Should we permanently close Water Lane, Puckshole?

Richard Vick, a local resident wrote to the Randwick Runner (yesterdays issue) suggesting Water Lane stay closed to traffic - he writes "Life has improved for those living between Paganhill and Townsend". He is not alone I've had a couple of others also contact me.

Photos: A46 diversion signs and Puckshole landslide

To be fair the road has only closed to through traffic as residents still use it to get out at each end but it remains blocked in the middle. Not all residents agree it would be good to leave it closed - I've also had calls from those impatient to get it reopened. In fact as it was a landslip from private land most of the job I understand will be on insurance.

I certainly agree it is wonderful with such a reduced traffic but I sadly can't support closure for various reasons. Not least because the A46 closure has led to dangerous traffic on many of the other roads in the Parish (see previous post and others).

I don't consider for example that other roads are safer for traffic than Water Lane as has been suggested - the Main Road through Whiteshill for example has traffic speeds that are higher and therefore if an accident occurs it will do more damage - speeds in Puckshole are too fast but most don't exceed 20mph on the dangerous bits.

As regular blog readers will know I have been campaigning for 20 mph on all residential roads - we need to change the culture - other places are doing it but Gloucestershire County is resistant - similarly I have been pushing for a Shared Space approach which has cut speeds and accidents.

One of the key issues is the cause of all the traffic - I've written before on thsi about our failures re public transport compared to other countries, our planning policies that mean reliance on the car etc - and of course our schools selection process damages the environment - choice is a nonsense in most cases - why on earth do we have a system where many have to travel to school unnecessarily long distances - at Randwick school there are parents living in Stroud and Stonehouse - why not their local schools?

Also our failure to make 'liveable' safer streets (with 20 mph and other measures like Shared Spaces) means we have discouraged walking and cycling to school - Whiteshill at least are now exploring a Walk to School project. Not all parents have a choice re driving - I am aware of disabled parents or parents with poor health.

Times are changing and in the next few years fuel prices are expected to rise very significantly - all this will reduce traffic - see my blog entry re Richard Heinberg on 1st June (think third entry on that day).

It is certainly clear that we need tougher and bolder measures now to support a move away from allowing the car to be King - to me the answer lies in part with the Shared Spaces approach.

Anyway for now I've just emailed the County Council Leader re A46 and also David Drew MP - we need to continue to make people aware of the consequences of the A46 closure and urge action on repairs. A friend was saying that in Spain following floods a whole road was washed away yet within a couple of months it was being used again. I've also written to see if reduced train tickets could be introduced to encourage more people on the train between Gloucester and Stroud.