Speed Limit Review Orders - Objections

BOROUGH OF POOLE

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP – 05 JUNE 2008

REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

SPEED LIMIT REVIEW ORDERS - OBJECTIONS

1.Purpose of Report

1.1To consider objections received as a result of the advertisement of the Poole (Speed Limit) (Various Roads) (Amendment No. 12) Order 2008 Traffic Regulation Orders.

2.Recommendations

It is recommended that:

2.1 the following orders be made as advertsied:

(a)Magna Road (from the Borough boundary westwards approximately 480 metres): reduce from 40mph to 30mph.

(b)Old Town Area(all roads, with the exception of the ‘through roads’ of Lagland Street, Newfoundland Drive, New Orchard and Old Orchard): reduce from 30mph to 20mph

(c)Gravel Hill (from the existing 40mph section north of Darby’s Corner roundabout to just north of the Crematorium roundabout) – reduce from the existing National Speed Limit (NSL) of 60mph, to 40mph

and that:

2.2Arrowsmith Road the order be made :

(a)for 30mph as advertised

(b) 40mph in line with the recommendations set out by Dorset Police

3.Detailed Considerations

3.1Magna Road : no objections received.

3.2Old Town Area : No objections have been received, although Dorset Police have commented that they “will not routinely enforce 20mph speed limits.” Make as advertised.

3.3Gravel Hill:

(a) Two objections have been received to this proposal, both from Merley residents, concerned that the speed limit of the road should be left at the NSL to allow traffic to move through as quickly as possible, thus reducing congestion. There was also concern about inconsistency of applying the same speed limits to roads with different characteristics.

(b) Dorset Police commented that by removing the current 40mph terminal point just north of the School a useful “traffic calming” feature is being removed, in as much that it “alerts drivers to a need to slow down at that point”.

(c) However, the Police had no formal objection to this proposal, and in discussion with them it was proposed that we consider a Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) at the current 40mph terminal point as a traffic calming measure. It should be noted that a scheme to improve Gravel Hill in the vicinity of the Grammar School was approved at the 3 April 2008 TAG.

(d) Taking these comments into consideration, it is considered that the DfT guidance has been correctly adhered to, and in line with the speed survey results, a 40mph limit over this section of road is appropriate, therefore make as advertised.

3.4Arrowsmith Road (entire length):

(a)reduce from existing NSL of 60mph, to 30mph.

(b)At the 17 January 2008 TAG the original recommendation for this road was to reduce the speed over the entire length from NSL to a 40mph. However in view of local concerns expressed approval was given to advertise reducing from NSL to a 30mph limit over the entire length.

(c)An objection has been received from Dorset Police, who have the following concerns about driver compliance with a 30mph limit:

The north eastern section of the road has a number of bends and undulations in the road which limits forward visibility and consequently vehicle speeds as drivers reduce their speed appropriately in most cases.

The road is not similar to urban residential areas or to rural ‘villages’ where there are clear visual messages for drivers to reduce their speed to the ‘normal’ 30mph or below.

The reduction in the speed limit and erection of appropriate signs would not be sufficient to reduce average speeds to below a 30mph speed limit.

Enforcement of the speed limit along Arrowsmith Road would be difficult in practical terms for Police Officers due to the lack of forward visibility required to capture vehicle speeds, and a lack of safe locations at which to stop offending vehicles.

The Police object to the proposed 30mph speed limit along the entire length of Arrowsmith Road on the grounds that it does not meet the criteria given in the national guidance on setting speed limits due to the lack of frontage development, the high average speed of vehicles and the enforcement problem it would give Dorset Police.

A 40mph could be made, as this is a ‘lesser’ limit in terms of enforcement requirements and there would therefore be no need to re-advertise this.

JULIAN McLAUGHLIN

Head of Transportation Services

Name and telephone number of Officer contact :

Damian Lush (01202) 262064

Background papers – Letters of objection to Speed Limit Order

TAG050608T3D