Agenda item

Councillor John Hensley attended the meeting as a Ward Councillor in support of the petition.

Concerns and suggestions raised by petitioners included the following

• There were 20 houses that had difficulty in exiting and accessing their drives in Harvil Road, due to the speed of traffic in both directions at all times of the day.
• Heavy vehicles speed on this stretch of road, which was dangerous and caused vibration, which could affect the structural stability of the houses.
• There was nothing to deter drivers from speeding in this stretch of road.
• There had been a number of accidents in this stretch of road as the speed limit starts at 50mph and reduces to 30mph towards Swakeleys Road.
• Considered that the solution would be for either the installation of a speed camera or one or two ramps in the road at the Swakeleys Road end of Harvil Road.
• Since the speed survey undertaken in 2003 traffic on Harvil Road had doubled.
• In 1995 improvement to the street lighting was agreed to reflect to the 30 mph speed limit, but was never done.

The Ward Councillor made the following points:-

• Vehicle Activated Signs only slowed traffic when they were first installed in a road.
• Lorry’s use this route on a regular basis.
• Was aware that Speed Cameras were not managed by the Council.
•  Traffic congestion during peak hours was only going south not north.
• A speed table with a 1 in 30 gradient would be too sharp for lorry’s, this may cause more noise and vibration for residents.
• Harvil Road was a direct route for Ambulances to Harefield Hospital.
• There should be a proper pavement to provide a safer route for pedestrians..
• Signage should be provided to raise awareness of the speed limit in Harvil Road at the junction with Swakeleys Road. .
• The warning signs on the road had worn and needed to be renewed.

Councillor Keith Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised:

·        The national speed limits had changed over the years.

·        The report highlighted that there had been 4 accidents over a three year period, with only one causing serious injury.

·         There had been some success with the Vehicle Activated Signs, where used they had an impact on the speed of drivers.

·        and only installed where there was a history of at least 3  fatal or serious accidents within a 3 year period..

·        Advised the petitioners that recommendation 4 required a 24/7 speed stress survey to be undertaken at locations to be identified by the petitioners.

·        Once the speed stress survey had been undertaken officers would discuss the data with Councillor Burrows and the local Ward Councillors.

·        The data from the speed stress survey would be used to look at what physical measures could be used in Harvil Road

·        In additional to the 4 recommendations contained in the report officers would be asked to look at the markings on the road to see if they needed to be renewed. 

·        Officers were asked to investigate the issue raised by the petitioner that in 1995 it had been agreed to improve street lighting to reflect the 30 mph speed limit.

Resolved

That the Cabinet Member:

1.         Met with the petitioners to discuss in greater detail their concerns with the speeding traffic on Harvil Road.

2.         Asked officers to place this request on the Council’s Road Safety Programme for subsequent investigation and the development of possible options when resources permit.

3.         Instructed officers to investigate the feasibility of adding Harvil Road to future Phases of the Vehicle Activated Signs Programme.

4.            Instructed officers to arrange a 24 hour / 7 day speed survey on

Harvil Road at a location agreed with the petitioners and to report back to the Cabinet Member and local Ward Councillors, 

5.         Instructed officers to inspect the current road markings and re-instate if this was required.