to LCC Highways, Mr John Hayes MP, local press
WEST DROVE SOUTH, GEDNEY HILL
Currently a 40mph speed limit is in place upon a section of road where around 15 houses are situated on one side of the road. The road until recent times was signed as unsuitable for some motor traffic although this signage was removed without any material improvements to the road being carried out. It is a country lane that is regularly used by agricultural vehicles many of which require pedestrians to take refuge in peoples’ gardens for their passing. The road surface is in poor or very poor repair with crumbling of the surface, subsidence, cracks sufficient for significant weed growth along its centre – these are some of its attributes. Visitors or commercial traffic now often endure the road from its worst southern end because of the vagaries of satnav.
This was acceptable and part of the charm and rustic nature of the locality that was actually enjoyed by locals.
But this rural treasure has been brutalised by a totally unsympathetic blot on the road destroying its ambience and amenity and this from a decision by unelected buffoons …
Leaving that aside I now want to move on and try and salvage something in this situation that is crying out for a dose of ‘common sense’ - clearly there has been a lack of the common variety here.
The problem we are left with is one of safety. Health and safety. This is now compromised by the building of houses currently under construction.
In my opinion the road as it is now and with no changes will need a speed limit of 20mph to offset the problems presented by the new housing. A 30mph limit would be appropriate if the road were to be upgraded to 2 lanes with an unfettered footpath constructed to afford adequately a double buggy or wheelchair without resorting to going into the road because of street furniture.
MOVEMENT TOWARDS 20MPH ON URBAN ROADS IN THE UK
27th June 2010
http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/
20's Plenty for Us welcomes the article appearing in today's Sunday Times (27th June 2010) regarding ministers proposing a 20 mph speed limit on urban roads.
21st April 2009
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1171706/Speed-limit-cut-20mph-government-bid-reduce-number-road-deaths.html
A strict 20mph speed limit is to be enforced on roads across the country in a government bid to reduce the number of road accidents, it emerged today
It is clear that there is a movement towards a default position of 20mph across the country in urban areas which has cross party support and indeed will sooner or later be mandatory. Further still there are councils taking the lead on this as listed on the 20splentyforus website. So we have a postcode lottery on the implementing of safety regulations to reduce death and injury on roads particularly of children.
Lincolnshire does not appear, to my knowledge and experience, to be ahead of the curve on this issue. I believe that it is now time to provide a statement of intent on this matter to clarify the road ahead.
What is completely bizarre is the comparison between say the Wisbech Road in Kings Lynn and West Drove South where the first has a wide vista, 2 lanes, footpaths , street lights whilst the latter location has one lane and none of the other attributes that seem not to have prevented the imposition of the lower limit in the Norfolk town! Added to which is West Drove South’s limited visibility and the building of high density family homes that will simply not be clearly visible from its northern end approach when complete.
ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH DRIVERS
Even an ‘anti-20mph default’ position organisation, the Association of British Drivers, in a document (http://www.abd.org.uk/mph20con.htm ) deriding the often unnecessary installation of a 20mph restriction at UK locations provides comprehensive guidelines as to those places where a genuine need exists which fit West Drove South to a tee. For example:
They must, as far as possible, be set at levels which actually relate to the hazards that are likely to be encountered. When we are looking at the difference between 30mph and 20mph, accidents involving loss of control of the vehicle or driving at a speed where braking distance is out of line of sight are highly unlikely. The kind of accident we are seeking to avoid is therefore one in which the braking distance is unexpectedly invaded by another road user, unseen until it is too late. This is often exacerbated by an absence of manoeuvring space, leaving the driver nowhere to go to avoid the collision.
A simple examination of the West Drove South speed limit facts in this context are thus:
• A single lane road
• The road surface is in poor state of repair having not been maintained to any degree in many years
• No footpath
• No street lights
• Drainage issues
• Very severe vegetation growth likely not to be adequately alleviated by any kind of pruning at the northern end of the current 40mph speed limit where the road forms a junction with Lincoln Avenue and Mill Lane and extending for circa 100 metres along West Drove South
• The building of 6 semi-detached properties designed to house 5 persons each which could amount to 18 or more children in a confined residential area
• These properties once occupied will present the road user from the Lincoln Avenue/Mill Lane direction no prior warning of their existence until the road user is virtually adjacent to the first of the properties
• There are no playing field facilities at all in Gedney Hill
I would add a personal observation here in that I agree that it is important to drive at a speed that the prevailing conditions allow whatever the limit however in this location it is my belief that once children are in the new houses it would send absolutely the wrong signal to drivers – particularly young inexperienced drivers – who might feel a sense of being protected by the right speed limit of 40mph (as the authorised limit) - whereas this speed is totally inappropriate with a high density development hidden by foliage.
Added to which with the number of existing children living in the street at 3 set to grow exponentially using this narrow lane especially in dark and wet wintry conditions cannot condone 40mph.
SAINTS WARD
Just to revisit that last bullet point above. A recent document online describes the locations within this ward of South Holland District Council and if I had described the recreational facilities in Gedney Hill as amounting in total to “one basket ball ring” at the Memorial Hall I would be accused of being facetious! But there it is in black and white http://www.sholland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/CC1EEF67-9AB8-4539-8A80-0EDCAF0D64B5/0/TheSaintsWardProfile2009.pdf . Let me add also that this ‘facility’ is not accessible most of the time as the car park is locked.
It also notes that Sutton St Edmund has 166% of recommended playing field area available according to the National Playing Fields Association guidelines and, of course, Gedney Hill is noted as having 0%!
So no guesses where the children are going to play.
ROYAL SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS
This organisation recommends in its guidelines on these matters that where a problem is perceived to be then a course of action might include inviting the Chief Constable and Highways Department representatives to a site meeting which is what I have done but with no success.
In fact I have written twice to both organisations – at the beginning of June and the beginning of July. I think the most charitable comment that could be made about the Chief Constable’s replies are that they are ambivalent to the issue. And the Highways department? Well the only comment I have had from them was a verbal one in a telephone conversation predating my letters on 17th May saying there would be no change of speed limit – but then the Highways Department are disowning that phone call in relation to another matter. They have chosen, for reasons best known to themselves, not to communicate with me on this!
WHERE WE ARE
I can only assume that the council is determined, for whatever reason, to maintain a 40mph limit on West Drove South – they won’t tell me, so what else can I conclude from the silence? In addition if the limit is to remain at 40mph I want to know the reasoning/logic behind that position.
I believe that the council should, one way or another, provide residents with a plain description of their position on this matter and why. After all I have the decency to highlight my concerns and why should I, as a full council tax payer, not have the courtesy of a reply?
I’m hoping this is not symptomatic of a deeper malaise along with what is going on with the A1073 replacement. Is there a reticence to accept criticism or helpful, constructive advice?
AND FINALLY
I am not seeking to make a name for myself. I will NOT be seeking election at any time to any council. I have not in my 60 years had cause to take up a cause with any council in any way and I am now moved by what has been done to West Drove South that, from the local resident’s point of view, has been treated like further back to the back of beyond! No official or council representative has, to my knowledge, come to West Drove South to see what was proposed and what has now come about. I am seeking recognition of a mistake and do not want that mistake to be compounded by what I feel is the inevitable ‘child in collision with a road vehicle’ scenario.
I would like to invite all parties in receipt of this letter to come to West Drove South and talk to residents. The subject of this letter is not going to go away until properly addressed to the satisfaction of those who live here and is moved on from what amounts to a cavalier attitude to safety in my view.
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