Tag: Denmead

Let’s have a bit of give and take and respect each other


From a recent article in The News.

DRIVERS have criticised cyclists for not using a designated cycleway – arguing it is a safety hazard and causes traffic jams.

Motorists say traffic queues are building up on Hambledon Road between Waterlooville and Denmead as cars wait to overtake cyclists.

What a weird article this is with suggestions that cyclist are responsible for traffic congestion in and around Waterlooville.

According to this article the main complainant, leastways the only one that is quoted, is a Ms McGeady, of Linda Grove, Cowplain.
She is quoted as saying

‘Drivers have to take their life into their own hands, zooming round bikes and worrying people coming in the other direction.

Well Ms McGeady, I have news for you. Your not supposed to “zoom” round cyclists. You are supposed to drive around them with due care, giving plenty of room. You are supposed to leave plenty of time for your journey so that you don’t have to “zoom” around.

‘The other day there was a little old guy who was cycling almost in the gutter and there was a queue of cars trying to get round him.

‘Everyone was winding down their windows and asking him to use the cycleway.’

I will be 60 this year and when I was a youngster we had it drummed into us that you should not ride your bike on the pavement. From the sounds of it this “little old guy” was of a similar vintage and he too, probably, has it ingrained in his psyche.

I have personal experience of using this road to get to and from my place of work over the last 30 years. I too have experienced hold ups on this road. However, my experience has been that it is motorists that are causing the hold ups.

Not because they are driving badly.

This road has seen a steady rise in the volume of traffic over the last 30 years that I have been using it. The housing developments in and around Denmead are contributors to that increase. At peak times the traffic can build up very quickly, especially if there are vehicles slowing down to make turns. For example a single car waiting to turn across the traffic to enter Soake Road, Closewood Road or Sunnymead Drive will quickly cause the traffic to build up.

Of course the new traffic lights are a contributor and when the new housing developments are complete the additional traffic volume will far exceed any hold ups by cyclists.

Ms McGeady made a complaint to Hampshire County Council after seeing a cyclist on a racing bike on the road.

She said: ‘There was a cyclist with a very expensive racing bike and the full kit.

‘He was not using the cycleway. You have to say why?’

No, Ms McGeady, you don’t have to say “why ?”.

As John Holland, chairman of Portsmouth Cycle Forum, says

‘A cyclist has a right to be on any highway, apart from a motorway, just like a horse and cart has.

‘A vehicle is there by licence.

and the most sensible comment from John Holland

‘If you are driving down a road and there is a cyclist and you have to slow down, by how long does it delay your journey? Twenty seconds, five seconds?

‘Let’s have a bit of give and take and respect each other.’

Safety warning as cyclists steer clear of new cyclepath – Transport – Portsmouth News.

Cheers all round as council vows to protect old Denmead pub


Yes indeed, Cheers All Round

I for one am glad that the council has seen sense and put a stop to the destruction of this fine old pub. It would have been a travesty if it had been replaced by the two planned houses.

Well done to the council. Lets hope that someone with vision can take over the running of the pub.

With all the new housing developments going on in the surrounding area there should be enough customers to keep it going.

Cheers all round as council vows to protect old Denmead pub – Politics – Portsmouth News.

Closure of Denmead pub shows grim realities of struggling trade – It’s A Crying Shame


Closure of Denmead pub shows grim realities of struggling trade – Local Business – The News.

It’s a crying shame that Ginny Paul and her husband have fallen foul of our constrained economy. It is, however, a sign of the times.

In this day and age it seems that pubs have to have all the modern technology installed. Music blaring out, football on big screen TVs, factory produced food and the whole thing run to a formula. Certainly the Fox & Hounds needed some perking up in the decor department but the atmosphere was fine and the music wasn’t overpowering. You could hold a conversation without having to shout and strain to hear. On a recent visit, with my wife and some friends, we found the landlady and staff really welcoming and the food was good.

The Fox & Hounds will be missed.