A46: open again in New Year?

BBC Glos phoned yesterday for an interview re my suggestion that First Great Western should consider cut price tickets to encourage people off the roads in Whiteshill - I had a favourable response from Customer Services but when the BBC followed up it sounded like the guy who gave that response wasn't authorised to do that - how deeply sad - the BBC decided not to use the interview - see my email to FGW below after other responses to my emails re A46 - which update us a little on where we are with works (use search facility to pick up many previous items re A46).

Photo: Diversion sign

Barry Dare, Leader of the County Council says: "I share your concerns over the difficulties this closure has caused to the local communities concerned. Our officers are continually dealing with the problems caused by the extra traffic, and will be installing some extra traffic calming outside the School, but realistically it will be virtually impossible to change driver habits. With regards to timescale, work is already underway on repairing the road, initial site surveys have been completed, and we have 3 specialist companies to provide solutions and costing for the works. I am hopeful that we will be able to start as soon as November, and weather permitting, be completed shortly in the New Year. I appreciate this may seem a long time to those suffering as a result of the closure, but I can assure you this is a very technically demanding site and we are giving it the utmost priority."

Stan Waddington, Cabinet member at County: "I am well aware of the problems in Whiteshill and last week requested additional policing to curb driver behaviour particularly during school opening and closing times. You will know that County resources are severely stretched this year by the costs incurred in dealing with the floods and the aftermath. So far we have had little or no grant relief from the Government for any of this work and in these circumstances I don't think it appropriate for remaining County budget to be used for cut price rail passes. It might be a suggestion that you could address to David Drew who could attempt to secure central government funds for this."

At the recent meeting re the A46 meeting David Drew made a strong statement to the effect that the speed of traffic through Whiteshill was a major safety concern and nothing should be done that would increase it. John Roberts from Highways supported this and noted that he has had a lot of correspondence on the subject. However in an email to me David Drew disagrees re more money but notes: "When the money is needed it will be there but it is now about prioritising efforts." Not sure what that means as it seems to me money is needed?

Confusion over Flashing speed sign

There is now confusion from Highways over whether Whiteshill might have a flashing speed sign - on my blog on 21st Aug it was noted we did not qualify. However recent communications are not clear about if the Parish purchase one or rent one as planned then are we still allowed to put it up? The Parish are investigating.

Here's my reply today to the County below and below that the email to First Great Western. I've also replied to David Drew.

Email to County:

Stan/Barry - thanks for your replies to my concerns re Whiteshill and the traffic problems there - I have been impressed by the way Highways have taken this issue seriously and made considerable attempts to alleviate the problem. It has been good to see police on the site and good signage however, as I know you know, the situation is still dire. Even before this A46 closure, the traffic on that road divided the community: children cannot use the playground as there is not a safe place to cross. We need traffic calming measures to restore the village to a village and not just a transport corridor.

The rumour about the A46 taking 12 months came from a senior Conservative councillor - I hope that the reopening doesn't take longer than the New Year. I also still hope that there is more we can do in encouraging people to use the bus or train - see my email below to FGW after they seem to pull back from interest in reduced fares.

This to me, seems like it could be a good opportunity to promote public transport and carshare schemes? These are the very things that we must do if we are to tackle climate change. Could not the County also engage with FGW? At the very least signage advertising car share or trains?

Cllr. Philip Booth,
Stroud District councillor for the Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill ward,

Email to FGW:

Re: suggestion of reduced fares on the Stroud to Gloucester route in an effort to alleviate traffic problems resulting from the A46 closure

Thank you for this positive response below from Paul Hoffman at your Customer Services Team. I have not had a reply from the fares and system manager or as yet any other response from you. BBC Radio Gloucestershire phoned me yesterday to interview me re this proposal and I understand from them that they have spoken with someone at FGW who said this Customer Services response was 'unauthorised'. I would welcome clarification.

I was ready to publicly welcome the fact that FGW was looking at this move. No commitment was made in the email I received below but it was good to see that FGW were considering helping. In my view it would be good for villages like Whiteshill who are faced with a massive increase in traffic but also good publicity for yourselves helping people out who are struggling to cope with the A46 closure. It could also hopefully result in more people using the train and of course help tackle climate change emissions.

Only this week you will be aware that the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says it is "very unlikely" we can avoid the 2 degree threshold for dangerous climate change. This is the point many natural systems that sustain life on earth start to die: the Greenland ice sheet melts, coastal cities are flooded, one third of species face extinction, millions face drought and famine and economic turmoil as financial systems react to uncertain times.

Getting more people to use public transport is part of the answer and we are failing on that front. Clearly this is an issue that needs actions by our Government but I would have thought that the A46 closure provided an opportunity to FGW to take more of a lead?

Cllr. Philip Booth,
Stroud District councillor for the Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill ward,