Road safety
What you said:
Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders feel unsafe travelling on the roads through much of Longparish. This is clearly an issue that the majority of villagers feel very strongly about - traffic needs to slow down and respect the needs of other road users. There are a number of blind spots that are particularly dangerous - bends, corners and areas where parking means the problems above are even more acute. In particular, the bends between the village hall and the school are seen as a real danger zone. It is also recognised that particular types of traffic - school runs, large lorries, coaches - can make the problems worse.
However, we value the rural character of the village, and this must be respected when proposing traffic calming measures.
What else is important:
We already have a 30mph speed zone but it does not apply to the whole of the village and many of the village amenities (eg church, village hall, school, shop, pubs) can put demands on existing parking facilities, and cause traffic problems. Large lorries often get lost, and cause difficulties when they reverse after getting directions, usually at the shop.
The footpaths could provide a safe pedestrian alternative to the road, but they are not always suitable in bad weather, or for those with children in buggies. "Suburban solutions" like streetlights, speed-bumps and large scale use of pavements are not in keeping with the rural character of the village.
What we propose:
- Actively support the proposals in the School Travel Plan including improving
the safety of the stretch of road between the village hall and the school
by:
- A pavement joining the village hall car park to the school.
- A 20mph school zone speed limit.
- School flashing warning signs.
- Work with the relevant authorities to improve safety in other parts
of the village by:
- Enforcement of the existing speed limit.
- Extension of the speed limited areas, particularly Forton to The Middleway and Southside Hill to The Common.
- Exploration of traffic calming measures.
- Continue to liaise with local businesses to reduce the problems with large lorries getting lost or driving too fast through the village.
- Explore the possibility of creating an all-weather surface for the footpath from North Acre to Middleton, so that pedestrians do not have to walk on the road.
- Monitor the parking situation near the major facilities of the village - school, (especially when the new community hall is completed), church, pubs, sports and recreation areas, beauty spots, etc - and, if necessary, explore alternative or additional parking arrangements.