Call for site visit in traffic campaign
Thursday, 22nd November 2001.
RESIDENTS calling for action about speeding traffic passing their homes say surveys carried out by St Edmundsbury were unrepresentative and were carried out in ludicrous positions, close to pedestrian crossings.
Margaret Marks, who organised a 100 signature petition among the residents in Withersfield Road, made representations to the council’s Transport and Work’s Committee last week.
Mrs Marks vowed to continue the campaign to reduce both the speed and volume of traffic in the road. She asked councillors to attend a site meeting outside her home so that they could see the problem first hand.
A report to the committee said speed surveys carried out at Howe Road showed 85 per cent of inbound traffic was travelling at 32mph and outbound at 33mph. Near the cemetery 85 per cent of traffic inbound was travelling at 32 mph and outbound at 33 mph.
Mrs Marks said that if drivers were still exceeding the 30 mph speed limit so close to the crossings, they must have been going much faster further down the road. A member of their group had done surveys which showed traffic doing 50 mph within the 30mph limit area.
“We want them to hold a site meeting here where they can hear and feel the effect this traffic is having on people’s lives.
“The people living in the house for adults with learning disabilities are seriously disadvantaged because their carers cannot walk them into Haverhill because of the speed of the traffic. If they slipped in front of a car doing 30 it might be able to stop, but it wouldn’t at 40.
“We are glad the committee has also acted on the environmental effect. The by-pass taking traffic to the industrial estate is not adequately sign-posted, people don’t realise it will take them there more effectively,” Mrs Marks said.
Committee members did not agree to a site meeting, but said further consultation with local residents would take place.
They also asked for an origin / destination survey to be done to see how much traffic is still going through the town instead of using the by-pass.
Although a report to the committee said speeds were similar to those elsewhere, the police had agreed to look at whether enforcement was necessary.
A bid could be made for some form of traffic calming measures in the next financial year.
Margaret Marks, who organised a 100 signature petition among the residents in Withersfield Road, made representations to the council’s Transport and Work’s Committee last week.
Mrs Marks vowed to continue the campaign to reduce both the speed and volume of traffic in the road. She asked councillors to attend a site meeting outside her home so that they could see the problem first hand.
A report to the committee said speed surveys carried out at Howe Road showed 85 per cent of inbound traffic was travelling at 32mph and outbound at 33mph. Near the cemetery 85 per cent of traffic inbound was travelling at 32 mph and outbound at 33 mph.
Mrs Marks said that if drivers were still exceeding the 30 mph speed limit so close to the crossings, they must have been going much faster further down the road. A member of their group had done surveys which showed traffic doing 50 mph within the 30mph limit area.
“We want them to hold a site meeting here where they can hear and feel the effect this traffic is having on people’s lives.
“The people living in the house for adults with learning disabilities are seriously disadvantaged because their carers cannot walk them into Haverhill because of the speed of the traffic. If they slipped in front of a car doing 30 it might be able to stop, but it wouldn’t at 40.
“We are glad the committee has also acted on the environmental effect. The by-pass taking traffic to the industrial estate is not adequately sign-posted, people don’t realise it will take them there more effectively,” Mrs Marks said.
Committee members did not agree to a site meeting, but said further consultation with local residents would take place.
They also asked for an origin / destination survey to be done to see how much traffic is still going through the town instead of using the by-pass.
Although a report to the committee said speeds were similar to those elsewhere, the police had agreed to look at whether enforcement was necessary.
A bid could be made for some form of traffic calming measures in the next financial year.
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)