Traffic Management in Shrewton Presented by: Paul Timlett Julian Beames

1. Traffic Management in ShrewtonPresented by: Paul TimlettJulian Beames THE ISSUES WE FACE AND THE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

2. introduction • There was tremendous interest shown at the September 2013 Area Board meeting in Shrewton with regard to the traffic management issues, that we as a village are facing: • These can be summarised broadly into two categories • Traffic congestion caused by ‘rat running’ traffic • The safety of pedestrians and cyclists on our village roads which is imperilled by the excessive speed and poor driving habits of motorists in our village

3. Traffic Congestion • This is principally due to the long standing issues with the A303 which have recently been exacerbated by the closure of the A344 • This is a ‘National’ issue which will require a National solution involving Government, English Heritage, The Highways Agency, and the County Councils • To tackle this problem the Stonehenge Traffic Action Group (STAG) has been formed and they are actively engaged with the stakeholders to find a viable long term solution.

4. s.t.A.G • STAG are campaigning on behalf of local villages to find a solution to the A303 issues. • The local County Councils are now at last jointly coming together to make the economic case to dual the A303 and this is supported by local Westminster MPs. • A debate was held in Parliament recently during which our MP John Glen proposed a deep bore tunnel from Stonehenge Bottom to Longbarrow Roundabout, and by-pass for Winterbourne Stoke.

5. Get involved with “stAG” • We have to accept that in the short term the Parish Council and villagers will not be able to change the situation • We need to be pragmatic and support STAG’s efforts which will help to make a real difference • We urge all villagers to support STAG in their efforts: Sign the e-petition - http://www.shrewton.com/community/stag-shrewton-traffic-action-group/ Blog - http://staga303.blogspot.co.uk and http://bypasswinterbournestoke.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1 Facebook - Stonehenge Traffic Action Group - STAG

6. Making our village safer • In the short term we can press for changes which will make our lives more tolerable. • Today traffic dominates the lives of many villagers and we shouldn’t have to accept it. • We need to look at what solutions may be open to us to improve our lives now whilst the larger issues are worked upon.

7. ISSUES ‘WE’ CAN TACKLE LOCALLY • Some issues should be tackled locally and are within the power of Villagers to solve • We have several narrow roads which are used as commuting routes and as ‘rat runs’ where there are no pavements • On the A360, Salisbury Road and London Road we have too many cars that are still not obeying the 30mph speed limit • We face issues of pollution and environmental damage which can damage our health and wellbeing • There is no provision for cyclists anywhere in the village • These are issues which, with our support, the Parish Council can seek to find remedies

8. Pedestrian safety • Look at better provision of pavements on the London Road and the A360/Amesbury Road. • We currently have roads without pavements, or a single narrow pavement where a parent cannot safely walk with a child beside them • Consider reducing the speed limits on the narrow through-roads and residential roads to 20mph London Road – no pavement Photographs courtesy of Google Maps A360 Amesbury Road -narrow single pavement

9. 20’s Plenty Campaign • One option is to reduce speed limits in the village to 20mph • “20’s Plenty” is a national group campaigning for 20mph speed limits in built up areas • 226 local campaign groups • There are several pilot schemes currently on-going in Wiltshire • We could look to have this implemented in Shrewton http://www.20splentyforshrewton.moonfruit.com/

10. The Safety Argument for 20 mph

11. 20 mph Speed limit – Objections? • Cost • Although the cost of implementing 20mph limits will be higher in a village it is still affordable at about £4 per head of population • Not possible on A roads? • 20mph speed limits have been implemented successfully on many ‘A’ Roads in England and Scotland • Impact on traffic speeds • Wiltshire Council claims “relatively small reductions in ‘mean’ speed” (1-2mph) Whilst the 1-2mph is correct, it must be remembered that when implementing over a whole authority for consistency it includes many roads where mean speeds are already low and do not reduce. What the Wiltshire policy does not bring out is that much higher mean speed reductions (6-7mph) have been achieved on roads where previous mean speeds were above 24mph.

12. 20 mph Speed limit – Objections? • Enforcement • We have a successful Community Speedwatch programme which is currently helping to enforce the 30mph speed limits – this could easily be used to enforce the lower 20mph limit • Community self policing e.g. drivers slowing down those behind; social disapproval of speeding • It is not an additional cost to the Police budget since there are the same number of roads and drivers as before (when enforcing a 30mph limit) • Even on isolated streets, if you simply alter speed limit signage from 30 to 20mph there follows a 2mph reduction in speed and crashes by 10%

13. 20 mph Speed limit – Objections? • Impact on traffic flows • Traffic flows more freely at 20mph than 30mph, drivers make better use of road space by packing closer and junctions work more efficiently and at higher capacity as it is easier to merge • Impact on the environment • What Car magazine found that for many cars 20mph was the most efficient speed - 20mph beats 30mph for saving fuel. 20mph limits meanless acceleration and braking 20mph speed limits encourage people to walk and cycle locally rather than using their cars because they feel safe and more comfortable on the roads

14. Wiltshire policy update • Pilot studies in Biddestone, Great Bedwyn, Great Cheverell, Limpley Stoke, Westwood commenced 2011 • Wiltshire believes too early to evaluate the effect • HOWEVER, Wiltshire has decided to allow only two more locations for 20mph restrictions in our Community Area – c.18 Parishes • Wiltshire Council – “Where Everybody Matters”

15. Viewpoint from robert goodwill, transport minister • There is strong support for 20mph limits from successive governments • Localism an important factor in government policy • There is acceptance that 20mph limits have been widely adopted • DfT is commissioning comprehensive research on effects • "20 as norm" seen as "not quite there yet" but is aware of transitioning issue • Increasing powers and action for enforcement, ACPO, NDORS (National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme) • Changes in flexibility on signage

16. ROAD CALMING to Reduce speeds • An option for several of the roads including the A360 could be to introduce road calming measures to help stop speeding motorists • These could include where appropriate: • Carriage way restrictions • Road narrowing • Visual calming measures • Permanent Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) • Speed humps Photographs courtesy of Google Maps

17. ROAD NARROWING

18. CARRIAGEWAY RESTRICTION

19. Speed indicator signs

20. Summary • We have shown you some of the things that can be done to improve safety • There are several different options that can be taken to tackle the safety of the roads in our village • What we want to hear is your views on what you would like the Parish Council do to next • Do we just accept Wiltshire’s policy on 20 mph limits? • Please gives us you views as to what you would like to see