Friday, September 28, 2007
Neighbourhood Action Panel Report 20 9 07
http://213.210.6.88/yourarea/y_np_mal.php?nptId=28
We held the first Public NAP meeting for Great Totham Neighbourhood on 20th September. There as a reasonable turnout, but sadly very little representation from places other than Great Totham village itself. It must be stressed that each NAP meeting is open to all residents of the whole Great Totham Neighbourhood, not just the village in which that meeting is based. The next meeting will be in Tolleshunt D’Arcy Village Hall on 14th November 7.00pm. We urge all residents to ensure that either they support the NAP in person, or at least, make their concerns known so that we can ensure that the Policing Priorities are representative of the whole area.
A number of concerns were raised, many of which are linked. This time, I wish to report on the concerns regarding traffic. Speeding is a big issue, indeed was the most complained about. The speed limits in Great Totham South have recently dropped from 40mph to 30mph. I, for one, have to really think about my speed, where the ingrained habit is 40.
We need to slow down. It’s safer for everyone and the noise nuisance is reduced. Also, if we resent people speeding through our village, we must try not to speed through other villages. It’s a problem common in the whole area, and the speeding issue on the B1022 was placed as one of the Policing Priorities.
The safety issues are compounded by parking issues. The Village Shop in Great Totham South is an important facility, much appreciated by the residents. But customers are parking too close to the junction with Hall Road. This makes visibility when driving out of Hall Road well nigh impossible at times. This was made a Policing Priority, with several positive suggestions being made.
On the matter of parking, another serious issue was discussed, that of parking with half the wheels on the pavement. It’s illegal to drive on the pavement. We shouldn’t park in such a way as to cause an obstruction or leave a vehicle in such a way as to endanger others. The Panel were told that some cars have been parked such that people with pushchairs and wheel chairs and mobility vehicles, are forced into the road to pass these obstructions. This is a problem particularly highlighted in D’Arcy, but goes on everywhere. Although this wasn’t made a Policing Priority this time (the Priorities have to be quite specific) it has been noted that this is a problem. Please let’s think before we park. If we have to park on the pavement, maybe we shouldn’t be parking there at all. Don’t let’s force people into the road where a speeding motorist might bump into them.
Another problem which was brought to the NAP’s attention is the number of parents who are failing to belt up or belt their children in properly in vehicles. This is particularly bad in the school run in Tollesbury. Just because it’s ‘just round the corner’, or we feel we’re unlikely to get caught, doesn’t excuse us from wearing seat belts. The seatbelt laws are not there just to deprive us financially via a £30 fixed penalty notice. They were brought in to stop people dying. Unbelted passengers get smeared over the windscreens at quite low speeds, even from the rear seats. This was made the third Policing Priority.
The important thing to remember with these Policing Priorities is we’re not trying to catch people out; we’re trying to improve residents’ lives by addressing some of the problems which affect us.
Please note that Wickham Bishops is under a different neighbourhood, and so has a different NAP http://213.210.6.88/yourarea/y_np_mal.php?nptId=31
We held the first Public NAP meeting for Great Totham Neighbourhood on 20th September. There as a reasonable turnout, but sadly very little representation from places other than Great Totham village itself. It must be stressed that each NAP meeting is open to all residents of the whole Great Totham Neighbourhood, not just the village in which that meeting is based. The next meeting will be in Tolleshunt D’Arcy Village Hall on 14th November 7.00pm. We urge all residents to ensure that either they support the NAP in person, or at least, make their concerns known so that we can ensure that the Policing Priorities are representative of the whole area.
A number of concerns were raised, many of which are linked. This time, I wish to report on the concerns regarding traffic. Speeding is a big issue, indeed was the most complained about. The speed limits in Great Totham South have recently dropped from 40mph to 30mph. I, for one, have to really think about my speed, where the ingrained habit is 40.
We need to slow down. It’s safer for everyone and the noise nuisance is reduced. Also, if we resent people speeding through our village, we must try not to speed through other villages. It’s a problem common in the whole area, and the speeding issue on the B1022 was placed as one of the Policing Priorities.
The safety issues are compounded by parking issues. The Village Shop in Great Totham South is an important facility, much appreciated by the residents. But customers are parking too close to the junction with Hall Road. This makes visibility when driving out of Hall Road well nigh impossible at times. This was made a Policing Priority, with several positive suggestions being made.
On the matter of parking, another serious issue was discussed, that of parking with half the wheels on the pavement. It’s illegal to drive on the pavement. We shouldn’t park in such a way as to cause an obstruction or leave a vehicle in such a way as to endanger others. The Panel were told that some cars have been parked such that people with pushchairs and wheel chairs and mobility vehicles, are forced into the road to pass these obstructions. This is a problem particularly highlighted in D’Arcy, but goes on everywhere. Although this wasn’t made a Policing Priority this time (the Priorities have to be quite specific) it has been noted that this is a problem. Please let’s think before we park. If we have to park on the pavement, maybe we shouldn’t be parking there at all. Don’t let’s force people into the road where a speeding motorist might bump into them.
Another problem which was brought to the NAP’s attention is the number of parents who are failing to belt up or belt their children in properly in vehicles. This is particularly bad in the school run in Tollesbury. Just because it’s ‘just round the corner’, or we feel we’re unlikely to get caught, doesn’t excuse us from wearing seat belts. The seatbelt laws are not there just to deprive us financially via a £30 fixed penalty notice. They were brought in to stop people dying. Unbelted passengers get smeared over the windscreens at quite low speeds, even from the rear seats. This was made the third Policing Priority.
The important thing to remember with these Policing Priorities is we’re not trying to catch people out; we’re trying to improve residents’ lives by addressing some of the problems which affect us.
Please note that Wickham Bishops is under a different neighbourhood, and so has a different NAP http://213.210.6.88/yourarea/y_np_mal.php?nptId=31
# posted by Evelyn @ 3:20 AM 
