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ITEM EX22

EXECUTIVE – 23 JULY 2002

STATION ROAD, SHIPLAKE – PROPOSED TRAFFIC CALMING

Report by Director of Environmental Services

1. Local residents and my local Traffic Team are concerned at the speed of the traffic using Station Road, Shiplake. Speeding drivers cause danger to themselves and to other road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists. It is therefore proposed to install traffic calming features to reduce traffic speeds and hence improve road safety.
2. An extensive consultation exercise has taken place which involved all the frontagers directly affected by the proposals, the District Council, Parish Council, Thames Valley Police, Fire and Ambulance Services and other organisations representing road users. The consultation letter, list of consultees, a location plan, questionnaire and consultation responses are available in the Members’ Resource Centre.

Background and Development of Proposals

3. The scheme is needed because many drivers are exceeding the 30 mph speed limit. A recent traffic survey over a week showed that the average 24-hour 85^th percentile speed on Station Road was between 33 and 38 mph. The proposed traffic calming is to be used to reduce vehicle speeds and hence improve road safety.
4. It is proposed that four pairs of 1.6 metre wide speed cushions are installed on Station Road. Speed cushions are being used in other parts of the County to reduce the speed of general traffic and at the same time cause minimum inconvenience to bus passengers and fire and ambulance service vehicles.

Consultation Responses

5. As part of the design process, the County Council carried out consultation with the local residents in the vicinity of the proposed scheme and other interested bodies. 31 questionnaires were returned with 27 in favour of the proposals and 4 against.
6. In addition, a report from Thames Valley Police and a letter from the Parish Council were received.
7. The main points of objection and officer comments on these are listed in Annex 1.

Thames Valley Police’s Comments

8. The report from the Thames Valley Police commented that as no data has been received from the Council with regard to the 85^th percentile speed of traffic along Station Road, it is not possible to comment on any speed reduction. In addition they say that, according to advice in Traffic Advisory Leaflet 7/96, the proposed spacing, in excess of 150m, is not recommended for any type of hump.
9. A recent traffic survey showed that the 85^th percentile speed on Station Road is as high as 38 mph. The current Regulations require that traffic calming features are either placed in a well-lit road or each feature is placed under a lamp column. There are four street light columns positioned along Station Road, however they are not at uniform distances apart. From Mill Road the distance from the first street light to the second is approximately 139m – second to the third approximately 160m – third to the fourth approximately 114m. The four pairs of speed cushions are to be positioned close to the four street lighting columns. The Parish Council are strongly opposed to providing extra lamp columns to support more cushions as this could result in additional lighting.
10. TVP also commented that the width of the Mill Lane/Station Road junction made it difficult to see how road markings alone would slow down traffic before the speed cushions. Consideration should be given to the introduction of physical features at this location to achieve the necessary speed reduction (i.e. modification of southern side of junction). In addition, consideration should be given to cyclists using Station Road with respect to the speed cushions.
11. It is proposed that the junction priority is not altered and the scheme monitored for six months after implementation. It is not physically possible to provide any cycle facilities, as the carriageway is narrow in most places. The footways are also too narrow to provide any shared facility. It is expected that by reducing the general traffic speed, safety for cyclists will be improved.

Parish Council’s Comments

12. The proposals were discussed and approved at a Parish meeting on 13 May 2002 except for the proposed change in priority at the junction of Mill Road and Station Road. It is proposed that the junction priority is not altered as part of the traffic calming scheme.

Objections from Residents of other Roads

13. An anonymous letter, distributed to the residents outside the Station Road area implied:

• that all traffic entering Shiplake from the Reading direction was now likely to avoid Station Road and go down Mill Lane/Mill Road hence the volume and speed of traffic on Mill Lane/Mill Road would substantially increase;
• that most of the traffic coming from Henley to the centre of Shiplake would now turn off Station Road into Crowsley Road and therefore the volume and speed of traffic on Crowsley Road would substantially increase;
• that the area around the Corner Shop would be yellow-lined, damaging the rural feel of the area and probably killing the Corner Shop.

14. This is all misleading information that resulted in 30 letters of objections from the residents outside Station Road. The proposals are highly unlikely to result in migration of traffic into these surrounding streets. However, It is proposed that the scheme is monitored six months after implementation to assess any adverse affect on the surrounding streets.

Financial Implications

15. The estimated cost of the proposed scheme is £5,000 and will be funded from the Minor Traffic Schemes budget. It is likely that the Parish Council will agree to jointly fund the scheme.

RECOMMENDATION

16. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to authorise the implementation of the traffic calming scheme as described in the report.

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Background Papers: Representations in response to consultation

Contact Officer: Arshad Khan Tel : (01235) 466 120

July 2002