The reader will remember, that in the February issue of the Downsman, the scarcity of water underground, resulting in a very low water table almost everywhere in the area, was mentioned. Obviously someone in a very senior position reads this magazine, as the first half of February had barely a day without rain. Unfortunately this ‘person’ can't be a meteorologist, as he/she sent high winds at the same time. This meant that much of the precipitation was carried away before it could reach the ground, or if it did penetrate the soil, the drying effect soon removed it. Hence the water table has barely risen, so keep planting marram grass, cacti and any succulents you can find.
Fortunately for Madge,( Meg ) and I, we were away during this foul weather. Our six children were obviously fed up of seeing us about, and decided that they would send us abroad, using my sixtieth birthday as an excuse. We had the last laugh though, we came back after a fortnight. (Single tickets indeed!)
To be serious, we did appreciate the gesture, and had a wonderful fortnight on the Mediterranean coast of the Algarve. For twelve of the fourteen days we had wonderful sunshine, with temperatures reaching the Seventies. What a difference from home.
When we arrived, the almond trees were in full bloom. The blossom looking rather like very light, pink candyfloss, held up in a clear blue sky on blue/grey sticks, which had been planted in rows on an emerald green carpet. Bees, both honey and bumble were everywhere, as were butterflies of several spieces, including large fritilleries and what I took to be orange-tips. (I'm afraid unless they stand still for me nowadays, identification can be difficult.) Their presence was due to the numerous spring flowers already in bloom. As well as the flora, we were lucky enough to see other wild life worth recording. For example the bird life we were fortunate enough to see, while traveling 'off road' in a four wheel drive, which was intentional, included storks, egrets, eagles and hoopoes. Note the sizes, I couldn't mistake these. The storks, easily identified and easily seen since they insist on nesting on any convenient high chimney, while others spotted on marshy land next to a river, were of a different species, namely the black storks,(Ciconia nigra.), while the nesting ones were I believe white storks, (Ciconia ciconia.) The egrets were in fact little egrets,(Egretta garzetto.) as found now occasionally in the Chalke Valley. The difference in this case was that instead of appearing singly in moving water, these birds were in flocks following the plough, rather like sea-gulls in this country, looking for worms and insects. Perhaps this will be something for us to look forward to as a positive factor of global warming. (It isn't all bad.)
After the egrets came the eagles, somewhat in the distance, certainly not close enough to be recognised by a novice. Our guide informed us that they were Stone Eagles, but on looking the name up I met a blank; we had misheard, he had said Bone Eagle, an abbreviation of Bonelli's Eagle, (Hieraetus fasciatus.), an Iberian bird found quite commonly there, he had simply shortened the name.
However the best was yet to come. As a small boy, my grandmother knowing of my interest in nature, gave to me the Observers Book of British Birds, in which this wonderful bird, the Hoopoe appeared as an occasional visitor to the south of England. I had never seen one and had never met anyone claiming to have seen one here. For sixty years I had hoped to see one, this day in Portugal I was fortunate to see two; both in flight and at roost. A beautiful bird, size eleven and a half inches overall,(since it was within the E.U. it has to be 29cms. I suppose.) It's description in the Readers Digest, Book of British Birds, reads as follows:-'with a pink-brown plumage, a crest like a Red Indians head-dress and boldly barred black and white wings,'. I can assure you this does not do it justice. If the Hoopoe follows the Little Egret, becoming a resident rather than an occasional visitor, we are in for a great deal of pleasure.
Before leaving the subject of the hoopoe, our vicar Ron Wood pointed out to me that it had a rather unusual scientific name, UPUPA EPOPS. Perhaps someone can tell us where it came from. If you can, I'm sure the editor would like to know.
Unfortunately for Meg and I, unlike the Hoopoe we are not occasional visitors to the South of England, we live here, and so we came back to the rain.
Sat. 16th. March
After a poor day yesterday, followed by several hours of poor sleep, I come to and looking at the clock note that it is 5:10am Meg decides it is better that I get up than keep her awake. So I jump out of bed, energetically wash in cold water, dress hurriedly and leap downstairs and into the kitchen. (the last sentence might not be the absolute truth but what follows is.)
Now at a more leisurely pace, I slowly fill the kettle and turn it on to boil. It is now 5:20am, and on opening the back door, I am greeted by pigeons bellowing out, COO, COO, at the extreme of their vocal range. Since I can't see a lot, I re-.enter the kitchen and await the boiling of the kettle. (I will have to have cold drinks in future, it takes far too long for me to find the 'k' on this keyboard for the 'k'ettle.)
While in waiting mode, I think; this is not that unusual for me, but this time I try to be constructive. Today I have to be in Southampton at 10:30am for an O.U. tutorial, so I won't have time later to go down Long Lane to see if the Cowslip bud is in flower yet. I've been watching it for several days now and don't want to miss it, so I will go now. I make tea, put on wellies, coat and cap and with mug of tea in one hand and stick in the other, you never know with these terrorists about, I venture outside at 5:30am.
Now the pigeons have woken all the other birds up for miles around. What a din! I quaff a few gulps of tea, shut the garden gate, and I'm off. The 'noise' changes into birdsong, quite melodious really. It is rather like watching early television, that is, it is all black and white, as I reach the end of the cottages and the bottom of my mug simultaneously. The former I leave behind me, the latter I put into my pocket. There is no Old Shep(Jock), to say "Where did you get that tea from" now. The Old Order Changeth. I pass on down to Champs Farm, where I look around for signs of life. Standing still under the hedge, I see song birds, rooks, pigeons, pheasants, partridge, rabbits and one hare. But I'm here to look for cowslips in bloom, so down the lane I go. The yellow of the celandines now is visible and when I come to the cowslips the paler yellow is not visible, just the pale green calyx. Never mind I'll walk to the end of the hedge, despite walking directly into the wind and rain which has just started.
Walking along the green track between the original old hedge and the beeches Sir Michael had planted some four or five years ago, there is quite a lot of protection from the weather.
These trees, when planted, barely reached the top of their protective tubes, now they are twice the height, some up to eight and a half feet tall, Sir Michael as he looks down on them now, must be very proud. Slowly as I walk southward between the trees, colours are becoming more distinct, but the overcast conditions certainly affect my vision. As I progress, pheasants see me coming and noisely move away, this is not good so I must keep closer to the hedge and travel more quietly, although the wind is blowing into my face, but my presence must be less obvious. (This is not so easy nowadays, Meg keeps on about a diet.)
Stop, what was that? I pull into the hedge to my left, some one hundred and fifty yards in front a deer appears out of the hedge and starts grazing in the lane. More follow, there are at least six. Too far away in this light, colour, sex, age or even numbers are not certain. Deciding to approach them, I edge forward along the hedge very cautiously. Despite being down wind of them, one immediately turns, head up, ears erect facing me. I stand motionless against the hedge, the others continue to graze, as does the first one after a few seconds. Cautiously moving forward, I get nearer. Stopping if a lookout lifts its head and glances in my direction, until a twig snaps under my foot, three immediately look up, but they don't run. After what seemed to be several minutes they resume grazing, moving in and out of the beech trees. There are at least eight, but they aren't very cooperative when it comes to being counted.
It is now raining quite hard, and I am within fifty yards of them but they are aware of me. They move into the open very nervously, there are clearly ten in number. Whoops! They have definately seen me, they are off across the wheat, its pouring with rain so I'm off too.
As I enter the garden gate; I remember that the chickens' nest boxes need fresh sawdust , so as I can't get much wetter, I let them out and bed them up. Now sitting in the kitchen I am trying to equalise the osmotic pressure, that is I am drinking tea as fast as possible, to equate the wetness of the inside with the outside.
Tuesday 19th. March
Already one day past copy deadline, but I must visit the cowslips again very quickly, and how glad I am that I have. There is just one in flower, and to make my day so is just one solitary bluebell. There have already been fantastic shows of primroses, white violets, dog and sweet violets, what else has nature in store for us this year? Thank God for this wonderful natural world.
The Parish Council Planning Committee on 7th February considered plans from Dorset County Council to regulate the speed of traffic passing through Sixpenny Handley. Comments about the plans varied from totally for to totally against. Cllr. Gibb presented a paper he had written:-
A CASE FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC PASSING THROUGH SIXPENNY HANDLEY.
Background
The problems of the speed of traffic entering and leaving Sixpenny, Handley have been discussed for more than 15 years. The possibility of a by-pass around the High Street, using Back Lane, was entered in the Structure Plan in the mid 1980s; however it has never received adequate support. Various attempts, through East Dorset District (EDDC) and Dorset County Councillors (DCC), to have speed limit repeater signs posted throughout the village have fallen on deaf ears. In 2000 the Parish Council agreed with EDDC and DCC to jointly fund roadway signing and lining on the approach roads; this has never been implemented due to vascilliations at DCC.
Since the mid 1980s the population of the village has increased due to the various housing developments around Sheasby Close and along Dean Lane in particular. The type of housing has brought a marked increase in the number of children playing on the streets and also of elderly folk who retire to the village which is blessed with an excellent First School on Common Road, shops in the High Street, Doctors Surgery in Dean Lane. The village is also on the primary bus route from Blandford to Salisbury, with up to six buses in each direction daily passing through the High Street and Back Lane. There are also numerous other local bus services and those serving both the First School and taking children to Cranborne Middle School and QE at Wimborne.
DORSET COUNTY COUNCIL (DCC) 2001 Survey:
The DCC report issued in Dec 01 is based on the results of three speed-measuring devices located at the top, middle and bottom of the High Street. They were sited to provide justification for a reduction of the speed limit in the High Street to 20MPH. No devices were placed on the approach roads to the village. Whilst the figures confirm that some vehicles do exceed the current speed limit and thereby support a reduction of the speed limit, the measures proposed to effect this are given no justification at all. The map supplied with the proposals did not even include the latest development in Keats Meadow off Dean Lane, which has been in occupation for the last year!
The original proposal to 'Sign and Line' the approaches to the village, which was costed at £6K in 2000, has been dismissed in favour of road narrowing in order to create a self-restricting traffic flow. Whilst this system may operate effectively in areas where each end of the restriction is visible to the other (as in Tollard Royal), it is likely to cause severe disruption in the High Street where there are several obstructed sight lines. Scant regard has been paid to the nature of village life, the service provided to the rural community, the lack of car parking and the bus routes to name but a few items. On its own it is likely to destroy the businesses operating in the High Street.
The plan to narrow the road at the First School Corner would restrict the passage on the primary double-decker bus route where there is already an adverse camber on the junction and an overhanging tree. Due to the catchment area of the First School, several families have no option but to use cars to deliver and collect their infant children for 8.5 months of the year. The proposed chicane at the school exit would cause a further safety hazard in the area. This would also restrict the parking of school buses at various times of the day during term time.
The DCC report, whilst looking at the traffic in the High Street, is flawed in that it does not address the root cause of the problem which is, to reduce the speed of vehicles as they enter and leave the village on all roads.
The Approaches to Sixpenny Handley
B3081
From the both the North and South the B3081 has long straight stretches where drivers regularly exceed 60mph. Sharp corners have to be negotiated before the drivers are confronted with the 30MPH limit sign. Consequently vehicles are still slowing down as they enter Common Road from the North or the cross roads with Dean Lane from the South. The Parish Council has previously suggested that moving the limit signs away from the village so that they were visible before the corners and putting them on yellow backing boards would serve as a better warning.
Dean Lane
The unclassified road from the East (Broad Chalke and Deanland) enters the village along Dean Lane. This area has seen the main housing development during the last 15 years. There are long sweeping bends and on-road parking, both of which restrict visibility. In addition the majority of the young children of the village are housed in the Association properties in Mulberry Court and other side roads.
The Doctors Surgery is located half way along the south side of Dean Lane; whilst this has its own car park there is an increase in traffic flow of visitors as a result. Unless something is done to address these traffic issues there will be yet more vehicles taking casualties for treatment.
The High Street
Sixpenny Handley is blessed with excellent shops with renowned reputations; consequently, people travel to the village for their produce and services. As there is no other alternative, vehicles are left on the roadway, normally conforming to other parking. This helps to regulate the flow of traffic through the High Street but, at times, heavy lorries and buses, do have difficulty through the narrower sections. There are bus stops along the High Street and several narrow exits from lanes and properties.
Back Lane
Back Lane has no speed restriction on it and has become, as a result, a rat run for motorists avoiding the High Street. It is a primary bus route and used by local farmers with trailers also avoiding the High Street. It is quite narrow in places, with obscured visibility and several exits from the properties in St Mary Close. There are steep banks and hedges and no pathway, which leaves pedestrians particularly vulnerable. The Parish Council has previously requested that the 30MPH speed limit be extended to include both Back and Red Lanes in an effort to reduce the dangers.
Options Available
Signing and lining - this can be divided into the following measures:
a. The existing speed limit signs mounted on high visibility yellow boards as reinforcement.
b. Reinforcement repeater speed signs to be fixed on lamp posts. Neither this nor (a) above are dependant on any highway improvement plans such as re-surfacing.
c. Further restriction of the speed limit in the High Street (to 20mph), when authorised, can also be achieved using the same system. At little extra cost.
d. The roadway marked with the speed limit and other acknowledged markings.
Interactive Traffic Management.
Wiltshire CC has deployed Interactive traffic control measures on the A338 between Salisbury and Marlborough, which are particularly successful. This project, in conjunction with the Transport Research Laboratory, consists of post mounted speed measuring devices which then illuminate a display showing the speed limit, speed camera warning or "Slow Down". The only external requirement for this equipment is electricity, which can be taken from the nearest streetlight. The cost of each display equipment is approximately £5K.
Active Traffic Management.
Chicanes and speed humps (sleeping policemen) are known to cause additional local noise as vehicles brake and then accelerate away. Whilst these may provide localized flow control, several combinations would be required along the village approaches, all of which are in built up areas. Use of these in the High Street would further restrict parking and impact on the economy of the village.
Alternate routing of traffic.
There are two options:
A By-pass. Whilst this would divert some of the through traffic from the High Street it would have to be implemented in conjunction with signing and lining on the approaches. Due to the road width of Back Lane, considerable costs would be incurred in widening it for heavy vehicles.
A One-Way System. A flow system from the cross roads at Dean Lane to Back Lane, School Corner and down the High Street would improve the traffic flow although it would increase the traffic along Back Lane. Through traffic heading North into the village could be routed into the same system using Red Lane as One-way. This proposal has not been costed.
RECOMENDATIONS
It is recommended that:
The cheapest solution, to produce effective signing and lining, should be implemented at the earliest opportunity.
The Speed limit signs on the B3081 approaches to the village should be moved to positions before the bends.
That consideration should be given to placing Interactive signs on Common Road, the junction of Red Lane and the B3081, and on Dean Lane.
That the speed limit of 30MPH should be extended to include Back Lane and Red Lane.
That the speed limit should be reduced to 20MPH along the High Street from the Sixpenny Handley First School to Dean Lane cross roads.
This document led to a detailed discussion during which the following points were examined and felt suitable for consideration by the full Parish Council:-
a. The scheme is very expensive and should not be implemented until all cheaper options have been fully examined and, if possible, given a trial
b. The problems within the village may be easier solved by trying to reduce the speed of vehicles as they enter the village, rather than as they pass through it. Signing and lining, rumble strips, or speed activated signs on village approaches, may independently or in combination provide a cheaper solution.
c. The chicanes and pinch points may well exacerbate the parking problems within the village. This could in turn significantly increase the difficulties experienced by two HGV s trying to pass.
d. School Corner with its adverse camber, overhanging trees, turning double decker buses and parking parents should not be further encumbered by pinch points or chicanes.
At a subsequent meeting on 14th March Cllr. Gibb presented the Council's case for Traffic Calming in the Village to Mr Mackle of the County Highways Dept.
Mr Mackle discussed the pros and cons of the proposals. It was agreed that Mr Mackle should look at the possibility of taking pinch points further out on the entry roads to the village to slow incoming traffic. Mr Mackle also to look at what County Budgets could provide, look at 'Safe routes to School', try to deal with speeding traffic with signing and lining which would be cheaper and quicker to carry out and liase with us through Cllr Gibb. Cllr Palmer said that he thought that the 20mph limit proposed for the village should not be discarded altogether.