A RURAL community has set up an action group to highlight existing road safety issues which could be made worse by the housing developments proposed for Fordingbridge and Alderholt.

The Sandleheath Traffic Action (STA) group is a sub-group of Sandleheath Parish Council and the aim is to promote road safety, preserve the environment in the area and to enhance the quality of life.

New traffic management measures will increase driver awareness and influence driver behaviours. 

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Volunteer Project Manager Mike Richardson said: “STA is determined to carry our residents and our local businesses along with us as we jointly develop our plan. Our stakeholders’ meetings were hugely successful, and we believe that the village is firmly behind our endeavours.”

Two critical stakeholder meetings were held to gather issues and ideas from residents as well as from commercial companies.

About 30 members of the community representing each aspect of the village attended the first meeting and a number of local company managers attended the second meeting.  

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Mike Richardson added: “In Sandleheath we have several housing areas, a thriving industrial estate and we sit on a busy crossroads that links several local towns and villages.

"Clearly, physical barriers will impede both residential and business traffic flow, so instead, we intend to introduce contemporary measures on our roads and surroundings that will display our village as a proper residential space, a place for drivers to respect and take care.

“We call this process ‘villagisation’, and we’re forging ahead to put it into effect.”

Chair of Sandleheath Parish Council, Caroline Kemp said: “Sandleheath Traffic Action is developing rapidly and has worked hard to gain the support of so many of our residents and businesses, and I’m really delighted that Hampshire County Council is supporting this important community project so well.’

Following a visit from Hampshire County Council Traffic Management, the STA group gained many beneficial ideas to adjust the look and feel of the roads.