I'm not a regular complainer, but there one facet of Basingstoke life which really bugs me.
That is, the unconstructive non-use of the digital traffic information screens, which have been erected on various arterial routes into Basingstoke.
When erected a few years ago, they must have cost a significant amount of money to the public taxpayer.
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Yet 99% of the time the screens display the same facile information whilst major roadworks are taking place in the borough, and therefore whilst important information could be relayed to road users.
Recently the sign on the A30 - inbound from M3 junction 7 - was reading "seatbelts save lives" on the three days that the same section of A30 was closed at 7pm until 6am for resurfacing!
Also, we currently have major ongoing works on the Brighton Hill roundabout, it might help visitors to the town if the screens actually conveyed this useful information, but nothing useful is ever displayed (likewise when worting road railway bridge was closed for weeks, the opportunity to advise might have helped a few people).
What, potentially, could have been a reasonable use of taxpayer money is rendered completely useless by lazy mismanagement.
It would be nice to see the screens used constructively.
Simon Rowe
Rycroft Meadow, Beggarwood
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