Over many years Shalford Parish Councillors have tried to introduce various safety features for our village such as Speed Indicator Devices [SID’s] or rumble speed strips similar to Panfield village to no effect.
Three years ago a decision was made to create a highways sub committee of Shalford Residents to submit their own ideas for an action plan for village improvements, a circular was sent to every household from which a 12 point plan was submitted to Braintree District Council ‘Local Highways Panel’ [LHP] who meet every three months to review road safety applications received.
Shalford’s 12-point plan was submitted in September 2019, with full photographs of locations involved
Following replies received November 2019 – shown in Blue
There are ongoing discussion on most of the points listed below
- The Parish have requested a 20mph zone with the signage that supports a 20’s Plenty.
It may be beneficial if you sent them the 20mph presentation that I sent through after the September panel as this will show the Parish why the site does not meet the criteria for a 20mph zone. This is due to Church End being a PR2, however I can look into the possibility of a 20’s Plenty which would be advisory only. I will put this through the validation process.
In relation to the second point in the first request for parking bays and a priority working to be installed, this would not be achievable as there would not be the advised visibility to be able to install a priority working system. This would mean that parking bays also could not be considered. If this is a parking issue at school times, then it would be beneficial to contact NEPP and ask about the 3PR scheme. There will hopefully be a presentation on the 3PR concept at the January Panel meeting.
- Pods Brook – Victoria Hill give way signage (Priority working system).
There is already road narrowing signage in place which would be more suitable then the priority working. This is due to visibility as you would not be able to see the priority working in advance due to the nature of the road. This is probably the reason that there is road narrowing signage instead.
They also requested reflective bollards on the bend, and I will put this through the validation process to determine if it would be achievable. If they would like reflective bollards installed on the bend, I shall also put this through the LHP validation process. Please note that I have looked at the reported accidents and there are none at this location.
- Barryfields – Mini Roundabout.
Following a survey that was undertaken on the B1053 in 2016, the 85% percentile speeds for a mini roundabout would be too high and as such, we would not be able to consider a mini roundabout at this location. It would also mean giving priority to vehicles on a local road instead of the main B road, which is not something that we would advise.
- Cliffield – Double Yellow Lines this would need to be raised through NEPP so this would not be an LHP scheme.
They have also requested that ‘community speed watch area’ signage is installed on the 30mph signs close to the junction with Cliffield.
These are not signs that are recognised by the Department for Transportation (DFT) so we would not be able to install them. Additionally, if this type of signage was up all of the time it would lose its effectiveness, so it is best to only have this up when community speed watch is taking place.
- Wethersfield from Shalford 40mph to 30mph.
Looking into this request it would be against the Essex Speed Management Strategy to extend this speed limit. This is due to the change in the road, whereby it becomes more rural as you go around the corner and no longer feels like you are in a residential area. This means that people would be less likely to comply if the speed limit was changed.
- VAS along Cliffield
Due to the amount of parking along Cliffield there would not be any reason to undertake a speed survey as vehicles would not be able to reach 35mph along here, which is the criteria for a VAS. – It seems that this was not the location that you wanted to be assessed and it was actually along the main B1053 close to the junction with Cliffield. If you could please send me a location plan of where you would like this VAS I will arrange for a survey to be undertaken.
I will undertake a survey close to Shalford Hall Farm (I’ll liaise with the parish over a preferred location) to determine if this would meet the guidance for a VAS.
- Reduce speed limit on Water Lane from 60mph to 30mph
This would be against the Essex Speed Management Strategy as there are not 11 properties in the space of 350m. In relation to the Quiet Lane status, this was on the rolling programme back in 2017-18 but was removed by the panel as it was agreed to do a trial on the Quiet Lanes that had already been installed. The trail will hopefully be concluded by the end of this financial year. – I will apologies over the confusion there seems to have been over the Quiet Lane status of Water Lane following our conversation. The information that I have fed back through phone conversations normally as it is easier to explain is that this proposed scheme is on hold as we are currently trialling 5 quiet lanes through Essex. As you will be aware this scheme was on the rolling programme a few years ago where it would normally get funded the year after however before this got funded a trial got agreed. The final surveys in relation to the trial will hopefully be back by the end of November and we are hoping to make a conclusion on these schemes to determine if we are to progress with them in the future, hopefully before the beginning of next financial year. Please note Water Lane, Shalford has not been removed from the schemes awaiting funding list.
- Reduction of speed limit through Shalford from 40mph to 30mph
This would be against the Essex Speed Management Strategy as the road is straight and does not have the urban feel. There is no sustainable development and all the properties along here are set back from the carriageway.
- Hulls Lane
This was agreed to be removed from the list in the last LHP meeting in September as it was against the Essex Speed Management Strategy to reduce the speed limit.
- Community Speed Watch Signage Church End, Wethersfield Road and Shalford Green
These signs are not recognised by the DFT so would not be able to install these and as mentioned in point 4, if signage like this was up all the time it would lose its effectiveness. Only having the signs up when community speed watch takes place makes them more effective.
- Outside Sheering Hall (Water Lane)
Can I please request that you confirm the route that horse riders take, as this will help us gage where the signage would be most effective (if feasible). Once I have this information, I will put this through the validation process. –Following our discussion, I think I have a clear idea of where about the horses travel through Shalford so I will put this through the validation process to see if this would be a feasible scheme.
- Pods Lane close to Piccotts Lane, fingerpost
I will take this through the validation process
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