BOSSES at a biker-friendly café between Petersfield and Winchester have attended a “positive meeting” held to address complaints about noise and speeding.
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire believes that partnership will be crucial if bids to curb anti-social driving on the A32 and A272 will be a success.
So Michael Lane was delighted with the turnout when residents and businesses from communities around the Meon Valley raised their concerns and views during a meeting in Winchester.
Representatives from Loomies Café and a local fly fishing business attended the meeting along with councillors from Corhampton, Meonstoke, Droxford and Warnford.
The mix also included figures from Hampshire Police, Meon Valley MP George Hollingbery, and Cllr Rob Humby, Hampshire County Council Executive Member for Environment and Transport.
The objective of the meeting was to understand the issues facing residents and businesses and to find a way to work together to improve the quality of life for affected communities.
The aim was to agree future improvements that would help reduce issues of noise and speeding and create a shared understanding that allows people to enjoy the countryside and open road, alike.
“I want to thank the community members, partners and businesses for attending the very constructive meeting,” said Mr Lane.
“There is a strong shared desire to make progress in addressing some longstanding issues.
“All who were present recognised there was no simple solution, but identified a range of ideas for developing a partnership approach.”
One proposal that has been suggested by Messrs Lane and Hollingbery is the installation of average speed cameras along the routes to put the brakes on speeding motorists.
They may point to their success on the A9 in the Scottish Highlands, with feedback suggesting that overall speeding has reduced from about one in three drivers to one in 20.