Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/029

Contact: Jim Daughton, Service Manager – Delivery Tel: (01865) 323364

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Commercial & Delivery (CMDE5).

Agreed

A statutory consultation had been undertaken on several separate proposals for speed limit changes in the adjacent parishes of St Helen Without and Wootton the majority of which had received no objections.  However, an objection had been received from Thames Valley Police in respect of the proposals for Barrow Road (St Helen Without) and Old Boars Hill Road (Wootton).  The Cabinet Member considered (CMDE5) those objections.

With regard to Barrow Road Mr Kirkwood acknowledged the objection from the Police but referred to the local support which had been received.  With regard to Old Boars Hill whilst he accepted that the technical case for a speed limit reduction was not strong the road was popular with equestrians, cyclists and walkers. There were precedents elsewhere in the county of roads of similar character having a 30 mph limit and for those reasons officers regarded it as the right course of action in this case to promote a proposal that appeared to depart from national guidelines.

The Cabinet Member asked if officers were confident there would be compliance as the restriction would need self regulation.

Mr Kirkwood replied that recorded data indicated an average recorded speed of 26-27 mph so it was reasonable to expect a high level of compliance.

Councillor Sanders had concerns that moving between limits in a short space could be confusing and asked if early warning signs of a 30 restriction could be installed.

Mr Kirkwood confirmed that was not possible under current regulations.

With regard to Barrow Road Mr Tole confirmed some funding had been found for additional signing in and around Dalton Barracks.

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him and the representations made to him the Cabinet Member confirmed his decision as follows:

To approve the implementation of proposals for speed limits in St Helen Without and Wootton parishes as advertised.

……………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

…………………………………2014