Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/159

Contact: Jim Daughton, Highways & Transport Service Manager Tel: (01865) 815083

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Commercial) (CMDDL7).

The Deputy Leader considered objections and comments received to a consultation on a proposal to introduce a 40 mph speed limit on Howe Hill, Watlington.  The proposal had been promoted by the local county councillor through the area stewardship fund and in response to concerns expressed by local residents regarding speed of vehicles which they perceived to be excessive for this particular location.

Mr Sargeantson raised a number of concerns regarding priority and cost particularly in the light of the expectation that the county council would be expected to make further savings of £77 million by 2017. he sought clarification regarding signage and further concern regarding the impact of that on the local countryside. He did not accept the assertion that speed was excessive and his own survey had suggested that average speed was 38 mph and the lack of evidence of collisions suggested that this was not a particularly dangerous stretch of road.  He had extensive local knowledge of this stretch of road and held a class 1 HGV licence and advanced driver qualifications and maintained this limit was unnecessary and asked that at the very least the proposal be deferred to allow for a professional review but preferably it be abandoned altogether.

Mr Stenning confirmed that the scheme had been sponsored through the area stewardship fund following a request by the local councillor and officers had proceeded on that basis. The cost of the scheme at £5,000 would cover the costs of the legal order, two sets of gateway signs and approximately 14 repeater signs.

The Deputy Leader appreciated concerns regarding signing but reiterated the legal minimum requirement which needed to be met but felt sure that  consideration would be given where possible to minimising the impact.  With regard to the scheme itself this had been developed as part of the localism initiative and even if the scheme did not proceed then the money could not be used as a future saving.

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him, the representations made to him at this meeting and the further considerations set out above the Deputy Leader of the Council confirmed his decisions on this matter as follows:

to authorise the implementation of the Traffic Regulation Order for a 40mph speed limit on Howe Hill, Watlington as advertised.

Signed

Deputy Leader of the Council

Date