Speed Visors Meeting Notes

28/10/15 – Princetown National Park Visitor Centre

Present

Andrew Watson (DNPA)

Rob Steemson (DNPA)

Marion Saunders (DLPS)

Karla McKechnie (DLPS)

Cllr Greg Manning (Dartmoor Forest Parish Council)

Nigel Tigwell (Clerk to Dartmoor Forest Parish Council)

Insp. Ian Baggot (Devon & Cornwall police)

Elaine (Devon & Cornwall police)

Mark Cavendish (PCSO Devon & Cornwall police)

Livestock protection issues

Karla reported that she receives reports of incidents 24/7 regarding animal incidents involved in Road Traffic Collisions. During August alone 15 animals killed on roads within the National Park. There are around 80 animal deaths on Dartmoor’s roads per year. Karla has statistics of where and when etc and there is probably an under-reporting of incidents to the police, as not all incidents are logged.

Livestock drawn to roadside due to:

  • Preference to graze alongside roadside verge
  • Salt licking of the highway surface during winter months
  • Feeding of ponies by visitors around roadside car parks and laybys

ACTION – AW to speak to Devon highways about use of salt in gritting and whether there are any alternatives

Karla – would you be able to circulate livestock statistics?

Community Speedwatch

The parish council and the police outlined the Community Speedwatch volunteer scheme. The speedwatch scheme involves use of trained volunteers who undertake monitoring of vehicle speeds on a regular basis (ideally once per week). Details of vehicles are returned to the police who can follow up with letters to registered keeper.

Vetting of volunteers is being undertaken and the locations to be used will be agreed with the police and risk assessed. Training will be provided for volunteers. Scheme likely to operate along B3357 and B3212 and through Princetown, with potential to widen scheme out to other parishes in the future.

There is some way to go yet to get everything in place, so likely start date is anticipated to be February/March 2016. DNPA have offered to help publicise the launch of the scheme nearer the time.

Speedvisors

Andrew outlined current situation regarding speed visors:

  • We have six locations with three mobile units which have been in use now for around 10 years. They have become increasingly unreliable and despite maintenance checks and servicing a couple of years ago, are no longer working effectively and we should consider replacements.
  • Issues relate to battery charging, reliability of the units to collect vehicle speed data and downloading data
  • AW has obtained quotes and specifications for alternative systems from approved suppliers (provided by Devon CC)

After some discussion, the consensus view of the group was to look at units that provided:

  • Vehicle activated illuminated signs with the 40mph roundel with “SLOW DOWN”
  • Vehicle speed data logger
  • Static units with a solar panel (this would negate the need to charge and change batteries, which reduces staff time, working at height and manual handling issues etc)
  • The view was that we should look to provide 6 fixed units as there are disadvantages with mobile units.

ACTION: It was agreed that AW would go back to suppliers for firm quotes based on the above. We should confirm the warranty period for equipment provided.

Post meeting note – I will need to do some work within the Authority regarding justification for moving to 6 permanent units. The new units are likely to be taller (4.5m post) and more visually intrusive etc etc. (Karla – I may need to come back to you regarding stats etc)

And finally…….

It was considered that the two initiatives – Community Speedwatch and the provision of new interactive signage have the potential to make a significant impact into the number of livestock fatalities within the National Park.