Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to the recent consultation about the chicanes on the High Street.
Unfortunately, there was a disappointing number of respondees with only 38 from a total of 762 people on the village’s electoral roll. Out of those, 19 were in favour of immediate removal of the chicanes and the other 19 were against the removal, wanted to wait, or were unclear in their thoughts.
Given that there is no overwhelming desire to see the chicanes removed, the Parish Council has decided to take no further action at this stage. This decision is also prompted by a number of other considerations:
(1) The Community Hub will, when completed, solve many of the parking issues on the High Street.
(2) The HIF1 (Housing Infrastructure Fund 1) project, which will build a new bridge across the River Thames, is expected to start development early next year and when completed, it is hoped that this will dramatically reduce traffic through the village.
(3) The cost of removing the chicanes (approximately £30,000) would have to come out of the council’s CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) receipts for the Wessex Way development. These funds are likely to be needed to make the Community Hub viable.
The Parish Council will revisit the removal of the chicanes when the outcomes of these considerations are clearer.
Whilst understanding the parish councils disappointment with the low response, many of the village residents will have abstained from commenting on an issue that, mainly, sadly affects those households living next to the the chicanes. Those locals that live in the village are aware of the traffic jam issues caused by these chicanes, at particular times of the day, and adjust timings accordingly.
I abstained from commenting on what seemed to be a short sighted waste of money, I don’t live on the high street, but sympathise with those that do. Silence is sometimes underrated.
I did comment and am pleased that the PC has decided not to go ahead with spending this large sum of money to remove what a previous PC had installed to stop cars racing through the village. Which could well happen again if they are removed also when the school and village hall are relocated this problem of tail backs should be solved. We need to back the people willing to give their time unpaid for the village . With new housing let us Hope some will be willing to get involved .
A wise & prudent & pragmatic choice.
The new chicane has been hit several times and we have seen people drive over the grass to get round the chicane.