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Flagship Play Area for Rushmoor

The upgrading of play areas is part of the Council’s playground development plan, which sets out a priority list for play areas. Top of the list was Queens Road Recreation Ground, North Camp, which was completed this year with a superb selection of play equipment for three age groups:- 2 – 7 years, 8 – 12 years and 13 years plus.Andy Ford, of Rushmoor Council’s parks section says: "We are liaising with community groups, including the local Parents Action Group and Disability Challengers to explore specific requirements for children with special needs, particularly at King George V."Councillor Diane Bedford adds: "given the support we will work with residents and community groups to develop a brief for the type of equipment and other facilities, against which play companies can submit their designs. The concern of the lack of facilities for older children will also be discussed."The funding for the play areas will come from developers’ contributions of approximately £270,000. It is expected the upgrades will be completed by the Autumn of this year.

For further information contact:
Andy Ford, Rushmoor Borough Council
Tel: (01252) 398771

Doubts over need for trial of one-way system

PEOPLE living near a proposed new one-way system have criticised the plan, warning it could lead to gridlock on surrounding roads.

A trial scheme has been agreed for a small part of Park Road in Farnborough, between the junction with Lynchford Road and the junction with Queen’s Road.

It had originally been planned to make the whole road one-way from the junction with Reading Road.

Rushmoor Borough Council had a re-think to protect the popular bus route 41, which travels in both directions along Park Road every hour.

The council says its aim is to remove a southbound rat-run towards the A331 but admits the scheme may not be to the liking of everyone.

Linda Silvester, who lives in Fellows Road and drives along Park Road during rush hour, sent an e-mail to the council expressing her anger at the plan.

It read: “The traffic always runs smoothly and I cannot see any reason why you wish to make such a small part of it one-way.

“It seems completely pointless and will only cause the traffic to shift to Peabody Road, Queen’s Road etcetera.

“I’ve never seen the traffic caught up in Park Road and I think the residents should have been asked their opinion before the trial.”

Mrs Silvester, who drives south along Park Road towards Mytchett every day, complained she will now have to drive a longer route around North Camp.

She added: “Everybody else will have to do the same, therefore shifting the traffic to other roads which have so far been less busy.

“Will it not then make those roads a real problem rather than the supposed problem of Park Road?”

Ian Remnant, who works at The Joke Shop in Park Road, said several customers had raised concerns about the plans.

He said: “I don’t live around here so it won’t trouble me too much, but people have said it could cause a lot of congestion, especially in the morning during rush hour.”

John Bethney, of Bethney’s Butchers in Queen’s Road, said he was concerned about the possible impact on his customers.

He added: “People coming from or going back to the Ash Vale area will have to go round the houses. But I think at this stage we will have to wait and see how it goes.

“The main advantage is that it will improve safety on Park Road, and that can only be a good thing.”

Ward councillor Nigel Baines said he believed most residents approved of the scheme.

He added: “There is no easy answer. A big problem is people parking on the pavements, which makes life difficult for pedestrians and drivers trying to squeeze through. The one-way system will hopefully solve this.”

John Trussler, the council’s capital projects engineer for street scene services, said: “This scheme will benefit a lot of people but there will always be some who are unhappy. But this is only a trial system and we will be consulting to get residents’ views.”

The trial is due to start on Monday and will run for two months, during which residents will be contacted by the council for feedback.

Story: www.farnborough.co.uk

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Park Road Trial One Way System

It has been necessary to modify the scheme to give protection to the existing bus route 41, which travels in both directions along Park Rd at an hourly frequency, the route is well used by many residents but most predominantly by the elderly many of whom have no other means of transport and therefore rely heavily on the service.

Although an alternative route had been proposed to service these stops it was found that the proposed changes would have an impact on both the timings and the complexity of the route. As a result we have had to propose the following amendments to the original trial:-

The trial one way will run northbound between the junction of Old Lynchford Rd (Raisons) and the junction of Queens Rd (The Joke Shop ) , the remaining part of Park Rd will continue to be two way.

Additional signs advising drivers of no access to the A331 will be erected at the junction of Park Rd and Reading Rd.

Additional pedestrian crossing points will be installed at the junction of Queens Rd , Whites Rd and adjacent to the Electricity sub station opposite 82 Park Rd.

The changes should meet the objective of removing the southbound `Rat running traffic`, but with less inconvenience to residents and still retain the existing bus route 1.

We will be contacting residents during the experiment to for feed back to assist us in the evaluation of the scheme, the trial is now planned to commence on the 31st January 2005 for a period of 2 months.

For further information Contact John Trusler (01252) 398265 or e mail j.trusler@rushmoor.gov.uk

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Good News on Parking

Rushmoor's Cabinet has voted for no increase in car parking charges, postponing the increase in the cost of residents' free parking permits and introducing 'Free after Three' to Farnborough.

This was an early Christmas present for the traders and residents of the borough. 'Free after Three' parking for Farnborough has long been an aim and "Pop in" parking will benefit everybody.

John Wall - Empress Ward Councillor
extract from the Surrey Hants Star December 30th 2004

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Extra parking in North Camp

Work is currently underway to create 30 more parking bays for local shoppers and visitors. Eighteen garages in the Peabody Road car park have been removed to make the extra space required.

North Camp road improvements

ROAD improvements in Park Road and Queens Road, North Camp, have been approved and work has now started.
Rushmoor Council has been working with local schools to come up with safer routes to school.
This work recognised the need for reduced traffic speed and crossing points in Queens Road and Park Road.
Earlier this summer, North Camp residents were consulted on a package of proposals, which included measures to reduce the amount of through traffic using Park Road.
There was support for the proposals and some small changes have been made to the Queens Road scheme as a result.
Some Park Road residents were not sure about the proposal to make the road one-way (northbound) so, instead of going ahead with a permanent scheme, there will be a two-month trial to assess the effect and see what residents think.
The decision to go ahead with the improvements was confirmed by the County Council's Cabinet and work started at the end of October.

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Local Butchers are cut above the rest

Five Star Awards for food safety excellence.

The Food Safety Five Star Award scheme aims to encourage and reward high standards of food safety and hygiene in food businesses and the certificate provides visible evidence of this to customers. Five Star Awards are reserved for food safety excellence that exceeds the minimum legal requirements.

The Council is delighted that local butcher, Woods Butchers, 30 Camp Road, Farnborough, has received the Five Star Award for food hygiene excellence.

For further food safety information see the Rushmoor Borough Council Website or contact an Environmental Health Services food safety officer on 01252 398136