The Department for Transport Set The Scene

So, what's been happening with the A303/A30/A358 Feasibility Study since January 2014?  There was a meeting on 20th May 2014 in Taunton and the Department for Transport provided some useful background information.   Clearly, not everyone can attend these meetings, but there are an awful lot of people who have an interest in the process that is now underway and in the final outcome.  It seems only sensible to allow people to see the information for themselves and give them the opportunity to question and comment.

Rather than give you our impressions and opinions, here is what the Department of Transport presented.  It's the sort of thing that, given the level of public interest, the DfT really ought to be publishing on their own web-site. Please make your own minds up and let us know what you think.

140429 A303 Feasibility Study Reference Group Meeting Final 200514 v1 by Blonini1

The Measure of Misery - 4-5 Solitons Solitons Per Hour

Standing by the side of the A303 this Bank Holiday weekend, watching the traffic slow down and eventually grind to a halt, is a good excuse to contemplate the infinite, to ponder those deep philosophical questions that have troubled mankind for years.

I was going to suggest it was an opportunity to contemplate ones own navel, but it was a darned sight too cold for that and, in any event, it may be of uncertain legality and is definitely of dubious taste - at least in my case.

Anyway, the deep question I was pondering, watching all those grey and grim-set faces behind the windscreens was: "How do you measure misery?'

I think I now have an answer.  It's 4-5 Solitons Per Hour.

A few weeks ago, I explained how people slowing at Stonehenge could create a soliton generator near Stonehenge and there were others at Longbarrow Roundabout and Stonehenge Bottom.  

Westbound traffic and eastbound soliton

Basically, vehicles joins a queue of traffic faster than than they can leave it, so the point at which traffic stops on the road, moves backwards,  against the direction of vehicle travel, until it meets another soliton and things jam solid, or it meets a stretch of traffic-free road and simply vanishes.   Today, I was watching traffic in Winterbourne Stoke go east and the soliton travel west, from Longbarrow Roundabout back to Winterbourne Stoke and the dual carriageway at Berwick Down.  People-watching is always fascinating, but even more so today as the traffic slowed to a stop.

I've noticed over the last few weeks that these solitons build and disappear in a fairly systematic way.  The periodicity changes in response to traffic volume, so the more traffic, the shorter the interval between solitons.  You can measure this periodicity in solitons per hour (SPH).  Now the fun thing is that people's demeanour changes in response to this periodicity - the higher the SPH, the deeper the misery of the car occupants.  It also changes their reaction to someone stood at the side of the road with a STAG sign and a video camera.

At 0 solitons per hour, the drivers see you, look sheepish as going 60 mph or more in a 40 mph zone is tearing the arse out of things a wee bit and they worry you might be a speed camera or something.   This effect can be enhanced by wearing a yellow, high-vis, dayglo jacket.  Passengers laugh at driver.

At 1 soliton per hour, the drivers sigh a bit, but they are travelling less than 10 mph over the speed limit, so aren't too worried you are a speed camera.  Drivers sweat a bit when they fail to see stationary car ahead.

At 2 solitons per hour, the drivers know you aren't a speed camera and don't give a stuff about you, as they are being slowed on their way home.  Passengers are busting for a pee and they should have stopped at the last place that had a toilet before Wylye.  Still, it benefits the Bell Inn in Winterbourne Stoke with additional passing trade.

At 3 solitons per hour, drivers glare at you, make obscene gestures and frequently open the window and swear at you. They really do seem to blame you for the fact they are stuck in this traffic jam.   Driver screams at passengers and they scream back.  The A303 becomes a place of learning - that is if you want to learn some of the choicer ways to use expletives.  Some drivers try to drive threateningly at the camera and then fail to notice the crossing lights are on red or a driver is turning in or out of the petrol station or pub - yet another near miss!   Smiling at them doesn't seem to help their mood, though it is cathartic for the traffic-watcher.  Waving is even more fun.

At 4 solitons per hour everything changes.  Drivers are no longer angry and abusive.  Instead they seemed resigned to their fate - like a condemned prisoner in a tumbrel, heading to the gallows, with passengers who seem to relish the prospect of joining them.  They attempt to smile in a thin-lipped, dejected way and will sometimes wind their windows down and engage you in conversation.

As I packed up to go home, another soliton was forming and the drivers reaction seemed to be the same.  On the basis of this, then I reckon the Measure of Misery is about 4-5 solitons per hour.

I trundled home to write this piece and then I had a flash of inspiration.  I had finally understood the true meaning of the answer and thus had finally got to grips with the nature of the question.   Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy fans will recall that "42" was the answer to life, the universe and everything and that, according to the book, the earth was created to determine what the ultimate question actually was.

Now, I'm beginning to think that the answer wasn't 42, as a numeral, but the first part of a statement "4 to"  as in "4 to 5" or "4 to 400" or even "4 to Infinity"   Of course, as infinity is big, really big, so it wouldn't all fit onto a computer screen.  Consequently, it seems adamantly (even Douglas Adamantly) reasonable to output just the first bit  - "4 to".

Now if that's the real answer, the question now becomes obvious.  "What is the Measure of Misery".

Clearly, Stonehenge is simply the on-off switch for the computer created by the multi-dimensional creatures who resemble white mice.  Experts in the field will see the problem here.  Whilst we are pushing to get the A303 dualled as a means of eliminating traffic misery, the blasted Vogons are intent on eliminating us entirely to construct a new hyperspace bypass.

SWMBO reckons I've been out playing with the traffic for waaaaaaaaaay to long!

Does "A Degree Of Success" Amount To Abject Failure?

On Thursday, the Western Morning News ran a story on comments from Roads Minister, Robert Goodwill under the headline: "Minister promises 'success' in A303 funding campaign."  The same story ran in the Western Daily Press yesterday and this was featured in our sister blog STAG Stonehenge Traffic Action Group.   But was the story really such good news?

What Robert Goodwill seems to have actually said, in response to a question specifically about funding for the A47 improvement plan was:

"I should like to make it clear that this is not a competition in which there can only be one winner,"

"I hazard to suggest that there will be a degree of success in all six areas that we have identified."

OK, so he is merely suggesting that all 6 schemes might have a degree of success - at best maybe an unsubtle hint, at worst a face-saving expedient to give the impression of substance where in reality, there is only a wisp of smoke.

Even if he is correct, what benefit is a "degree of success?"  I would argue very little, four-fifths of bugger-all, not a lot, nothing of any real value. 

Why?  Well, isn't it obvious?   Simply improving a few bits of the A303/A358/A30 isn't anything more than window-dressing - it might make a bit of the road look prettier, but isn't going to have any major impact on journey times along the whole length of the road.  In fact, a "degree of success" is probably a more PC way to describe an abject failure. 

My fear is that this is the first stage of a British government saying, yet again, that they haven't the collective wit, wisdom, or motivation to solve the problem of getting the A303 past Stonehenge and the Blackdown Hills.

Never forget:

"Under every stone lurks a politician!"

                              Aristophanes

                            

Minister promises ‘success’ in A303 funding campaign
Read more at http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Minister-promises-8216-success-8217-A303-funding/story-21102168-detail/story.html#JUCUCWzyLYuD7Opr.99

Minister promises ‘success’ in A303 funding campaign
Read more at http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Minister-promises-8216-success-8217-A303-funding/story-21102168-detail/story.html#JUCUCWzyLYuD7Opr.99

Minister promises ‘success’ in A303 funding campaign
Read more at http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Minister-promises-8216-success-8217-A303-funding/story-21102168-detail/story.html#JUCUCWzyLYuD7Opr.99

Wooly Thinking on the A303 And Stonehenge From Tom Corbin

In a letter to the Salisbury Journal of 14th May 20214, Tom Corbin, Labour's parliamentary candidate for the Salisbury constituency demonstrates some particularly woolly thinking on the future of the A303 past Stonehenge. 

Tom Corbin

In fact, as woolliness goes, it outdoes many of the sheep that wander round the stones from time to time.

Sheep

 Having mentioned his support for HS2, oh, and the fact that he is a rail-worker who might just have a vested interest in railways, he begins his comments on the A303 with:

"The argument is about the importance of improving national infrastructure based on value for money and economic returns whilst competing for funding against other national roads projects".

We wouldn't disagree with that, providing of course that value for money was determined on a fair basis and one that didn't unduly favour urban projects more than rural ones because of the distorted way in which government data has been collected.  For instance, road usage data is collected on any days that aren't: weekends, public holidays, school holidays, etc, etc.  Just the times when the A303 traffic flow is minimal and that on urban roads is maximal.

Mr Corbin then shoots his value for money argument in the foot by writing:

"Taking in some of the arguments for a tunnel or cutting as part of A303 improvements, if passing traffic can no longer enjoy the views of Stonehenge then aside from a fall in drop in visitor numbers everyone will miss out on seeing the iconic stones in the varying daylight conditions year round, something we should be able to enjoy just as we do with other scenic views."

Poppycock Mr Corbin.   Strangely, I can't see Blackpool Tower from the A303.  It's clearly my unalienable right to look at Blackpool Tower, but if I can't see it from the A303, it's up to me to make the effort and get a bit closer.  The same goes for Stonehenge.   If it is shoved in a tunnel, lowered in a cutting, or moved a few miles north or south of its present route, then people will need to make a bit of an effort to see it - like we do for any other scenic view.

"Only a few people would pay to see the stones several times a year". 

"This treasure should not be isolated from view, or it will slip from our consciousness."

Almost certainly true, but pretty disingenuous.  Even without seeing Stonehenge from the A303, no-one needs to pay to see Stonehenge at all.  Everyone, with or without their bikes, horses and carriages, are able to freely wander past the stones, along the course of the A344, Byway 12, or across the open-access National Trust land to the north. OK, English Heritage would be happier if you ransomed your granny and got a little bit closer to the stones, or even sacrificed your first-born for the privilege of a special visit within the stone circle itself, but for most people, if you can't touch actually touch the stones, then whether you are 50 metres away or 200 is somewhat academic. 

As we have demonstrated unequivocally in recent weeks,  passers-by slowing to look at Stonehenge are the root cause of many of the A303 traffic jams, not just the volume of traffic.  The best way to ensure this problem stops in the short and long term is by removing the ability to see the stones from the A303.

In the short term, sight-screens might help a little on the stretch of the A303 closest to Stonehenge.  In the long term, the solution will be to move the road, vertically or horizontally, a sufficient depth or distance such that the stones can no longer be seen from the road. Tom Corbin would have made a great deal more sense had he said something along the lines of:

"This treasure should be isolated from the view of motorists to ENSURE it will slip from their consciousness and not encourage them to slow unnecessarily; thereby hindering other road users, increasing travelling time to the south west of England, burning additional fuel, delaying workers, enraging locals and tourists alike, wasting money, increasing chemical and noise pollution." 

Showing Solidarity With Somerset And Making A Difference

From the outset, WISBAng has tried not to be overly parochial when it comes to the need to dual the A303 - we want to create the legacy of a viable southern route to the West Country - all the way, to the very tip of Cornwall.  So while we do report on those issues closest to home in Wiltshire and around Stonehenge, we keep a weather eye open for other campaigning activities along the A303/A358/A30 corridor between the Hampshire border and Penzance.

We've also stressed, several times, the need to engage with other campaigns to improve the A303.  We are not alone - and neither are the other campaigners.  So when we heard that, as part of National

Newspaper week, the Somerset-based Western Gazette had been short-listed for the prestigious Making a Difference award.

Making a Difference aims to highlight the power of local newspapers to campaign for positive change in the communities they serve and judges have selected 30 of the strongest editorial campaigns across the UK.

So, why not help raise the profile of the A303 campaigns across the south west of England by voting for the Western Gazette and helping them to win!

Click here to register your vote.

Local Newspaper Week, which starts today, Making a Difference aims to highlight the power of local newspapers to campaign for positive change in the communities they serve. Judges have selected 30 of the strongest editorial campaigns across the UK.
Read more at http://www.westerngazette.co.uk/A303-campaign-Making-Difference-Western-Gazette/story-21085853-detail/story.html#XxpIFzsE5vG1z65w.99

Just What Is The Truth About English Heritage and Byway 12?

Janice Hassett has published a most interesting post on the STAG Stonehenge Traffic Action Group blog.

It is raising some interesting questions about the truth about English Heritage's position, locally and nationally, on Byway 12.  Anyone with an interest in the vexatious question of Byway 12 and the fate of the A303 would be well advised to read it all and start asking some very awkward questions.

Road Conditions on the A303 - Some Useful Websites and Apps

We are often asked about what resources are available to help travellers and locals to avoid the worst of the jams on the A303, so we thought we would try and group a few of them together in a single post.

We probably haven't spotted all of them, so you might want to bookmark this particular post as we intend to update it if we find anything else particularly useful.

The two iPhone apps we use most are provided by the AA and the RAC - they are intended for members of each organisation and amongst other things, give live traffic reports.  The AA app looks like this:

and the RAC app is very similar.

They don't always show the same problem at the same time, so it's worth having both of them if you are a regular traveller.

The Highways Agency also have their  Traffic Map (beta) on the Traffic England website.

It can be a bit slow, but does provide a wealth of information that can be customised to meet your own particular needs.  It provides direct links to the traffic cameras that sit alongside the A303 and many other major roads.  For us, checking the camera at Solstice Park, Amesbury, is a quick way to check on westbound traffic jams.

 The downside is that this camera, useful as it is, has an unfortunate tendency to "fail" when the traffic is particularly heavy.   We're sure the Highways Agency would claim that this is pure co-incidence, but it happens way too often for that.  It also happens to other A303 cameras when the traffic is bad.

 The biggest issue with the cameras on the A303 is that there are so few of them compared to other strategic routes.  The nearest one to the west of Stonehenge is several miles away at Mere.   There has to be a huge tailback of eastbound traffic for this camera to show anything helpful.  One of the most useful sites we have found, and only found recently is Frixo.

They provide some useful daily statistics that give an indication of the average traffic speed along the whole of the A303 and the spot speed at several different locations.

For detailed westbound information look here, and for eastbound information look here.  I've included a live feed from Frixo at the very bottom of this page.

If you know of any other resources like these, please let us know!

Is The New Stonehenge Visitor's Centre Causing Another Sort of Jam?

The location of the new Stonehenge Visitor's Centre and the premature and regrettable closure of the A344 have had demonstrable negative impacts on traffic flow on the A303 and in the surrounding villages.  That's the reason for the very existence of this blog and the Stonehenge Traffic Action Group campaign to dual the A303 along its entire length as a local, national and European priority.

It's very tempting to blame English Heritage for many of the local issues that crop up in relation to the Stonehenge World Heritage Site - and indeed, over the years, English Heritage's actions and manner of dealing with local communities haven't exactly enamoured them to local folks.  Take a look through the public records of past inquiries and planning issues if you want to get a feel for how they have behaved in the past.  That said, at least the local management now appears to want to work with local communities in a way that hasn't been apparent in the past - so progress does seem to be being made.

Some folks would like to blame English Heritage for all our local woes: be it curdled milk, crying children, the weather, sour beer, etc, etc.  Now, even I, jaundiced as I am, wouldn't go quite that far.  But odd things have been happening hereabouts since the start of the year and I do wonder, if English Heritage and the new Visitor's Centre might, very unwittingly, be at the root of it.

Many of the local villages - Winterbourne Stoke, Tilshead, Orcheston and Shrewton itself are served by the Shrewton telephone exchange.  We have old, decrepit and failing aluminium telephone lines that make use of the internet for more than basic functions, very difficult. During the last few months and in the last few weeks particularly, broadband speeds have been dropping massively during working hours and then rising again in the evenings and staying that way until early morning.  Odd, as that means when most villagers are using the internet, the speeds are fastest - almost the opposite of what you might expect to happen.

It raises the question of what might be gobbling up all the network bandwidth during the working day.  The only major change over the last year that has happened over the last year has been the opening of the Stonehenge Visitors Centre.  We wonder if in the new location it is connected to the Shrewton telephone exchange, rather than the bigger exchange in Amesbury - where it might have been connected to in its former location on the A344.  Could this really be the cause of another form of jam in the local infrastructure.  We'll be asking BT to take a look.

UPDATE:  Typically, since this post was published, the problem seems to have become a 24 hour affair.  Ping times can vary from 33ms to 880ms over a matter of seconds.  We've also lost broadband completely, but not the connection to the exchange, several times.