Agenda item

The Cabinet Member considered a petition requesting ‘speed reducing measures’ in Harmondsworth Road.

The lead petitioner attended and addressed the Cabinet Member.

The petitioner had lived in the road for over 30 years and the issue of speeding has been getting worse. There had been incidents of drivers doing a claimed 70-80mph on the road. There had been numerous accidents on the main road and smaller side road, and there had been fatalities. There was a zebra crossing on the road, but this was often ignored by drivers, and an accident had occurred on the zebra crossing itself. Residents needed something to slow drivers. A lot of drivers also used their mobile phones whilst driving.

Speed signs may not work, and perhaps road humps would be more suitable as this was a dangerous road. There was disregard for safety.

Councillor Scott Farley attended as West Drayton Ward Councillor and addressed the Cabinet Member.

Councillor Farley highlighted the bridge over the M4, and on the south side, the road leading towards Harmondsworth Villages was a national speed limit road. People were note taking any consideration when approaching a residential area. Speeding occurred in both directions over the bridge, particularly from motorbikes. The Councillor has personally witnessed this.

An investigation was asked for to ascertain what could be done in terms of mitigations. There was also concern about speeding in the slip road, which was also used as a rat run. It was requested that the Cabinet Member commit to traffic surveys, and that any subsequent mitigations be installed as applicable.

A statement from Councillor Jan Sweeting, Ward Councillor, was read out.

The petition of 52 signatures indicates the depth of concern which residents are feeling regarding the high speed of motorists and other vehicles along both the main Harmondsworth Road as well as the residential road which is parallel.

The main Harmondsworth Road is a very busy main road which is increasingly seeing heavy lorries, skip lorries and buses vying with motorists at speed along this road.  The geography of this road says it all, with the long and straight downwards stretch from Holloway Lane, over the M4 motorway into West Drayton, with cars going at speed towards the junction of Laurel Lane which is also heavily congested at many times during the day.

There have been a number of serious incidents along this stretch of road as the officer’s report states.  There have also been a number of near misses and minor incidents which residents have witnessed.

The road is a dangerous one at the best of times and with increased use over the last few years, it is more so.

I wholly support any and all traffic calming measures along this stretch of road which would seek to reduce speed.  These could including signing, flashing lights, rumble strips etc.

As to the residential road with the same name, the problem here is that it is being used as a rat run when the adjacent Laurel Lane road is congested, which it often is. Once again I ask that measures are put in place which would deter motorist from going above 20MPH as the properties along this stretch of road are minus fences and walls and even cars travelling at relatively slow speeds are of concern to residents. I thank you for considering my comments.

Councillor Mohammed Islam addressed the Cabinet Member as Ward Councillor.

Harmondsworth Road was a main road between West Drayton and Harmondsworth Village. Residents were concerned by speeding, particularly in the northern direction as Harmondsworth Road crossed the M4. By the time vehicles arrived at Laurel Lane, they were already in excess of the speed limit. Laurel Lane was the sole entrance to Laurel Lane estate from the east side and led directly to Laurel Lane Primary School and St Martin’s Primary School. Residents were concerned at the speed of traffic travelling along the main road and residential road where there was limited off-street parking. Residents were requesting traffic calming measures to slow traffic on both the main Harmondsworth Road and the smaller residential road immediately in front of the properties. Councillor Islam fully supported the residents. Furthermore, there would soon be the opening of the new Leisure Centre in the area. In additional, as winter was approaching, more accidents would happen. Lastly, the Councillor has personally witnessed a traffic incident.

The Cabinet Member noted that speeding was fundamentally a police matter. The Cabinet Member further noted that local police teams often had speed guns that could be utilised. Residents and Ward Councillors could attempt to arrange this. It was noted that there were sometimes issues with speedhumps, such as residents not wanting them directly outside their homes, although it was acknowledged that Harmondsworth Road was slightly different in that the houses were set back behind the slip roads.

The Cabinet Member noted that he would instruct officers to commission independent speed and traffic volume surveys. Officers would also investigate asking the police to deploy their speed guns where possible.

The new Leisure Centre would generate more people coming to the area. It may also be possible to install flashing signs, although there was a risk that these could be ignored.

Officers passed a plan of the area for petitioners and Councillors to mark locations for the speed surveys.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport:

1)    Met with petitioners and listens to their request for the Council to introduce speed reducing measures on Harmondsworth Road, West Drayton; and

2)    Asked officers to commission independent 24/7 traffic and speed surveys on Harmondsworth Road at locations agreed with petitioners and Ward Councillors.