We all need a 'Roadwitch' in our neighbourhood

I came across the Roadwitch website recently and liked it - some great ways to calm the traffic in our roads.

Photo: Speed Camera made from tea chest and yoghurt pots (from Roadwitch website)

As blog readers will know this has been an area of interest of mine since being commissioned to write, "Better Streets for Stroud District" some 18 months ago - since then I've explored more the concept of Shared Spaces - see my article on the Resurgence website looking more at this innovative approach and loved the ideas from David Entwicht (not witch) in his quirky radical book "Mental Speed Bumps" and "Traffic Tamers" and also urban designer Ben Hamilton-Baille.

Photo: SOX is a "community clothesline" created with the teenagers of Beech Croft Road. It hangs across the street, effectively slowing down motorists as they gawk at the sky-high collection of mismatched socks collected from the street's residents (from Roadwitch website).

This Thursday in Whiteshill Village Hall the Parish have their AGM and have a selection of speakers including local District councillor Sarah Lunnon on Shared Spaces - this is to explore more what people might think about this for our area. She has just been to Holland and Denmark looking at how they pioneered this approach - there will also be a chance to hear about other groups - none of the speakers can talk for more than 15 mins - I'll be doing a bit on the District Council and an update on the Ruscombe Brook.

Locally interest is growing in this approach to traffic - last year I went along to a street party in Lansdown (see blog 1st September) and a residents meeting in Bisley Old Road that were also looking at these ideas - the Town Council and Stonehouse Town Council are also now exploring ideas - I think Stroud Town now has £10,000 put aside for a feasability project. Maybe before long we will see a Roadwitch (see here for details) on Whiteshill Main Road or perhaps a line of socks hanging over Bread Street?