On Closing Mill Road
Some of you may have read in the papers this week comments about closing access to Mill Road using bollards on the railway bridge. Only public transport would have access. I want to make it clear that this idea has no political endorsement whatever.
Moreover, if such a proposal were to be put forward I would have serious reservations about it, including: its impact on the shops in Romsey (city shoppers would only have direct access to Petersfield), the way in which it would reinforce existing social divisions between Romsey and Petersfield, and the fact that taxis and buses would actually be able to travel much more quickly, making the area more dangerous for pedestrians.
I am a keen cyclist, I do not drive or even have a license, and am all in favour of radical changes to Mill Road; indeed, they are urgently needed. However, it is extremely disappointing that having failed to deliver us any alternatives to the cameras, the Councils should start spreading controversial rumours instead of engaging in the serious business of consultation.
Above all what I want to see happen in Romsey is for the Council to allocate us our October List accident-reduction money, and for it to consider a range of different possibilities - which the public should be allowed to comment on - as a matter of urgency. This is what our petition is intended to achieve.
I would also urge readers to look at the the Mill Road Masterplan we are working on which offers a positive and realistic way forward. This program promises to integrate three key requirements:
1/ Promoting Mill Road’s independent shops.
2/ Making the area safer for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.
3/ Making environmental improvements.
Kilian
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