Agenda item

The Committee received a report in connection with objections received to the proposed new 50mph speed limit on the B1166 Drove Road between Shepaeu Stow and Holbeach Drove, as shown at Appendix B to the report.

The report outlined the existing conditions and investigations and the objections received, as well as the comments of officers.

Councillor N H Pepper made the following comments in relation to the proposal:

·         He advised that he had been lobbied by several objectors, but he lived in the area and knew the area well.

·         The local viewpoint was to keep the stretch of road at 40mph all the way through in line with other limits in the area.

·         It was believed that the traffic results were skewed due to the survey being carried out at rush hour.

·         It was also highlighted that those parents who wished to walk their children to school would struggle as there were no footpaths along the road which was bounded by deep ditches.

·         It was acknowledged that the road was not densely populated.

·         Speedwatch volunteers were making a difference in a lot of villages but they could only carry out speed checks in 30mph or 40mph areas.

·         The Road Safety Partnership had indicated that there had been 3 accidents over the past five years, but there was a longer history of many accidents at the cross roads.

·         There were concerns about the number of HGV's which were using the road.

·         It was noted that Gedney Parish Council was consulted but didn't comment, however, it was noted that this parish was 14 miles from the stretch of road in question, and that it did not appear that Gedney Hill Parish Council which was only 1 mile away had been consulted.

·         Members were informed that the local MP supported the objectors, however, it was understood that officers had to follow the policy.

Members were provided with the opportunity to comment and ask questions on the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         It was queried whether, as the closest parish council had not been included in the consultation, and a decision was made, would that leave the Council open to judicial review, it was acknowledged this was a possibility.

·         The Chairman suggested that he would prefer to defer this item until Gedney Hill Parish Council had been consulted, and that it would come back to the next meeting.

·         In response to some of the comments made by Councillor Pepper, members were advised that the traffic survey had been carried out over a 7 day period so was representative of average vehicle speed throughout that period.  The opportunity was taken to give consideration to the side roads within the proposed limit where the criteria were met for the introduction of 30mph limits as proposed.  The proposed 50mph limit would allow the impact of the 40mph speed limit signage on the approaches o the built up areas of Shepeau Stow and Holbeach Drove to be retained.  These would have to be removed should a 40mph limit apply on the stretch of the B1166 between the villages.  The speed limit policy applied the mean speed of traffic to gauge the appropriate level of limit to introduce.  This was based on established research and was recommended in guidance provided by the Department for Transport.

On a motion proposed by Councillor I G Fleetwood and seconded by Councillor H Spratt it was:-

RESOLVED (11 in favour, 1 abstention)

            That this item be deferred until consultation with Gedney Hill Parish Council had taken place.