Meeting held at Chalk and Cheese on

Traffic Issues in Maiden Newton and Frome Vauchurch.

 10:00am 24^th February 2006.

I present what amounts to my tidied up notes of the meeting. If I have missed anything important or got anything wrong please let me know. If you are interested in commenting on these issues please take a look at the new Maiden Newton & Frome Vauchurch community blog.

Note: DCC = Dorset County Council, MN = Maiden Newton, FV = Frome Vauchurch, MNPC = Maiden Newton Parish Council.

The meeting was chaired by The Right Honourable Oliver Letwin.

Also present were Chairman of Maiden Newton Parish Council Mrs Sally Falkingham, Mr Doug Chalmers DCC, Mr Andrew Berry DCC, a representative of the police.

About sixty members of the public were present. The very well tempered meeting lasted about an hour and a quarter.

Many traffic issues were discussed but broadly there was a consensus that there was a problem with speeding at both ends of the village, with Frome Vauchurch�s Crewkerne end suffering most. There was some speeding within the village but that it was limited by parked cars and road layout. There was no real consensus on parking, especially to what extent double yellow lines should be used and extended.

Here is a list of the main concerns and matters raised by members of the public:

The pavement and road calming in Dorchester Road near Frome Lane was unsatisfactory as it required people to cross the road twice due to a break in the pavement on the north side, that it had removed the on-road parking spaces of several houses, that the pavement was difficult to negotiate, that it encouraged speeding as vehicles rushed to get through it.

That there are already too many double yellow lines in the village causing parking problems for residents and that a general increase in their use should be avoided.

That there are not enough double yellow lines in the village.

Difficulties exiting Bull Lane/Dorchester Road junction due to poor visibility. Also a difficult place for pedestrians to cross.

Problem of people parking in Bull Lane blocking access for Fire Service.

Potential problems due to extra traffic using Bull Lane because of the large number of extra houses it will serve.

That a large number of large lorries thundered through the village.

That the number of lorries that thundered through the village was much reduced after efforts over the past few years to redirect them onto the A37.

The congestion caused by cars park on the north side of Dorchester Road opposite the garage.

Difficulties in exiting Corn Stores due in part to poor visibility.

The lack of pavement outside the Bakers is very hazardous as one steps out of the shop straight into the road.

That there was not enough policing.

That Dorset County Council did not enforce parking restrictions.

That the White Horse Visitors Car Park was always full.

That the White Horse Visitors Car Park was always empty.

The junction at Cattistock Road was dangerous and made worse by parked cars.

The possibility mooted some time ago that a one way system somehow involving Stanstead Road was mentioned.

That a loading bay be considered outside the corner store.

That a zebra crossing be considered in Church Road at the Dorchester Road end.

That there were not enough speed signs entering the village from the Crewkerne end.

That there were far too many speed signs entering the village from the Crewkerne end.

Finally, raising quite a cheer, it was pointed out that Frampton has had vast sums spent on it while MN/FV has had next to nothing.

Mr Doug Chalmers from Dorset County Council was present. He made the following points:

That the Council always strove to maintain a balance between safety and road clutter.

That the traffic calming/pavement in Dorchester Road was the result of extensive consultation with the Parish Council and others. It was pointed out that it was not originally a traffic calming measure but part of a �safe walking to school� scheme. After the pavements were introduced there was no longer room for two way traffic and the priority system was introduced.

That, following an application by MNPC, the possibility of extending the 30mph limit and introducing a 40mph buffer zone eastwards was being considered.

That he did not support a general increase in double yellow lines but that small extensions to existing schemes would be considered.

He said that temporary SIDS (flashes up and records what speed you are going at) would be situated at both ends of the village. (They get moved round from village to village). Maiden Newton was already on the list for these.

The plans for the pavement in Frome Vauchurch along Natalia Terrace had just come into his possession. The scheme involved the purchase of land and would not be completed for about three years. The Council would present the plans at a public exhibition in Frome Vauchurch soon. The scheme will involve a narrowing of the road thus solving the problem of vehicles entering the village at speed.

Mr Andrew Berry from Dorset County Council spoke about the Rural Roads Initiative which is run by DCC and ANOB. It seeks to improve the environment by redesigning roads and reducing signage and other street furniture. The project is still at the investigative stage and will report in early 2007. Maiden Newton, following a request from MNPC, is involved in the pilot scheme for Dorset.

The Police Representative made the following observations:

Speed issues are dealt with by the Road Safety Partnership which is based at Winfrith. They had strict criteria based on accident statistics on where they could expend their effort and that Maiden Newton had a very good record on safety.

His operational team could come out for special circumstances. He gave the example from another village of an individual who used to travel at high speed through the village early every morning. He said that he got up early one day to catch him.

He could do spot checks which, incidentally, can only be done from one tenth of a mile or more inside the speed restriction sign.

He said that his team were very thinly spread over this part of Dorset but would include Maiden Newton whenever possible.

The police were no longer involved in parking issues though they could act if a vehicle was parked dangerously - on a corner, for example.

He mentioned the possibility of the community purchasing (for about �700) or otherwise obtaining a handheld speed detection device which could be operated by parishioners as is already being done in Somerset. Mr Letwin asked who would be prepared to wield such a device and about 15 people raised their hand.

Mr Letwin summed up suggesting that the following matters be taken further. I believe he is prepared to become actively involved in all or most of them.

A meeting to be held with Mr Letwin and all interested authorities to expedite the enlargement of the White Horse Visitor�s Car Park.

Dorset County Council to proceed with using SIDS at both ends of the village.

That police make sporadic speed checks.

DCC improve their enforcing of parking restrictions.

The Parish Council to formally remind DCC that the promised evaluation of the 1998 footpath scheme (where the priority scheme runs in Dorchester Road) has never been carried out and of the need to look again at the provision of a path between Kingsley House and No 40 Dorchester Road.

That a further meeting be held in the village later on in the year to discuss progress. It was suggested that an evening meeting would suit more people.