Following the meeting held to discuss
the 20mph order, WAAG have now prepared the attached representation to
be submitted to LCC regarding the new 20mph order.
We would urge any resident who would
like to use this, and or, forward it with an endorsement with their own
submission/presentation to Mr J Levine via the email address shown on
our website.
Please request an acknowledgement of your email.
It would be very useful for our follow up if you would copy westardsleyactiongroup@gmail.com.
SL0319 Ardsley & Robin
Hood Ward 20MPH Scheme
20mph LOCAL SPEED LIMITS-HILL TOP
Ref. A76/JL/SL031 9 – Hill Top.
Dear Sirs
Re the above ref. Order:
I write to you on behalf of West Ardsley
Action Group with regard to our concerns regarding the above order.
While we do not object to the principle
of the above ref. order we would ask you to consider an amendment to the zone
plan.
This Order replaces Order no. SL1218 that was advertised on
15 June 2018.
West Ardsley Action Group had consulted
with local residents regarding the SL1218 Order and it was discussed at a
public meeting on 19th June 2018. WAAG along with others forwarded their
concerns about the plan not including critical sections of road and the Order
was subsequently withdrawn.
The new plan has addressed one of the
major concerns raised to the previous order and partly addressed another.
- Haigh Moor Road,
which has now been included.
We refer to LCC Statement of Reasons Haigh Moor Road has been included in this Order following
receipt of requests to do so from a number of local requests to the previously
advertised order. lt is considered that the inclusion of Haigh Moor Road is
consistent with the Council’s Safer Roads Action Plan aimed at reducing road
casualties, given that the road forms part of the School route and that there
are residential properties in the vicinity.
We refer to the start/finish point of the
20mph zone on the Eastern end of Batley road. In the previous plan this was at
the Woolin Avenue junction. In WAAGS
proposal to this we put a case forward to reposition as follows.
There is a blind summit
on approaching from the East side of the village where Redhill Drive joins
Batley Road. We would suggest the 20mph zone should start/finish approx.
20/30mtrs to the East side of this junction. At school times the road
immediately to the West side of the summit up to close by the local school has
a large amount of traffic parked causing a virtual closure of the carriageway.
Any traffic approaching from the east has a restricted view of this oncoming
traffic and thus speed is critical.
The above re-positioning WAAG proposed
was based on sound logic and influenced to some degree by the non-inclusion of
Haigh Moor road in the original plan.
We note that the new plan now includes a section of Batley
Road, from a point l4 metres south-east of its junction with Redhill Avenue to
its junction with Woolin Avenue. We now understand that the Batley Road 20mph zone will start at this
point and continue North West for a distance of 353 mtrs to the junction of The
Orchards.
We are pleased that the logic of our
proposal was acted upon accordingly however, it does not fully address our
concerns.
We understand that the main driver for a
20mph limit on Batley road is the presence of Hill Top school.
We would propose that the whole length of Batley Road, from its junction
with Haigh Moor Road and Bag Hill Road, is residential and a pedestrian school
route, thus the same reasoning could be applied.
West Ardsley Action Group have consulted
with local residents and the new order was discussed at a public meeting on 2nd
April 2019. The above view was strongly
supported and should be given further consideration.
One of WAAGS critical remaining
objections with the new plan concerns the position of the start/finish point at
The Orchards junction.
The particular circumstances/topography
of the section of Batley Road from Bag Hill junction to The Orchards should be
further considered for extending the start/finish point of the 20 mph zone.
I refer to the East bound approach to the
village, after the Bag Hill junction, which is a steepish hill with a blind
summit at the School Street / Hare and Hounds Pub car park exits. Vehicles
travelling in both directions have very restricted views of oncoming traffic.
Due to vehicles parking on both sides of the road to each side of this summit,
traffic travelling in both directions often has to enter the opposite
carriageway and this restricted view greatly increases the risk of
collision.
People living in houses on this
particular stretch of road also have very restricted views when entering and
exiting driveways with vehicles, particularly at peak times. Children also use
this route to and from Hill Top school, to and from Westerton Road School and
Woodkirk School. Thus, this section of road can be described as residential and
a busy pedestrian route, as has been acknowledged in the case of Haigh Moor
Road.
There is very often congestion on Batley
road, at the junction with Hill Top Lane caused by traffic being reduced to one
lane by vehicles parked on Batley Road. This is also a very busy pedestrian
route to all the aforementioned local schools, particularly in the peak morning
rush hour. It should also be noted that due to a recent planning application to
build 299 new houses locally, there is a potential for a very large increase in
pedestrian and vehicular traffic using this route in the future.
It should be noted that there are
existing speed bumps on Batley road prior to Bag Hill junction and an existing
speed reduction platform at the junction. This indicates it has previously been
thought necessary to put a speed restriction on this road. We would argue that
this should be considered as a start/finish point for the 20mph zone.
The current proposed start/finish
position of the 20mph zone at The Orchards cannot be seen from the position of
the aforementioned speed restriction platform. It will thus encourage drivers
to increase speed again unnecessarily, only to be decreasing speed within a
very short space of time, as they reach the hill summit and the 20mph sign
comes into view. The effect being to produce higher than necessary exhaust
emissions. (contrary to LCC policy of reducing air pollution)
An alternative would be to move the
proposed 20mph start/finish point to a position at the summit of the hill, approx. at the School Street
Junction with Batley Road; a further modest increase in zone length of approx.
35mtrs. Importantly this would make the signage visible much earlier to
traffic, and have a very significant in effecting a greater degree of road
safety.
We contend that these further extensions
to the 20mph section would have no requirement for additional engineering or
affect the cost of installing the zone. As there is already in place a speed
reduction platform at the Baghill Junction and at the HMR junction.
Putting clearly visible signs, which can
be observed from these platforms, indicating the commencement of a 20mph zone
will be very effective in preventing unnecessary vehicle acceleration, and
deceleration, reducing air pollution and greatly increase road safety.
I refer to the latest meeting
aforementioned in this letter. Strong support was expressed, that the whole
length of Batley Road from the Junction with HMR and Baghill road should be
further considered for inclusion in the 20mph zone.
We agree with LCC statement of reasons
ref (The
objective of the 20mph speed limits are to enhance the local environment and
support a culture shift for motorists driving within residential areas)
We understand that to inculcate this
culture shift, drivers need to discern some reasonable logic as
to why a 20mph zone is in place.
These proposed modest extensions are not
going to make any appreciable difference to driver inconvenience or travel
times and, notwithstanding the inconsiderate, reckless behaviour of certain
drivers, the reasoning will be understood by the majority.
To this effect, you will note we have
taken a very pragmatic and logical view on our request. We are asking for an
extension to the length of the Batley Road 20mph zone, which we trust will
allow you to make the necessary amendments and address the concerns of local
residents.
Reducing risk of accidents/incidents,
putting children as risk of collateral damage and air pollution must be a
priority in your consideration.
Yours sincerely
For and on behalf of West Ardsley Action
Group
Peter Cowling
Chairman WAAG
