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by Lib Dem team on 14 March, 2011
We’ve a Cheadle Area Committee meeting next Tuesday (probably the last before the local elections on May 5th).
Two of the items we’re looking at are:
Pam and I would like to have as much feedback as possible from residents at this stage – so please let us know what you think. There will be a full consultation over the next couple of months if we approve them at this stage and everyone affected will be informed in writing by the Council before any final decision is made, but it’s very useful for us to get a feel for your views early on in the process.
The South Park Road estate proposals (two options) can be found on pages 55-60 of the agenda (see below). The Greenbank Road proposals are on 47-54.
Cheadle Area Commitee – 22 March 2011
15 Comments
I’ve lived on the South Park Road estate for nearly 30 years. The issue, as identified in the officers’ report, is that of drivers using the estate part of Kingsway as a “cut through” to turn north onto the A34. In my experience, there is no general issue of speeding on the remainder of the estate and, indeed, I’d suggest that most residents easily keep within a 20mph limit.
The sensible way forward, therefore, is to address the issue of the rat-runners, whilst not inconveniencing residents. I think that suggests physical measures, like the humps, along Kingway, but not on the remainder of the estate. Formalising a 20mph speed limit throughout the estate seems a good idea. Does that sound like Option 2?
I’d further strongly suggest that this problem will only be properly dealt with by police intervention if only on an intermittent basis as they used to some years back. I reckon an officer booking offenders for an hour at a rush-hour every couple of months will have a far greater deterrent effect than any amount of calming measures.
Tend to agree with John. We were promisied increased police intervention but other than for a short period where only warnings were given, police presence seems to have disappeared altogether. One suggestion (which is low cost), can’t the signs be improved to make it clearer that the estate is NO ENTRY (accept for access). Unfortunatly I think we’re flogging a dead horse because even the police use it as a rat run.
Pam and Ian,
Option 1 use of speed bumps is not only disproportionate to the problem, but they inflict damage to the suspension of vehicles (even at speeds under 20mph) using them on a regular basis. Thus, residents vehicles are at risk.
I agree with John Harley and would go with Option 2 with speed bumps on Kingsway, but only if this was agreeable with residents living on Kingsway or accessing their homes on Lyndene and Braystan Gardens.
The 20 mph zone for the estate is a sensible approach, albeit, the majority of residents are respectful of speed. However, that cannot be said for all resident drivers and in particular, those outsiders who use South Park and Coniston Road as a cut-through particularly when police occasionally try to address the situation on Kingsway.
Thus, Option 2 with an estate 20mph restriction and restricted use of speed bumps on Kingsway is a more proportionate. From a personal perspective, a few speed bumps is not going to deter those who regularly use Kingsway as a cut-through.
I’ve mentioned before, but is ALPR (automatic licence plate recognition)not an option for the LA/GMP partnership. It saves on staffing and could be feasible to detect regular non-resident motorists using the cut through?
Speed is not the issue or the problem and the suggestion it needs addressing is merely symptomatic of an inability or unwillingness to address the real problem.
Our experience is that the majority of vehicles do not exceed 20mph on the service road and therefore why incur the wasted cost of speed bumps? If such money is available in the appropriate budget, why not use it to enforce the current restrictions ie NO ENTRY SAVE FOR ACCESS to the Estate.
As a resident of the Estate I am becoming increasingly disillusioned at the complete failure by the Police to provide anything more than a sop to local concerns.
In the proposal for speed humps it mentions 5 humps between nos. 162 and 196 Kingsway. The service road ends at no. 188 ! The last one on the diagram is actually right outside our house. Oh joy!
I don’t see any point either in speed humps or a 20mph limit without a police presence to enforce it. In the absence of police the only thing which will make a difference is a camera, no-one will know if it is real or a dummy, but won’t take a chance.
There needs a sign on the M60 slip road where cars turn off to the estate. The present sign is too late, by the time drivers see it they have no option but to carry on. I supp ose that all this is the responsibility of the Highways Agency instead of the Council…….
I agree with David Williams ALPR (automatic licence plate reconition) would be a much better idea.
So many of the “rat race” drivers fail to stop when leaving the slip road to come on to the estate, I’ve had few near misses and verbal abuse in the past.
I agree with John Hartley. Also, I am not aware that any estate residents have ever been injured. So the proposal to put in speed bumps is both needless and a waste of resources.
Completely agree with John et al – enforcement, not speed bumps.
No need for speed bumps at all. Enforcement would be the better option!
Most of the residents do not want speed bumps.I agree taht the traffic on the slip road do not exceed 20 mph.
The main problem is drivers coming off the motorway slip road and not stopping. I have lived on the estate for 37 years and hvae had many a near miss and abuse when I have pointed out signs to the drivers.
As mentioned by others polce intervention or vehicle recognition number plates afterall they have them for bus lanes and would be a cheaper option.
Ian,
Its not the residents that need to slow down, its the fact that that Rat Run is allowed to continue.Speed Bumps would be a waste of money and would harm all our cars. Well done for all the common sense posted above.
Pam and I just want to thank everyone who’s commented above and contacted us directly – this is just the sort of feedback we were looking for and it really helps us make sure we get this right.
I’ve taken from this that there needs to be an option 3 making the estate a 20mph zone without any speed humps (and, of course there’s still the option of keeping things as they are).
We also agree with the need for police enforcement and hope to have some firm positive news on that soon.
[…] our consultation with South Park Road residents via this blog, Pam and I have progress to […]
We live on the service road, close to the entrance to the estate. We suffer a lot from:
· The aggression, volume and high speed of drivers leaving the M60 from Stockport, and from the West, as well as leaving the A34 from Didsbury to access the M60 in either direction
· Drivers exiting the M60 without stopping or slowing, causing accidents or frequent “near misses”
· Drivers too impatient to let us enter or leave our driveways, also causing accidents or frequent “near misses
· Lorries and coaches using the same route
· Drivers who regularly use the “rat run” despite signs and speed limits
We were told some years ago that the emergency services might object to humps, which could affect their essential use of the service road. We also believe that the Police do not consider it to be the best use of their resources to address this problem. Lastly, we also understand that users, and residents of the “back” of the South Park Road estate don’t share the concerns of residents of the service road.
We therefore think that
· Humps would cause a lot of noise and vibration to houses close to the “tunnel”, as fast vehicles continued to use the service road
· Humps could damage cars of residents of the whole estate who would be forced to cross them daily
· Humps would be needed on the slip road from the A 34 into and under the “tunnel”
· Humps would not deter most drivers using the route
· A lower speed limit would probably be ignored
Ian/Pam,
Its clear that no one wants speed humps. They only create noise and pollution. It is some form of real deterant that is needed, Cameras or the Boys in Blue.
There is money to spend we know from the Barn’s site developers, but please don’t waste it on South Park in this way!