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ATAG News
Narrow Pavements
ATAG offers its report on Atworth’s narrow pavements to the Parish Plan Steering Group. The
report shows the locations and widths of the eight narrowest pavement points. I took this issue
to the Community Area Transport Group (CATG), but there is no interest in addressing the
issue: it was stated that as the pavements are on the school travel route it is a matter for the
council’s School Travel Planning department.
Control of Speeding
Whilst it is good news that the Community Speedwatch scheme is back in operation, it remains
that residents would prefer a permanent presence of effective automatic deterrence of speed
through the village. ATAG will continue to campaign for such measures.
Other Dangers of Traffic Volumes & Mix
There has been much news recently about the harm caused to health and wellbeing by traffic
volumes. Oxides of nitrogen, and diesel particulates are causing cardiac & respiratory problems
in adults and are a cause of asthma in children. These products of traffic are detectable in
Atworth’s atmosphere and residents are exposed to them everyday. Unpleasant noise and
vibration, and the proximity of 44 tonne vehicles travelling at speed alongside pedestrians on
our narrow pavements further damage the quality of life of residents.
There are so many bypasses around villages on the eastern side of the country: our county
councils in the west need tackle this issue more seriously - bypasses are an effective solution.
The closure of the A36 is likely to give Atworth more than usual traffic volumes in the coming
Autumn.
Pedestrian Crossing
ATAG remains of the opinion that providing pedestrian controlled lights at the crossing, as is
common almost everywhere else, will reduce complaints by the elderly and by younger children
that too many drivers fail to stop.
Overtaking on the Western A365
As we have reported frequently, many complaints are still received about reckless overtaking on
the western A365. The legal enforcement effect of double white lines continues to be the
preference of residents.
Wiltshire Council and the Police & Crime Commissioner
In 2013 I presented a serious proposal to the Cabinet of Wiltshire Council and to the Police &
Crime Commissioner, asking for a more pro-active approach to the proportion of the £m116 cost
of road casualties in the county that was within the council’s budget. This could enable some of
those funds to be spent in advance on key improvements that would bring repeated cost
reductions in future years. Although the Council Leader, Transport Chair and the Police & Crime
Commissioner listened carefully to the proposal, and all made supportive noises, absolutely no
response has been received to date.
This is my last report as Chair of ATAG. We will announce a new chair person shortly. I thank
my fellow Organising Committee (OC) members for their support over the three years since we
founded and set up ATAG. I will remain a member of the ATAG OC, who currently number five.
We are always looking for committed persons who are willing to play a part in our battles with
obstructive highways officials, nonchalant county council leaders and with others in the Police
Tasking Group, the CATG, the Area Board and our own parish council.
Kenneth Spencer
Chair, ATAG Organising Committee
ATAG
web: http://atag.99k.org
and
email: [email protected]
Yer Tiz Atworth Village Magazine—May2014
Page 19