Crossroads in Buriton petition

Response from Hampshire County Council, June 2012

As part of the process relating to the introduction of the first phase of the Buriton enhancement scheme in April 2009, the County Council carried out safety audits which expressed concern about the Petersfield Road and Kiln Lane approaches to the High Street junction and recommended that this matter should continue to be monitored. In view of the further and significant concerns expressed via the petition and following detailed discussions between the County Council's safety audit and traffic management teams, it has been decided to reinstate the requirement to give way on the Petersfield Road and Kiln Lane approaches to the High Street junction.

However, in keeping with the overall appearance of the enhancement scheme, only give way road markings will be provided at the present time. Although no give way signs will be provided the County Council will continue to monitor the site and, if necessary, review the situation further, particularly in view of the possible future use of Petersfield Road as part of the cycle route for the Shipwright's Way project which is likely to increase the use of this route by cyclists who are unfamiliar with the unusual road layout at the High Street junction.

The third phase of the Buriton enhancement scheme will be implemented this summer. This phase covers the length of the High Street between the Petersfield Road/Kiln Lane junction (the first phase of the scheme) and the village church/pond (the second phase of the scheme introduced in August 2010). I understand that it is proposed to retain the existing road markings within this length. The re-marking of minimal give way markings at the Petersfield Road/Kiln Lane junction and the retention of the existing road markings throughout the High Street should not significantly detract from the overall appearance of the enhancement scheme.

The provision of the give way road markings on the Petersfield Road and Kiln Lane approaches to the High Street junction has been added to the East Hampshire traffic management team's minor signing and lining works programme - this programme is a rolling programme with timescales for implementation dependent upon (i) the type/extent of the works under consideration, (ii) the works' priority and (iii) the availability of funding/staffing resources. On this occasion, I anticipate implementation during summer 2012.

Councillor M J Kendal
Executive Member for Environment and Transport