South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | October | 14
From the archive, first published Friday 14th Oct 2005.
"DO something before someone is killed - or a house collapses," - that was the message to council highways chiefs from traffic-battered residents in Pilning this week.
Urgent action was needed to defend the village from inconsiderate car drivers, cheating truckers and two-wheeled speed demons, local people told a public meeting called by Pilning and Severn Beach Parish Council
Comments from the floor included:
* "The B4055 isn't a road any more - it's a race track." * "Crossing the road means taking your life in your hands." * "I get woken up by lorries and my whole house shakes." * "Lorry weight restrictions and speed limits are never enforced." * "Easter Compton gets a better deal from the council and the police."
South Gloucestershire Council Network Services principal engineer John Fox said a £50,000 traffic claiming scheme, including speed cushions and a pedestrian crossing near the war memorial, was drawn up for the village more than two years ago but was put on hold because of disagreements between residents and the parish council.
"Last year there were too many schemes chasing too little money and any project that was hitting problems was put on hold indefinitely," he said. "As a result, this scheme was lost."
There was general disbelief when Mr Fox said that speed monitoring had revealed that 85 percent of drivers were already complying with the 30mph limit through the village.
One woman said: "Lorries and buses hurtle this village and we've had enough of it. My home is already being shaken to its foundations but speed bumps will just make it worse."
Mr Fox said speed cushions could reduce accidents and save lives and he was surprised by the level of opposition to them.
He said the lack of fatal or serious injury accidents in the village meant it was unlikely to qualify for a fixed speed camera. But it was possible that a mobile camera could be deployed or a radar-operated "reminder" device set up to warn motorists of their speed.
Villagers could also investigate setting up a police Community Speed Watch partnership scheme in which volunteers receive training in the use of speed-detection equipment.
Many residents expressed deep concern about the "horrendous" speed of traffic on the section of road between Easter Compton and Pilning - currently subject to the national 60mph limit for single carriageway roads
Mr Fox said a "buffer" 40mph speed limit was a possibility but a 30 mph limit - already requested by the parish council - would be unrealistic.
Ward councillor Peter Tyzack said that in terms of police speed enforcement, there was a perception that Easter Compton fared better.
PC Daryl Lodge said speed checks had taken place and many of those caught breaking the limit were themselves residents of Easter Compton, Pilning and Severn Beach.
Mr Fox assured the meeting that the problems faced by the village - sandwiched between Cribbs Causeway and the Western Approaches industrial complex - were well understood.
Based on feedback from the meeting, his team would draw up revised proposals for road safety improvements.
Parish council chairman Ivor Humphries said: "We must press South Gloucestershire to put more funding our way - that is the parish council's priority.
"There is a serious problem here and they will have to do something for us."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008