A46: another update

Just back from a Green party meeting and have had chance to look at Stroud News and Journal with a cup of tea - here's a copy of my email below to the Parish Council after reading the article about Neil Carmichael and Stan Waddington meeting in Whiteshill.

Photo: Robert Kempner, Headmaster of Whiteshill School walking with children to the Museum in the Park on Tuesday.

I note that the SNJ says Neil Carmichael and Cllr Stan Waddington will be meeting at Whiteshill School on Monday - Neil has called for 'urgent attention to traffic' - this is great but I wondered why now? Has he liaised with Parish Council re the results of the coffee morning or re the actions already taken as a result of the Parish and others correspondence with Highways? If not it would be good to get that info to him.

I also wondered whether there was news of our County councillors position? I have certainly copied my emails re Highways to Stan Waddington and Len Tomlins so hopefully they are aware of the current situation - indeed it was Stan who supported our requests for extra policing.

I will be away on Monday so can't go to this meeting but wondered if someone from Parish had been invited or could invite themselves? It seems a very good opportunity to make the case again for actions like a 20 mph, removal of some centre white lines to slow traffic (as in Wiltshire) etc - it will be very useful to make the most of this much-welcomed support from both Neil and Stan.

Here's a quick update re actions relating to A46/traffic:

- County Officers are now - after I have badgered them repeatedly (almost feel sorry for them) looking at promoting more re carshare scheme in the area and are also having a meeting to review the buses that don't stop in the village to see if they can. This seems a great opportunity as I've said before to support people in making the shift to using public transport.
- Reduced train tickets are still being considered following my email to First Great Western.
- Puckshole meant to open within 4 weeks?
- I met with Cllr Sarah Lunnon yesterday and we again walked the Main Road and more and she will put ideas down re Shared Spaces - they will not be a plan but rather a tool to help look at possibilities.
- I've liaised with Officers re possible Section 106 money (which may become available shortly) going towards a 'Gateway' in Whiteshill to slow traffic - they will be in touch with John for Parish thoughts on location/views etc.
- Great to see Whiteshill are participating in the International Walk to School month - infact also came across a couple of groups walking to the Museum in the Park on Tuesday - I also hear they maybe involved in designing something like a speeding ticket to hand out to motorists.

Other stuff re A46 including correspondence with Highways at:
http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/search/label/A46

Lastly I have had reports that traffic has improved along The Main road in the last week - still worse than usual - I would welcome other comments re this as my recent experiences on that road don't bear that out!