east woodhay parish plan - Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

East Woodhay Parish Plan 13Transport & AccessibilityThe road system in the Parish has two distinctly different environments. Within Woolton Hill,many of the roads have pavements and even street lights, creating a somewhat urban character,whereas in the surrounding Hamlets the roads are part of an ancient network of country lanes withgrass verges, more suited to a rural way of life.A number of factors have considerably increased the quantity of road traffic including, as shown inthe replies to the questionnaire: the 45% increase in the population of the Parish since 1971; theincreasing number of vehicles per household; the use of the car for most journeys as the main meansof transport, particularly because services and employment are centred in the major towns and theThames corridor four miles or more from the Parish; the traffic associated with our three schools andThorngrove School (Highclere Parish) - both from resident families and those bringing children fromfarther afield; and the increasing number and size of commercial and construction vehicles. With theexception of the roads within housing developments, the arterial system of the two C classified roadsand the connecting country roads, remains virtually unaltered since the beginning of the 20thcentury. The damaging effect on surfaces, verges, and the edges of the roads requires regular attentionand as demonstrated in Q20 repairs are not keeping up with the rate of destruction.