Front page of Citizen: traffic in Whiteshill

Thanks again to The Citizen for highlighting residents concerns - here is their report below - would add link but they seem to be removing older items from their web pages. For more background info put A46 into search facility on this blog.

Indeed yesterday I had another phone call re a dangerous driver locally - told them to contact the police who are usually v good on such matters.

Anyhow v good news is that Government has come up with £10 million towards the £25 m needed for Glos roads after the flood damage - apparently more might be on it's way - David Drew had said this would happen but never sure until it does - too often been disappointed.

RAT-RUN DRIVERS HIT BY SPEED WARNING

Speeding motorists who are using Whiteshill as a rat run have been slapped with warning notices.Altogether 60 drivers have had warning notices after they broke the 30mph limit while using Whiteshill as a short cut around the closed A46 near Stroud.

Police say the notices are the drivers last chance before legal action is taken. Whiteshill residents are furious at the fast moving, heavy traffic through their village. And police spokeswoman Annabel Brittain said: "People have been warned that speeding will not be tolerated through the notices that are now being sent out. Some of the recipients were exceeding 40mph."

She said the roads policing unit had been asked to be at the location to assist with enforcement. "Fines and licence points can be expected by those who don't heed the warning," Ms Brittain said. "Speed causes death on the roads and we will be continuing to focus on this area to ensure the safety of pedestrians, motorists and other road users."

The A46 was shut between Salmon Springs and Pitchcombe after the carriageway subsided following the summer floods. Officially the diversion is along the A419 and the A38 and to Gloucester and Cheltenham. But commuters who know the area are travelling via Whiteshill, prompting angry householders to call for solutions.

Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish Council had already been looking into the idea of "shared spaces" to slow down traffic when the A46 collapsed. The council arranged a "traffic coffee morning" on Saturday to look at the issues. Council chairman John Rogers said: "About 20 to 30 people came. Everybody had their opinion recorded. People have to realise they are driving through a community."

Philip Booth, Stroud district councillor for the area, agreed. "This road divides the community. It is a transport corridor. We want to have our village back," Coun Booth added.

Ideas at the coffee morning included improving the margins of the road and using planters to bring back a village feel. Police Community Support Officers also attended with the parish councillors and also noted residents' views. When Whiteshill Primary School resumed after the summer holidays parents became concerned for the pupils' safety. Parents told The Citizen how dangerous the tailbacks of commuters' vehicles were. The A46 repairs are expected to cost up to £1 million and to take months to complete.