ROAD TRAFFIC SPECIAL

Those of you who know me well will probably grip something sturdy nearby to steady yourselves after reading that shocking title. But bear with me there is a serious message here, people die on this country’s roads every day. There is also no doubt that our roads and the things that happen on them stir up opinions in almost everyone. It’s either too many speed cameras, actually they have been renamed Road Safety Cameras now (makes them seem more fluffy and loveable), or perhaps you think there are too few cameras. Maybe it’s too many Traffic Police officers, recently renamed Road Policing Officers, (makes them seem……no forget it) or even too few traffic officers. Whatever your opinion the fact remains that speed kills. If we all drove around at walking pace (pointless I know) not many people would die in car crashes. Not many people would go to the seaside or nip to the out of town supermarket for a packet of Jaffa cakes and a large tub of raspberry ripple ice cream either, but I digress. So why a road traffic special bulletin? Well quite simply having written this bulletin every month since July 1998 I’m running out of ideas. What part of a car causes the most accidents? The nut that holds the steering wheel. Now that may be a particularly poor joke but one thing is certain, cars don’t crash on their own. So think about what you are doing when you get behind the wheel of your car and please drive carefully.

IS YOUR VILLAGE SUFFERING FROM SPEEDING MOTORISTS?

Well the residents of Tollard Royal are and they aim to help the Police to do something about it. I have been asked to include the following on behalf of Tollard Royal Parish Council.

‘Would your parish be prepared to make a donation towards a laser speed gun for Tisbury Police Section? At present the speed gun has to be shared with the officers at Wilton which means our local Police do not have as much access to it as some of them would like. We need to raise approximately £2,000 - £2,300. Wiltshire Police would buy the device and it would remain their property BUT it would stay at Tisbury for LOCAL use. Tollard Royal has seen a big improvement in the village due to an increased presence of PC Andy Lee but to be even more effective he needs his own speed gun! If all the local parishes affected by speeding motorists are prepared to contribute the donation required would be relatively small. If you are interested in participating in this very worth while community project please contact Karen Kebby, telephone: 01202 848752 (day time) or e mail: Karen@kebby.freeserve.co.uk,’

If you pay for it and get 3 points on your licence as a result, do not, under any circumstances, blame me!

COMPLY WITH THE BASIC DRIVING SAFETY RULE.

Always ensure that you are able to stop comfortably on your side of the road within the distance you can see to be clear. Think about that when you are driving. If you are always able to stop in the clear bit of road in front of you it will dramatically reduce your risk of being involved in an accident. It’s all about space, no I don’t mean the big black and twinkly thing up in the sky, I mean your space, the space around your car, your safety space. Don’t tailgate, and if someone is driving right up your chuffer (technical term), find somewhere safe to pull over and allow them to pass. If other people want to drive like idiots you can’t do anything about it.

THINK SAFETY AT ALL TIMES – IT ONLY TAKES A SECOND TO RUIN A LIFE.

REPORTED ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS IN FEBRUARY 2006.

1047hrs on the 4th. B3089 at Fonthill Bishop. Car hit a telegraph pole. Minor injuries.
1257hrs on the 5th. A350 Semley. Two cars hit head on. Several broken bones, nothing serious.
2021hrs on the 7th. B3089 at Fonthill Bishop. Accident involving one car. No injuries.
1053hrs on the 16th. Pettridge Lane, Mere. Car versus a lorry. No injuries.
2143hrs on the 24th. A303 at Charnage Down. Car versus lorry. Broken bones but nothing serious.
0750hrs on the 24th. Car and a bus collided in Fovant. Minor injuries only!

REPORTED CRIME & ARRESTS IN FEBRUARY 2006

TISBURY BEAT
(TISBURY, WEST TISBURY, WARDOUR, HATCH, EAST HATCH, WEST HATCH & NEWTOWN)
Beat Officer: PC Mark Steele mark.steele@wiltshire.police.uk
Overnight 12th/13th two panes of glass were smashed in a greenhouse at Nadder School.
1330hrs on the 16th a handbag was stolen from an unlocked car parked in West Tisbury

TISBURY NORTH BEAT
(BERWICK ST. LEONARD, CHICKSGROVE, CHICKLADE, CHILMARK, FONTHILL BISHOP, FONTHILL GIFFORD, FOVANT, HINDON, RIDGE, SUTTON MANDEVILLE & SWALLOWCLIFFE)
Beat Officer: PC Mark Littlewood mark.littlewood@wiltshire.police.uk
1515hrs on the 1st £10 worth of petrol stolen from the Q8 garage at Chicklade by man in a white Ford transit.
3rd 8 old car tyres were stolen from outside The Cross Keys at Fovant.
Between the 4th and the 6th £50 worth of scrap copper was stolen from Stainers Yard, Sutton Mandeville.
Overnight 20th/21st 3 coaches parked at Sutton Mandeville on the A30 were attacked by thieves who siphoned a large quantity of diesel from their tanks

TISBURY SOUTH BEAT
(ANSTY, ALVEDISTON, BERWICK ST.JOHN, CHARLTON, THE COOMBES, THE DONHEADS, LUDWELL & TOLLARD ROYAL):
Beat Officer: PC Andy Lee andy.lee@wiltshire.police.uk
At 0815hrs on the 1st a group of schoolgirls waiting for the bus in Ludwell observed a man in a blue van stop in a layby. He urinated in the hedge and then flashed his genitals at the young girls before driving off.
3rd £250 worth of diesel stolen from a farm at Berwick St. John.
Overnight 20th/21st a pressure washer and tools were stolen from an insecure storage container in Charlton.
Between the 20th and the 24th 50 bales of hay were stolen from an open barn on the A30 at Ansty

MERE BEAT (including BURTON)
Beat Officers: PC Gary Treherne gary.treherne@wiltshire.police.uk and PC Pete Robins pete.robins@wiltshire.police.uk
Overnight 3rd/ 4th £1,000 worth of sheet metal was stolen from Quarryfields Industrial Estate in Mere.
2120hrs on the 9th a 16yr old boy was arrested having assaulted his mother. No further action was taken.
1500hrs on the 16th a woman stole 3 joints of beef from the Co-op. CCTV footage is being analysed.
2000hrs on the 17th two men damaged a wing mirror on a car parked outside The Yews

MERE SOUTH BEAT
(EAST KNOYLE, WEST KNOYLE, SEMLEY, SEDGEHILL & WILLOUGHBY HEDGE)
Beat Officer PC Bob Salter bob.salter@wiltshire.police.uk
Sausageless!!

MERE NORTH BEAT
(GASPER, KILMINGTON, MAIDEN BRADLEY, NORTON FERRIS, STOURTON, WOLVERTON & ZEALS)
Beat Officer: PC Martin Faulkner martin.faulkner@wiltshire.police.uk
Overnight 6th / 7th a maroon Land Rover Freelander was stolen from outside The Bell & Crown in Zeals.

TISBURY POLICE STATION - OPENING TIMES. (01747-870203)
Monday, Saturday & Sunday - CLOSED.
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday- 9.00am to 1.00pm. Thursday- 9.00am to 5.00pm.

MERE POLICE STATION – OPENING TIMES. (01747-860268)
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday from 0930hrs until 1230hrs. Friday from 1600hrs until 1900hrs.
Saturday from 0800hrs until 1100hrs.Thursday and Sunday – CLOSED.

24 HOUR NUMBER 01380-735735. CRIMESTOPPERS 0800-555-111.

If anyone has any information about any of the above listed crimes please give us a ring at Tisbury or Mere. Your help could lead to the apprehension of offenders or the recovery of property. If you would prefer to pass information anonymously (rewards are available) ring CRIMESTOPPERS.

CONTROL ROOM 01722-411444
CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111