I don't want to appear churlish and I expect I am meant to feel grateful for this...from New Forest Heart Cops...

"Morning everyone. Today we are holding a “Day of Action” which aims to help reduce the speed of traffic across the New Forest. PROJECT EDWARD is a joint initiative involving the Police, the Road Safety Unit, Forestry England and of course our Community Speedwatch volunteers. New Forest Heart Cops will be at various locations throughout the day so please stick to the speed limit. Thank you. We are already at our first location on the A35 at Ashurst. #14495 #ProjectEDWARD"

The more I think about it the more frustrated I get. How much has it cost between the various agencies to set this up - numerous meetings no doubt and time spent finding a suitable date and now groups of people standing at the roadside; is it at various locations at the same time or just one - the same that could be achieved by one policeman and a van? How many of the roads inside the grids will it cover? How late will they go on? And what happens after dark, tomorrow, and on all those days when there will be nothing again? How many will they actually prosecute?

There's an obvious acceptance that we have a problem with speeding in the Forest. There's an obvious acknowledgement that when people know that enforcement is taking place some (not all) will slow down but most of this is about fanfare and publicity. Interesting to see that it is called Operation Edward when Councillor Edward Heron hasn't even acknowledged receipt of our petition - nor incidentally Donna Jones, the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

Let's get that Feasibility Study started - if indeed we actually need one!

Incidentally the polices' Freedom of Information page is out of action, as is their 'report a problem with this page' page and their complaints page. A good old fashioned letter it will have to be then...

Photo: this map shows the roads in the New Forest with the black spots as they were in 2014. They are the same today.