Surrey/Hampshire Travel Info

[Waugh-terfall]

Evening all, I'm driving from Haslemere to Kepshott, Basingstoke tomorrow morning, just seen 'chaos' on the news, how bad is it actually. We've had some heavy snow around here and everywhere is stupidly icy, the only issue I've had so far is my car sliding down my drive... I've already got a tarpaulin, wellies, a shovel, torch and blankets in the car in case. I've spent many, many hours in the last two days playing in the snow and would say I'm fairly competent/confident at driving in it.
Also, anybody know much about the tyres my car wears? All 4, brand new about 7,000mi ago Admiral 712 95V 205/55R16

[mrmr96]

I live in that area of Basingstoke. It's ste. Would not reccomend unless in a 4x4. You MAY be ok, but I'll certainly be taking my 4WD car out tomorrow, not the FF.

[Waugh-terfall]

mrmr96 said:

I live in that area of Basingstoke. It's ste. Would not reccomend unless in a 4x4. You MAY be ok, but I'll certainly be taking my 4WD car out tomorrow, not the FF.

Thanks, I'll be coming up Winchester Road, then along Heather Way to Kempshott lane and up towards Fuzzy Drove and Gracemere Crescent, unless there's a better way around?

[John D.]

My pal drove his van over from Old Basing (right next to Basingstoke) today having abandoned it yesterday evening. Roads were OK; expect it helped they were very quiet today. The very cold temp tonight may make things interesting tomorrow though.

[Waugh-terfall]

John D. said:

My pal drove his van over from Old Basing (right next to Basingstoke) today having abandoned it yesterday evening. Roads were OK; expect it helped they were very quiet today. The very cold temp tonight may make things interesting tomorrow though.

Thanks, hoping they might be quiet tomorrow still, I've seen some pretty stupid/reckless driving in the last two days and I'd rather not become another statistic..! Would it be worth picking some snow-chains up from my local auto factor or when I go past my local Renault dealer?

[mrmr96]

Waugh-terfall said:

mrmr96 said:

I live in that area of Basingstoke. It's ste. Would not reccomend unless in a 4x4. You MAY be ok, but I'll certainly be taking my 4WD car out tomorrow, not the FF.

Thanks, I'll be coming up Winchester Road, then along Heather Way to Kempshott lane and up towards Fuzzy Drove and Gracemere Crescent, unless there's a better way around?

Not really, that's a pretty direct route to where you want to be. Winchester Road is a main road, there's a slight gradient down to the roundabout with Heather Way, but should be ok. Heather way is a gentle rise up from the roundabout, and should be ok. There's then a mini roundabout with Kempshott Lane, this will be the place you're most likely to encounter problems. There's a (relativly) steep hill down from that roundabout as you travel towards Fuzzy Drove. Going downhill you'll be ok, but getting back from Fuzzy Drove to the Heather Way roundabout could be tricky.

See this 'stub' exit from the Winchester Road roundabout? (It points towards Kempshott Lane but has been closed off.) Well there's a tarmac area there just off the roundabout you could park in. You could then jump out and look over the little grass hill to see the top of Kempshott Lane to see how it's looking before you proceed.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...

Sorry if my advice seems OTT and it's fine when you get here, but it's been utter carnage in Basingstoke yesterday and today so I'm trying to arm you with info! We're apparently not due any more snow (and it's not snowing now) but we are due -4'C overnight, so expect ice.

Hope that helps.

[Waugh-terfall]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Thanks Dizeee, my road is sheet ice, one minute you'll be fine and suddenly the wheel will go light. Had a slightly scary moment earlier whilst out with a friend, sweeping right hander on a slight decline, not sure on exact speed but it was between 15 and 25mph, just after turning in the wheel went completely light and the car carried on straight, luckily the road was deserted and I could yank the hand brake rather than shoot up the bank and through the hedge. I had the back end out at roughly 40degrees (brown pants moment) and gave it a boot full of throttle and drifted it around the corner before it came back around and I eased off. That was the 4th time I'd driven that part of the road in 2hrs...

Edited by Waugh-terfall on Tuesday 22 December 23:44

[Waugh-terfall]

mrmr96 said:

Waugh-terfall said:

mrmr96 said:

I live in that area of Basingstoke. It's ste. Would not reccomend unless in a 4x4. You MAY be ok, but I'll certainly be taking my 4WD car out tomorrow, not the FF.

Thanks, I'll be coming up Winchester Road, then along Heather Way to Kempshott lane and up towards Fuzzy Drove and Gracemere Crescent, unless there's a better way around?

Not really, that's a pretty direct route to where you want to be. Winchester Road is a main road, there's a slight gradient down to the roundabout with Heather Way, but should be ok. Heather way is a gentle rise up from the roundabout, and should be ok. There's then a mini roundabout with Kempshott Lane, this will be the place you're most likely to encounter problems. There's a (relativly) steep hill down from that roundabout as you travel towards Fuzzy Drove. Going downhill you'll be ok, but getting back from Fuzzy Drove to the Heather Way roundabout could be tricky.

See this 'stub' exit from the Winchester Road roundabout? (It points towards Kempshott Lane but has been closed off.) Well there's a tarmac area there just off the roundabout you could park in. You could then jump out and look over the little grass hill to see the top of Kempshott Lane to see how it's looking before you proceed.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...

Sorry if my advice seems OTT and it's fine when you get here, but it's been utter carnage in Basingstoke yesterday and today so I'm trying to arm you with info! We're apparently not due any more snow (and it's not snowing now) but we are due -4'C overnight, so expect ice.

Hope that helps.

Mmm, the Winchester Road roundabout is where I was thinking that I might have issues. Ok, I see the exit, good idea. Really, thank you so much for that, it's greatly appreciated!

[tuscan_al]

If anyone wants to let me know what the A339 is like from Basingstoke to alton tonight, my family are coming up the a303 from cornwall tonigh.

[MrChips]

Just rang and cancelled picking up the Chim from its service. It's funny how the garage seems to think "All the roads round here are fine"! That may the case but i'm 40miles away!

It's just not worth taking the risk of an 80mile round trip through Berks and Hampshire at the moment.

[VerySideways]

Dave, you big wuss

Last time we had snow i actually had more success getting around in the Chim than i did in the BMW! Third gear @ idle got me moving every time...

[dern]

I've driven to work in Fleet from Newbury for the last couple of days and it's definitely improving. I've been heading towards Reading, along the M4, down the A33 and then across country. The last bit is definitely the worst but still quite passable.

The biggest danger is the people driving to fast and/or too close to each other. I nearly got hit by a lorry coming the other direction when th eback end slid out towards me and just gripped in time and swung back in... so alarming the expletives didn't start to flow until he'd gone past.

[MrChips]

VerySideways said:

Dave, you big wuss

Last time we had snow i actually had more success getting around in the Chim than i did in the BMW! Third gear @ idle got me moving every time...

Good thing i'm indecisive as I left about 10mins after I posted that!

Was fine once out of Wokingham. Actually quite a nice drive down the A286. It's like there's a winter wonderland that only exists in South Reading as everywhere else seems fine!

Plus it was getting to the stage i'd do anything to get rid of the Corsa loan car

[VerySideways]

MrChips said:

Plus it was getting to the stage i'd do anything to get rid of the Corsa loan car

[identti]

VerySideways said:

MrChips said:

Plus it was getting to the stage i'd do anything to get rid of the Corsa loan car

Don't blame you! MrChips, it'd be good to catch up sometime and let you know how Bath is going - it's bloody brilliant by the way (apart from all the work).

Either of you on the boxing day London TR?

[MrChips]

Hi Rob

No TR for me due to inevitable hangover! Glad to hear Bath's going well. I've still got some old textbooks I need to offload so i'll send you the list!
Have you found the Old Green Tree yet? Best pub in town, so long as there's no more than 3 of you otherwise it gets a bit too cosy.

Oh, and how anyone can buy a Corsa is beyond me. I've driven almost every small car on the market and that was by far one of the worst! Would've thought the least they could do is lend me the 7Ltr Cobra!!

[Waugh-terfall]

Well Basingstoke was absolutely fine, car had no issues what so ever. Thing is though, I'm back home now, but my car is still in Basingstoke...

Body Control Module has cooked itself and shorted every circuit in the car, completely died whilst driving through Buckskin this morning, had it recovered to MPC Basingstoke...

Looked out of the house at 1am today to see my sidelights on, went outside and clicked Unlock, only the drivers door opened and then everything died and there was a bleeping coming from under the bonnet. Car wouldn't start or do anything. Disconnected the battery and left it until this morning, re-connected it and it was fine. Came out at about 10am to find my sidelights on again and an odd whining noise coming from the fusebox, car had the same issues as last night but it started, so we took it for a run... After about a mile the engine cut out, put my foot on the clutch and lifted it again and the engine came back on, then the dash lit up like a Christmas Tree and the engine started to die, foot flat to the boards in 2nd resulted in the revs jolting up and down around the 2,000 and 3,000rpm marks before it totally died, the lights started flashing, the doors locking/unlocking themselves, the interior lights coming on and the wipers going nuts.

Apparently the Body Control Module and Fusebox aren't protected from the elements, they just have a plastic panel above them, over time water has built up and corroded the connections before it chose this last night/this morning to completely pack up and die... Great. Merry Christmas everybody

Edited by Waugh-terfall on Sunday 27th December 12:14

[identti]

MrChips said:

Hi Rob

No TR for me due to inevitable hangover! Glad to hear Bath's going well. I've still got some old textbooks I need to offload so i'll send you the list!
Have you found the Old Green Tree yet? Best pub in town, so long as there's no more than 3 of you otherwise it gets a bit too cosy.

Oh, and how anyone can buy a Corsa is beyond me. I've driven almost every small car on the market and that was by far one of the worst! Would've thought the least they could do is lend me the 7Ltr Cobra!!

I must be the only person who doesn't get completely blotto at Christmas, I tend to see these holidays as a detox period from the daily drinking at uni.

I'm sure the textbooks will come in handy, email me the list please Not found the Old Green Tree yet, although as I live on campus we tend to only go into town for Clubs. I'll keep an eye out for it!

I've never driven a Corsa, but know people who have them. None of them are car people so they're judgement on the car isn't really based on anything. 7ltr. Cobra in this weather would be 'interesting.'