Conference govt02::basingstoke

    Idea No. 1
    
    Solve the Hong Kong crisis by moving all 3 million of them to Hatch
    Warren (where nobody will notice that its any more crowded)
    
    Side Effect - we might get some decent restaurants!
    
    

    Well ,
    
    	Why didn't they finish building all the over and Underpasses on
    all the roundabouts . Surely this would Reduce the traffic delays
    especially at the Reading turnoff on the Ring Road .
    
    Also what is happening in the Shopping center . Looks like they
    are building a Second Level of shops constructed out of Scaffolding
    above all the walkways . Any Ideas , Sane or otherwise ?????

    Phil 

    They are building a roof, if you go into the information shop at
    the back of NatWest by Mothercare they will fill you in on all the
    goodies lined up, food centres, playgroups for shoppig Mums, free
    wheelchair service for the disabled etc
    
    Jacqui

Re: .2

The missing bits are to be built at the Reading and Aldermaston Road
roundabouts.

This can be deduced from the Department of Transport seeking to redesignate
what will become the slip roads as no longer being part of a Trunk Road - as
and when the new construction is completed. 

jb

    Building a roof Hmmmmmmm......Will this roof protect us from the
    glass that drops out of the Churchill Plaza at random intervals
    during the year. 
    
    On the Large notice board ouside Bejams. It appeared to explain
    that all the scaffolding was there so that they could re-tile the
    "shopping malls" their words not mine. Could it be that having learnt
    from the people who re-built the famous market square steps...motto
    "never ever work in the rain". They intend to put up a roof to keep
    the flooring people dry whilst they work. 
    
    Did closing off Kempshott lane at the Sainsburys end after building
    a nice access to it from the new roundabout make any difference
    to anybody, apart from the people in the lower end of Kempshot lane
    who now have to dive out the way of cars lorries, & busses,etc going
    even faster to get around the "diversion".
    

    Speaking of the market square steps ...
    
    We shouldn't knock somebody's life work, after all, it took
    Michaelangelo more than a bank holiday weekend to paint the cistene
    chapel didn't it?
    
    I'm looking forward to the grand opening ceremony in 1995.
    
    

    1995 Haaaa hhaaaaaaaaa 
    
    You won't be able to see the steps, what with all the scaffolding
    still in the early throws of development. Maybe a better idea would
    be to travel up to Sainsburys avoiding road closures as you go...
    then ask for a gallon tin of lead free and a box of matches and..
    ooopppssssss    sorry.......

    do I detect a hint of sarcasm about our marvellous town here...???
    
    hmmm.....
    
    perhaps you have some comments on the following....
    
    why is kylie not making another record with jason..???
    
    why do harrods not move into ghost alley..??
    
    why haven't I got a ferrari...??
    
    
    answers on a postcard please...
    
    

    And what's happening over by the lido, prey tell?
    I knew of a bowling alley being built, but what other wanders await
    us?
    
    Any answers or guesses to Basingstoke & Deane borough council.

    re: Those interested in going down a RAT HOLE
    
    I thort the scaffolding was the new roof of the Shopping centre
    :-) 
    
    But seriously folks ... Has anyone tried out the Basingstoke Golf
    Centre . Surely this is something to be proud of in Basingstoke
    , well If anyone can remember what it used to be like ... I don't
    know whether its Private or Council owned tho ??
    
    Phil ( Basingstoke , My kind of Town )
    

    If one drives over by the Lido there is a big board advertising
    what is being built.
    
    No wonder Basingstoke has a bad name!!!

    re .0
    
    If you cycled or motorcycled in to work, you wouldn't have to be
    part of the metal chain, unless perhaps you LIKE being part of it.
     It would also reduce the amount of toxins etc. Polluting Basingstoke
    and the world and you would feel better too.
    
    Just an observation.
    
    Nick.
    

    
    
    What metal chain?  When my brother moved to basingstoke from London
    I warned him about various roads to avoid at rush hour.  When I
    next saw him he had a fit of hysterical laughter about our 'traffic
    Jams'.  But then he was used to sitting in the Blackwall Tunnel
    snarl up for a couple of hours each morning....
    
    But.......with all the new building at Viables, it is getting a
    bit hard to get out at night isn't it? Wait till the Thomas De La
    Rue building is inhabited...there'll be NO escape!!
    
    

    Thomas De La Rue  Hmmmmmmm
    
    I think "they" should put a new roundabout in the field outside
    the CSC, between it and the Cresent. Think about the only piece of
    open land around for miles & no roundabout on it.
    
    By the way who designed Viables ?? is it the same guy that shoe
    manufactures employ to design the shoe boxes ??

    I'm as green as the next man (even the VDU has a green screen) I would
    love to cycle to work as I have in the past up the hills of Bath and
    around Salisbury's ring road. 
    
    Unfortunately, I think I would have to have a full frontal lobotamy
    before feeling able to tackle the daily Grand Prix (pronounce it
    as you will!) around Basingstoke.
    
    It does raise a good point though - a positive one (which was the
    point of this note in the first place). How about a few cycle lanes
    around town? Wouldn't cost much but it could encourage a few more
    of us to take to the spokes.
    
    Aparently, a 6 - 8% reduction in traffic dramatically reduces pollution
    because flow rates increase, and fumes don't build up so much. 
                            

    Having had to dodge multi geared Hi Tech mountain bikes, which are
    sneakily designed so as to give not faintest warning of their impending
    approach, as they bank into the underpasses at warp speed. I would
    agree that proper cycle ways would be an excellent idea.
    
    Ps: another two windows have fallen out of the Churchill Plaza.

    
    Yep, couldn't agree more, those of you who live within 5 miles of
    work should cycle in (unless a medical conditions prevents it),
    so that those of us who live 20+ miles away can get in easier! :-)
    
    I live in Farnborough and that town has a lot of cycle paths which
    makes cycling to the shops or office (If you work there) a pleasure.
    
    Mark
    

    RE.16
    
    Perhaps the Roof on the Shopping centre is designed to Catch the
    falling Glass :-) . 
    
    Phil
    Rathole merchant

    As a newcomer to Bas. I find it quite striking that the town seems
    to be designed for pedestrians and motorists; but not much in between.
    I'm all for pedestrianisation and good spelling, but the Basie
    designers seem to have polarised their travellers into walkers and
    drivers.
    
    I don't really like cycling on footpaths - usually because pedestruans
    don't expect to see you there, and object to getting buzzed by the
    snazzy mountain biker - but there seems to be no (safe) alternative.
    It wouldn't take much to modify the footpaths to accomodate a cyclepath
    - and then cyclist, pedestrian and motorist would probably all be
    a lot happier.
    
    Dougie 
    

    re .20
    
    I know cycling on footpaths is illegal; but I'd rather flout the
    law than an XR3i. 
    
    The reason cycling on footpaths is illegal is because so many cyclists
    are inconsiderate and skoot along at speeds unsuitable for the
    situation. My general rule when cycling on footpaths - never go
    faster than a fast pedestrian - and if its busy at all - walk. Joggers
    are not prohibited from footpaths - yet they can be just as pushy.
    
    
    

    On a practical note.
    
    In the short term, I don't think cycle paths are going to emerge
    before the 23rd century if the market square steps are a benchmark.
    
    Two thoughts though:
    
    	There's safety in numbers. If meeting places could be designated,
    then people could cycle in together. I know that they would be more
    difficult to pass (might slow the motorists average speed down by
    0.0001 mph) but we mostly have dual carriageways here anyway
    
        The police are e x t r e m e l y sympathetic to cyclists who
    have been put in dangerous situations (e.g. screeching past and
    turning left five feet ahead of you, or those people who seem to
    take the extension spacing bar (You know - the ones like a horizontal
    lollipop) as a challenge to see if they can touch it). Take the
    offending vehicle's number, and they will have an extremely disquieting
    conversation with the boys in blue.
                                       
    
    
    p.s. As this note seems to have converged on two-wheeled transportation
    - does anybody know if there are any cycling clubs in Basingstoke
    who are into touring - not the tour de france bit with the kinky
    black knickers. If not, is anyone interested in starting a DIGITAL
    cycling club - we could organise outings to Queens House, Newbury
    town centre or even somewhere nice!
    
    

    There is a touring club in Basingstoke ... it is usually mentioned
    in the Basingstoke Gazette each week. Shout if you want the details.
    
    As for a Digital touring club .... dependant on the type of bike
    (racing bike or M.T.B) ... sounds interesting.
    
    	Chris.

    Does anybody know the reason for Kempshott Lane being closed off?
                                              
   Roland 

    < 0.24
    
    I'd imagine it has something to do with it being a 'rat-run'. I
    don't know anything about the history of Basingstoke's road network,
    but it sems to me that a lot of roads have been blocked off to stop
    them being used by fast through traffic looking for a short-cut.
    
    Kempshott lane at the top is pretty residential, and I suppose it
    was a bit unpleasant for the residents to put up with drivers taking
    a quick short cut, in what is essentially a residential area. I'm
    also informed that a councellor lives up that way, so perhaps that
    had something to do with it too ...
    
    Dougie
    

    
    Re .-1. In the main, this reply is correct, except that the
    councillor lives on the "Bird" estate about half way down the
    lane, roughly opposite the Buckingham Parade area. So they get
    the traffic whether the lane is close or open and anyway, he is
    a Basingstoke councillor and not a County Councillor. (Hampshire
    County Council forced the Borough to close Kempshott Lane.)
    
    The reason was to stop very fast traffic from the M3/A30 using it
    as a rat run to the Ring Road. In that aim, the closure has 
    succeeded, in spite of the figures that the current protest group
    (KRACKLE) is trying to put forward. They only got 30 signatures on
    a petition to re-open the lane, which must indicate a majority for
    closure. Those residents backing onto Heather Way, were made aware,
    at original purchase, that Heather Way was intended to take the
    traffic from the top of Kempshott Lane, so that arguement doesn't
    hold water.
    
    Anyway, in such a residential area, with schools, children etc,
    a 40 MPH speed limit is ludicrous, it should be 30MPH, then at least
    most drivers will probably not exceed 40 MPH.
    
    As the above implies, I'm in favour of closure, even if it does
    mean a SMALL detour to Sainsburys and the M3.
    

    There are some road signs covered with black plastic on the 
    northern (from the A339) approach to the Town Center West 
    "roundabout". Anybody know what's planned for that area?
    Will it be a change of priorities to give a similar layout 
    to that on the southern approach perhaps? 
    
    Roland

    
    
     Why not stop and remove the plastic covers, this will do two things
     1. confuse everyone driving along that bit of road, 
     2. Answer your question,
    
    
     Mark.

    I'd get caught doing it. No matter how many of us smoked behind 
    the bike sheds at school it was always me that got caught. I'll
    let one of lifes jammy beggars do the dirty work...... 

    Yes there is to a layout similar to southern approach road. 

    
    (��)Munce.

    Was anyone in the town centre at lunchtime at about 1.45pm ? As
    I was driving away I saw Thick black smoke pouring out from the
    Shopping centre 8-| ! Did'nt here any sirens tho . I suppose it
    could have been the workmen on the NEW Roof .
    
    Phil

    There were sirens eventually, anyone else know anymore ?
    
    (��)Munce.