Villagers and parents collide over road plan (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Villagers and parents collide over road plan

10:20am Monday 7th June 2010 in Education By Chris Harris

PARENTS and residents are on a collision course over plans to improve road safety in a village near Winchester.

County council officers drew up plans to install a pinch point outside Compton Primary School to make crossing the road safer for pupils.

But angry villagers say the traffic calming measure would make access difficult for the estimated 400 residents that live beyond the school.

They are upset about the lack of consultation and worried the safety measure will create dangerous tailbacks onto the busy Otterbourne Road.

Nick Campbell-White, a parish councillor, said Hampshire County Council were intending to install the pinch point over the Easter holidays before he stepped in and objected.

“There’s a right furore about this,” said Cllr Campbell-White, of Compton and Shawford Parish Council. “Compton Street is the only access for a vast number of houses.

“There are a few parents that do not and will not obey the rules. They will insist on stopping on the zigzag lines, if they were kept clear people could pass easily.

“The powers-that-be knew about it but did not wish to spring it on the parish authority until the last minute when it was a fait accompli. It affects so many people, it was totally unreasonable to put this in when other people had not been consulted or considered.”

Terry Wilson, chairman of Compton Village Association, said: “There’s definitely a view that it has not been discussed properly with residents.

“We understand the safety issues at the school but no-one took account of the affect on the village and conservation area.”

County councillor Charlotte Bailey said the school wanted to improve safety after receiving lots of complaints from parents about near misses in Compton Street.

She said: “If I’m convinced this proposal is the most effective one in terms of safety I will be supporting it.

“I find it difficult to believe [that residents’ access will be harder], there are plenty of villages which have narrow entrances, we don’t hear problems from other places.

“In retrospect it would have been better to show the plans to the parish earlier but there’s now a public meeting in June where people can find out exactly what is proposed.”

Allison Driver, head teacher, in a recent letter to parents, said: “One of the issues that is often raised by local residents is inconsiderate parking and turning round along Compton Street. I have no jurisdiction outside of the school gates but such actions do significantly damage our reputation in the village.”

The meeting will take place at Compton All Saints’ Primary School, Compton Street, Compton, on Thursday, June 21, at 7.30pm.