Furzehill - a Dorset Hamlet

FLASH

FLASH stands for ‘Furzehill Local Action for a Safer Hamlet’ and was formed as a voluntary group of residents in the Hamlet of Furzehill There is no funding as such and members and residents contribute, although we have plans for fundraising activities in the future.

The Environment at Furzehill is suffering because of increased vehicular movement on our country lanes. They were never designed to accommodate large goods vehicles, trade vehicles with trailers and the number of cars that now use them daily. Residents cannot ride a horse, walk or cycle safely along our lanes. Motorists using the lane do not appear to recognise our 30 mph limit, nor respect our right to use our lanes. Noise and pollution increase daily.

The Government’s publication:   Our Countryside: The Future, a fair deal for rural England sets out how they expect and require local Councils to work in partnership with local people. The recently published Furzehill Village Plan outlines the problems we have and offers existing, common sense solutions based on Government guidelines to stop the decline in the quality of life for the residents of Furzehill, Grange and Smugglers Lane. (Research details available from the Secretary)

Furzehill is a hamlet, not a village nor a town and has country lanes, not A class roads. We are in a rural environment but increased volume of traffic, particularly large goods vehicles, means forced changes over the years.        

The lanes through our hamlet are now burdened with large goods vehicles and trade vehicles. These vehicles use our lanes like a bypass or 'rat run' and appear to travel at any speed they choose, irrespective of speed limits, our safety or environmental factors.

Residents of Furzehill, Smugglers Lane and Grange are concerned about the impact that this type of traffic is having on their environment and health. No one feels safe walking along any of our lanes to the shop or pub. And what about future development in our area?

FLASH is now doing something about these issues on your behalf. We feel strongly that the Furzehill area has become 'spoilt'. It is no longer a quiet hamlet with country lanes but a bypass by default for the Wimborne area.

WHAT CAN WE ALL DO?

Please give FLASH your support. Residents signed a petition requesting action. A Village Plan was compiled and presented to the Parish Council in January 2004. The Chair of the Colehill Parish Council supports our cause.  We now need to work together to reduce the volume, noise and speed of traffic, and review the future plans for transport in the Furzehill area.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE

FLASH is committed to working in partnership with other agencies, but will be the driving force to represent local opinion. We recognise there are some long-term issues, but equally there are short-term solutions, such as the numbers of lorries and the resulting damage, noise and pollution they create. No one wants motorists prosecuted, but we count as well. We are stakeholders in our future and we want ownership for our environment, which is compatible with a hamlet, not a motorway!

Wimborne has goods vehicle prohibitions in place but why are there none in our hamlet?  We are as equally important as other areas.

The literature produced by the Government clearly states they will work in partnership with local communities. FLASH represents your community. We want consultation and action.

We need to reverse the trend of how badly people treat our hamlet and have a say in how our quality of life can be improved.

Our Village Plan has six five themes:

 ·         Action to prohibit Heavy Goods Vehicles, British and continental.

 ·        Volume of traffic - traffic appropriate to the lane, not change the lane to suit the traffic

 ·        Speeding vehicles- introduce measures to make it safe to walk, cycle and enjoy our hamlet.

 ·        Noise and Pollution — reduce the damage to our environment and make it a safer placed to live.

 ·        Consider nominating some areas as  Greenways to preserve our rural heritage.

 ·        Stop lane widening.

Dorset County Council now have a copy of our Village Plan to take to the relevant committee.

FLASH looks forward to the consultation promised by the Government in answer to the concerns raised on behalf of the residents.                  

WE ALL WANT A SAFER HAMLET FOR THE RESIDENTS OF FURZEHILL, SMUGGLERS LANE AND GRANGE.                  

FLASH: ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT OUR HAMLET NOW AND IN THE FUTURE

FLASH2003@tiscali.co.uk

The Chair of Colehill Parish Council Janet Dover gives her personal support, as do Councillors David Packer and Don Wallace

Research publications include:

Our Countryside: The future, a fair deal for Rural England

Safer Roads publication

The Governments Speed Review

Dept for Transport a new deal for Transport

Transport 2010

Partners:

The residents of the Hamlet of Furzehill

Parish Councillors & Local Authorities

ROSPA

Roadpeace

Greenways

Transport 2000

Chair:                                Michael Bysh        MichaeLbysh@virgin.net

Deputy Chair:                     Greg Jones

Publicity Officer:                 Bob Passmore

Treasurer/Deputy Press:       Don Kilgour

Research/volunteer coordinator:         Keith Baker

Secretary:                           J. Isaacs               Flash2003@tiscali.co.uk

FLASH is a member of Transport 2000

Transport 2000 Link

For More Information Contact:

Internet: info@furzehill.com

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