Winchester MP Steve Brine held a top-level summit today (Tuesday 27 September) focused on traffic issues in the village of Twyford.
The meeting delivered a key election pledge to villagers which the MP made before last year's General Election and brought an impressive group of people together. Around the table were; Steve Brine MP (chair), Cllr Ken Thornber (Leader HCC), Cllr George Beckett (Leader WCC), Cllr Waine Lawton (Chair Twyford PC), Inspector Pat Reddin and Sgt Chris Hills from Hampshire Police, Cllr Mel Kendal (Transport Portfolio Holder HCC), Cllr Daryl Henry (WCC) Roger Walker (Traffic in Twyford) and Colin Taylor (Ass Director of Highways at HCC).
Speaking after the meeting, Steve Brine said; "I have campaigned and knocked doors in Twyford for many years prior to my election last year and leaving national issues aside, this is the one thing that comes up time after time from residents.
"No-one, including me, can wave a magic wand and solve what are long-standing problems but I am absolutely clear that these very complex issues deserve the attention of those at the very top and that's what this working meeting was all about.
"It was incredidble to get all these people around one table at one time and that allowed us to cut straight to the chase and home in on the key issues facing Twyford. Many of the attendees, especially Cllr Thornber and Kendal from HCC, have taken away a list of agreed actions and I will now be driving them through."
The meeting focused on four areas of concern to residents in the village and ranged from route issues (including restrictions in HGV through traffic), speed issues (including new speed limits and a community speed watch initiative), crossing issues (including new safe points on High Street, Finches Lane and at Norris Bridge) and parking issues (including problems on Finches Lane and in Queen Street).
The MP said he would work cross-party with local councillors to follow up every single action from the meeting and report back to the village in due course.
Pictured; the meeting in progress (top) and team photo afterwards - both taken at Twyford Prep School where the meeting was held on Tuesday 27 September 2011.
More information ...
Watch a short-film from the event via Steve Brine TV