THE tiny hamlet of Newton Valence feels it is under siege from traffic seeking to avoid the B3006 roadworks – and it wants to batten down the hatches and close the village to all through traffic. But, while residents feel the rat-running is a recipe for disaster, Hampshire Highways engineers say the suggestion is a non-starter. When work began on the B3006 through Selborne last Monday drivers from the south of the village began cutting through Newton Valence to access the A32. According to residents, the hamlet has become a rat run for speeding motorists, who pay little heed to the lack of footpaths and the narrow sunken access lanes. Vehicles meet head on along single-track lanes, often travelling at inappropriate speeds, and cause damage to the fragile banks and verges. So fearful have residents become for their own safety that they have asked for the roads into the village to be closed off until work in Selborne is complete and the B3006 re-opened. But Hampshire Highways engineers say that to do so would be verging on the illegal. They will not close roads unless there is a valid reason – to facilitate major road- works or in the wake of a serious accident, or when there is a road closure nearby. According to a Hampshire County Council spokesman: "It would result in massively confusing diversion routes." Furthermore, "access only" signs had been erected on all approaches to Newton Valence and on the A32, along with improved diversion signs at the bottom of Hallum Lane, and these, the engineers believe, should encourage motorists not to drive through the village. But, a small number in the community of Newton Valence is vociferous in its condemnation. "It is not good enough," says parish council chairman, Gillian Pendlebury. She told The Herald that so concerned has the village become for safety, in particular of mothers walking children to school, that she asked HCC if the Hallum Lane approach to Newton Valence could be closed off. The suggestion was that traffic from the southern end of Selborne village be diverted to access the A32 along the road to East Tisted – a route residents believe is better suited. Mrs Pendlebury said she was told that if the whole village was in agreement then the closure would be considered. As a result, last weekend every householder in Newton Valence was asked and agreed to the plan. But by Monday the Highways engineers had reneged and the idea was rejected. Like others in the village, Mrs Pendlebury believes HCC is ignoring the fact that the rat-running puts lives at risk. "This is not a main road vehicles are driving through without any regard." Alton police inspector Simon Dodds visited Newton Valence on Tuesday to witness at first hand the problems being experienced and has instructed local officers to engage in spot check patrols on drivers who choose to ignore the 'access only' signs. He has also detailed the district's road traffic community reassurance team to conduct a review to see if they can pass any further recommendations to Hampshire Highways Authority. He said: "While there are issues here that the police and highways will work towards resolving, the wider community must also take some responsibility to respect those who live in villages like Newton Valence," HCC has heeded concerns over the damage caused to the area's historic sunken lanes and has assigned contractors to visit Hallum and Newton Lane or repair work.
