a limited quantity of A3 Bin Stickers with the Choose 30 message for those households who are interested in spreading the Choose 30 message. Proposed Smannell Road Diversion at East Anton (updated 16 June 2010)
In response to the approval of the Outline Planning Application for the diversion, over 70 legitimate objections from parishioners and two parish councils were received by the Department of Transport. The DoT subsequently decided to hold a Public Enquiry this July. The Parish Council has submitted its objection to the proposal (see letter dated 16 June below) and is very concerned about the impact of the proposed stopping-up of the above highway and its subsequent re-routing through a new residential housing estate development under construction. The existing road is an important road link for the residents of St Mary Bourne, Stoke and our other small hamlets. The proposed routing of the C99 through a housing estate will make journeys to and from Andover longer and result in more pollution, congestion and risk to pedestrians, parked vehicles and other users of the highway. A recent survey showed that between 7am and 7pm 1,275 vehicle journeys were recorded. There are concerns about emergency vehicle response times along this route being affected and the many large and wide agricultural vehicles still using this route. St Mary Bourne Parish Council's statement to the Inspector of the Local Public Enquiry into the stopping up of Smannell Road (see below), together with a petition of 255 signatures by local residents objecting to the stoppage, was placed in the Royal Mail on 16 June 2010. Under the terms of the Local Public Enquiry, which is to be held at the Lights theatre, Andover, on 20 July 2010 at 10am, a copy of our submission & petition has also been sent to the applicant, WYG Trench Farrow, and a copy of our submission will also be handed to the Andover Library who are obliged to display our submission from 22 June 2010. Update 21 July 2010: The enquiry lasted two days. The Inspector will send his report to the Secretary of State (SoS) in circa two to three weeks. The SoS will then either accept the Inspector's recommendations (at this juncture, not known) or override them, either way. The SoS could take days, weeks (or even months) before he decides. Some of those attending the enquiry and hearing the cases (and rebuttals) fear that the stopping order will be upheld. Let’s hope they are wrong. For the attention of the Inspector for the Public Local Inquiry into the proposed stopping up of the Highway at Smannell Road, Smannell, East Anton, Andover. c/o Department of Transport Ref: NATTRAN/SE/S247/85 16 June 2010 Re: Stopping-up of part of Andover to Smannell Road (C99). The Parish Council of St Mary Bourne is very concerned about the impact of the proposed stopping up of part of the above highway, and its subsequent re-routing through a new residential housing estate development of East Anton, currently under construction. Although the proposed stopping-up lies in the neighbouring parish of Smannell, the existing road is an important road link for the residents of St Mary Bourne, Stoke and our other small hamlets, both for those who work in Andover and for shopping and leisure links. The narrow alternative route of the Walworth Road (C23) is already very congested with both Whitchurch to Andover traffic. Also, a major local employer’s large articulated lorries (Vitacress Salads Ltd) and their workers use this route. In addition the condition of the road surface and gullies of the C23 is very poor, and it is our understanding that no repairs are forthcoming for this route from Hampshire Highways in the foreseeable future. The proposed routing of the C99 through a housing estate will not only make journeys to and from Andover longer, but will result in more pollution, congestion and risk to pedestrians, residents parked vehicles and other users of the highway, in the new housing estate. The C99 is the only practical route for the Smannell Parish residents and visitors together with our Stoke residents and visitors, without involving a long detour, when journeying to and from Andover. Andover is an important town for many residents of our parish, as well as neighbouring parishes, such as Smannell, for work, shopping and leisure purposes as well as for other services such as medical, legal and banking. A recent survey undertaken by Smannell Parish Council showed that between 7am and 7pm, 1,275 vehicle journeys were recorded. We also have concerns about emergency vehicle response times along this route being affected, as the Andover Ambulance station’s route to both Smannell and St Mary Bourne would use the C99, as well as an alternative route for the Andover Fire Station. Many homes in the parish and neighbouring parishes have thatched roofs and in the last decade we have had two serious thatch fires that have made four households homeless. Despite the new housing development there still remains many hundreds of acres of working agricultural land in the area and consequently there will be slower-moving, large and wide agricultural vehicles still using this route. Also, fully loaded grain/straw lorries, which are very heavy and noisy, will be travelling at night during the harvest season. These vehicles need to use this road when accessing fields closer to Andover as they are not able to utilIse the C23 because of the narrow road bridge on a double bend in the centre of St Mary Bourne village. Other commercial vehicles are also not able to use the C23 when accessing St Mary Bourne and will sometimes use the C99. We urge you reject the stopping up application. Yours faithfully Derek Kane Village Fire 29 January 2007 - Update 17 July 2010The fire started in the SMB High Street on the afternoon of Monday 29 January 2007. It soon spread to neighbouring properties. Three thatched cottages were devastated: ‘The Cottage’, ‘Hansdale’ and ‘Langley’; ‘The House’ was also damaged. There were no injuries. July 2010: The lights go out in the heart of the village! Great news for the heart of the village following the devastating cottage fires on 29 January 2007. Work on the reconstruction of The Cottage, Hansdale and Langley Cottage, is now complete and the traffic lights can be switched off! After a painstaking rebuild, all three properties are now looking fabulous, and finally the road is back fully operational to all villagers. The re-housed residents are delighted with the quality of architectural design from Luffmans of Salisbury, and the workmanship of AG Builders of Pewsey, who have worked tirelessly with the authorities to enhance the properties whilst ensuring all regulatory requirements were met. Eve Lind-Smith commented: “It is wonderful to be ‘Home’. The Cottage still has elements of the original, the bathroom now has a door and the front door can be opened fully!” The Burlisons who were the last to return to their property are delighted to be able to introduce their 1 month old daughter, Ava Rose, to her new bedroom, adjacent to Grace, who now at the age of four realises that the ‘red, amber, green for go’ lights are indeed her home! Eve Lind-Smith, Pat & Pat Morgan and the Burlisons would like to thank all villagers, parish council, parish church, and in particular the neighbours adjacent and opposite to the properties for their support and patience during the last three and a half years. They are now looking forward to settling into their new homes. They have also expressed an interest in purchasing the traffic lights as they feel they will be sadly missed!! Janice and Dave Burlison (on behalf of all the Cottage Owners) -17 July 2010 This page was last edited on 28 Jul 2010 |
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