Highways Strategic Appraisal 2008

Salhouse Parish Plan

2 CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 2

VILLAGE DESCRIPTION 2

ISSUES ARISING FROM THE CONSULTATION PROCESS 3

Junctions and Danger Spots 3 Road Safety Assessment 5 Rationalisation of Speed Limits within the Parish 5 Pavements 8 Upgrading of an Existing Rural Footpath 9 Other Footpaths 9 Village Signs 9 Road Furniture Anomalies 10

CONCLUSION 10

ANNEXES

A Map - Salhouse Parish B Map - Salhouse Village C Map - Salhouse Conservation Area D Map - Salhouse Village Amenities and Existing Speed Limits E Map - Salhouse Village - Junctions and Danger Spots F Report - Footpath 14 G Map - Salhouse Parish Rural Footpaths

Disclaimer - Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained within this document is accurate as at September 2007.

SALHOUSE PARISH PLAN VILLAGE DESCRIPTION HIGHWAYS STRATEGY APPRAISAL Road Structure INTRODUCTION Salhouse village (see Map at Annex B) is Background geographically divided with a quarter of the village located close to Salhouse Railway Station and the Salhouse Parish Council initiated the Parish Plan remainder separated by half a mile to the east, a process in February 2006. A Steering Group significant part of which is a Conservation Area consisting of 12 villagers, of whom 4 were Parish (see Map at Annex C). The population of the Councillors, commenced work in April 2006. village is approximately 1600 living in 650 households. There is a primary school for 150 Consultation children located in the heart of the village as well as the other village amenities. The consultation process began with the formation of 6 working groups, one of which specifically The B1140 HGV route, linking the east of the addressed matters under the heading Transport, county through to Rackheath Industrial Estate, Highways and Village Infrastructure. The and to the north, runs through the major part of consultation process lasted one year and consisted the village. The B1140 is also the prime sugar beet of an Awareness Day, a comprehensive household transportation route between north Norfolk and Questionnaire, consultation with external agencies the Cantley processing plant. and an Open Day to display the results of the Questionnaire, at which villagers were able to add Other significant roads within the village are the further comment. main Norwich Road leading to Rackheath and Honeycombe Road (C284) which currently carries In consulting with external agencies, meetings a considerable level of traffic from the A47 were held with Mr David Law (Traffic Management southern bypass, via the Plumsteads, to Wroxham Officer, Eastern Area HQ, Norfolk Constabulary) and onwards . Since the inception of the bypass and Mr Laurie Egan, (Network Manager, Planning the village has seen a substantial increase in & Transportation, Norfolk County Council (NCC)). through traffic. As a result of the latter meeting it was agreed that, as part of the Parish Plan process, a full Lower Street is a key village thoroughfare which, Strategic Appraisal of traffic and highways issues together with Thieves Lane (single track road), are in the Parish of Salhouse (see Map at Annex A) the main access routes to some 380 houses, the would be submitted to NCC. Primary School, the Jubilee Hall, shop/Post Office, the Bell Inn PH and some bus stops. Report Station Road, which is an extension of Muck Lane The Appraisal would be based on the results of all (Rackheath Parish) and links the A1151 with the consultation with the village and, primarily, Norwich Road, Salhouse, provides an access to the analysis of the household Questionnaire. In some 110 properties as well as Salhouse Industrial raising issues the Appraisal would seek to match Estate, the Charringtons ex coal yard and the remit of the Local Transport Plan in terms of Salhouse Railway Station. (See Annex D for a Map accessibility, environment, safety and the need to of the location of the village amenities). minimise congestion, as well as the Safer Travel to School initiative. In essence, by presenting these Other roads within the village are smaller, mainly matters in this format it is hoped that a more single track byways. cohesive and effective approach can be achieved in resolving them. Pavements

The proposed solutions are designed to improve There are pavements along a number of the roads and protect the safety of villagers in their daily life in the village although the network is incomplete, while allowing appropriate access to amenities. In patchy and of variable quality. Primarily Cheyney particular, there was a unanimous desire to allow Estate, Mill Road (B1140) and Lower Street are children to either walk or cycle to and from school, provided for. The remainder of roads in the village which is currently virtually impossible from all have limited pavement, or none at all, and parts of the village; this is due to pavement/ pedestrians must revert to using the road, or rural footpath and traffic problems. It is also hoped that footpaths, to reach the amenities or other villagers, in general, might be able to walk or cycle locations in the Parish. Where pavements do exist, more, rather than continue to use the car as their in some cases they are also unsuitable for passage main form of transport, by mobility vehicles, wheelchairs or pushchairs.

This Strategic Appraisal will be included in the formal Parish Plan Report, as an Annex, to ensure continuity in future discussions.

2 Bus and Train Services use this route almost continuously during operating hours, throughout the period October to The community is served by bus and train services March. This factor, together with a significant operating, between them, to Norwich and increase in through traffic from the A47 to Wroxham . The Railway Station is remote and not Wroxham, has, in the view of villagers, intensified easily accessible from the main part of the village the danger on this stretch. Not only is Mill Road a and some extremities of the village are distant pedestrian crossing area but a further housing from bus stops. development of some 20 houses is expected to be built on the site of the previous garage. This will ISSUES ARISING FROM THE result in additional traffic movement. CONSULTATION PROCESS Issues

The issues arising from the consultation process Bell Corner is a busy junction which coincides with have been grouped under the following subject being on an ‘S’ bend where the road is quite headings: narrow. Two large vehicles are unable to pass at

this point; this invariably results in one vehicle • Junctions and Danger Spots having to mount the pavement to effect passage. • Road Safety Assessment • Rationalisation of Speed Limits in the Parish The speed of oncoming vehicles as they approach Bell Corner from both directions (north and south) • Pavements is frequently in excess of that acceptable for the • Upgrading of an existing Rural Footpath problems the bend presents; this is particularly applicable in the case of motorcyclists. • Other Footpaths

• Village Signs Exit from Lower Street is dangerous in that • Road Furniture Anomalies visibility particularly to the north, from where fast approaching vehicles emerge, is quite poor. Inevitably, there is a duplication of information where specific areas are revisited under different headings.

JUNCTIONS AND DANGER SPOTS

A map of the locations discussed below can be seen at Annex E.

Junction - Bell Lane/Mill Road B1140 (Bell Exit from Hall Drive is equally dangerous in that its Corner) proximity to the blind bend to the south offers no opportunity to turn right with safety. Situation Proposals The junction of Lower Street with Mill Road/Bell Lane (B1140) as well as that of Hall Drive was the Reduction in volume of traffic and HGVs - major ‘danger spot’ registered in the Parish Plan. Proposed Northern Distributoe Route (NDR) This section of road has a narrow, sharp ‘S’ bend on which the junctions are located, together with Over half of the respondents to the Parish Plan the crossing of the rural footpath route which links questionnaire indicated an acceptance in principle Salhouse Railway Station, Station Road and the to the proposed NDR. However, this acceptance larger part of the village where the Primary School was conditional on Salhouse reaping a benefit in is located. This footpath is also popular with terms of the removal of the HGV route and the tourists and Bell Corner itself is situated in the overall reduction in traffic transiting the village. Conservation Area. • The need to address surrounding road In 1995 this road was reclassified from a C grade infrastructure , in the event that the NDR is to B grade and designated as a HGV route, built , is essential. The feasibility of rerouting primarily for HGV’s operating between Rackheath HGVs to remain on the southern bypass and to Industrial Estate and the east of the county. This link with the NDR, whether to Rackheath decision was made despite considerable opposition Industrial Estate or other destinations, and vice by the village and is a continuing source of versa, should be examined as an alternative to concern. The road is also a regularly used route the present situation. This proposal should also for sugar beet lorries between areas to the north apply to sugar beet lorries unless they are of Wroxham and the Cantley processing plant. directly accessing local loading points on the Such vehicles are now up to 44 tons in size and B1140.

3 This proposal could represent a more used as a bypass around the north east of environmentally efficient route in terms of Norwich. economy and emissions. It could also remove the dangers of all such vehicles passing through Issues not only this village, but Panxworth and the southern part of Wroxham, as well as the • Vehicles entering and exiting the Norwich road interlinking country roads. properties, particularly those on and approaching the actual bend are extremely The A47 route, by that time, is also likely to vulnerable. have been fully dualled in the Burlingham section, and using the A47 for the route to Cantley would also eliminate the dangers of • The negative camber and poor road surface crossing at the Burlingham junction. condition, at this point of the Norwich Road, causes eastbound vehicles to straddle the white Road Signage. line whilst passing through the apex of the bend. • The 30mph speed limit signs on the northern approach (B1140) to the village need to be re- sited to enable better visibility, by introducing reflective background boards and by being moved further out of the village, to encourage motorists to reduce speed. Currently these signs are too close to Bell Corner, on a downhill slope, and are frequently obscured by overgrown vegetation. • Visibility at the junction from both the east and west is poor.

• The chevrons on the pond railings at Bell Corner need review. In their current state they • The volume of traffic, including HGVs accessing are not sufficiently highlighting the hazard of and exiting Station Road at this junction, has the corner. significantly increased the problem.

Proposal Approaching the corner from the south, in Mill • Road, the signage needs to be reviewed as it does not warn of the impending ‘S’ bend. • This junction requires a total review in respect of the appropriate speed limit, warning signals, Junction - Norwich Road with Station Road road surface condition and location of bus stops in both directions, including the school bus. Situation Danger Spot - Station Road Railway Bridge This road junction, locally known as Dakenham Corner, has been the site of previous accidents, Situation including at least one fatality. It is currently within a 50mph speed limit area starting from the exit of The underpass style railway bridge is located on a Rackheath and extending to the mini-roundabout bend at the northern end of Station Road. The at the junction with the B1140 and Mill Road/ road is single track and visibility is poor from both Honeycombe Road (C284). directions. There have been several, but mainly unrecorded, incidents here. Situated within the corner is a regular bus stop as well as undefined stopping points used by the This route is the main access to the Railway school bus. An electronic ‘Reduce Speed’ sign has Station from the village and there will soon be a been placed on the western approach to the corner Gospel Hall built off the Salhouse Railway Station which triggers at approximately 45mph. car park, with the possibility of more pedestrians Unfortunately, there is no such sign on the eastern using this route. approach which is almost more dangerous due to the location of the bus stops. Houses are situated Issues on both sides of the road from the western approach, and on the north side from the eastern • Traffic approaching from either side of this approach. Station Road, which feeds off this bend, single track underpass style bridge has little is a residential area of some 110 houses and with visibility through to the other side. access to a small industrial estate; it is therefore used by cars and trucks alike. This road has also • Pedestrian access under the bridge is so poor become a regular cut through for traffic to the they are frequently forced to walk on the road. A1151 as part of a number of country roads being

4 RATIONALISATION OF SPEED LIMITS WITHIN THE PARISH

At present the Parish has a patchwork of speed limits in operation including 20, 30, 40 and 50mph . Ironically, some of the smallest single track roads within the Parish are classified as national speed limits (60mph) (see Annex D). Throughout the Parish Plan consultation process various roads have been singled out for comment with regard to the speed of traffic and to revised speed limits which would be considered safe. • Despite an HGV weight and loading restriction existing at the entrance to Station Road and Norwich Road Muck Lane (Rackheath Parish) this route is used by a significant number of HGVs in transit. Situation

In addition to the bend and junction with Station • These conditions contribute to the under Road, previously described, there is significant utilisation of the railway as it is deemed to be concern about the 50mph limit along the length of remote and difficult to reach from the village. Norwich Road. A small zone of 40mph already exists around the mini-roundabout on the B1140 Proposal junction with Honeycombe Road (C284). There are some 65 houses on Norwich Road, many on either • Consideration should be given to some form of side, others on the northern side, and all with traffic control or prioritisation for vehicles driveway exits almost directly onto the road edge. passing under the bridge. Moreover, along much of its length there is no pavement although this is a route used by bus ROAD SAFETY ASSESSMENT services including the school bus. Care homes have also been established on this road. A Vicarage Road/Upper Street Minuteman traffic monitoring survey was conducted here in 2005, as a result of which an Situation illuminated ‘slow down-bend’ sign was placed on the easterly bound direction. This road cuts between the eastern end of the village and the B1140 leading to Wroxham. Whilst Issues officially designated as a de-restricted speed limit it is a narrow, single track lane, with passing • In addition to being a prime places, used by pedestrians on the Parish footpath traffic route, Norwich Road routes, and by a variety of vehicles. As with such is also a residential road roads it is becoming an increasingly regular route used by pedestrians who, in and short cut; this has been exacerbated by the many cases are young popularity of Salhouse Broad, the Fur & Feathers children, elderly residents or PH and Woodfordes Brewery at Woodbastwick, disabled. The ill defined together with other businesses in that village. At verges and lack of this road’s south-easterly point, there is a pavements, together with triangular junction of Upper St and Lower Street, the current speed limit of with limited visibility, where vehicles transit at 50mph, are acting as a speed, and which is considered by local residents deterrent to villagers who Norwich Road to be dangerous. might otherwise make more use of buses and trains. Proposal Proposal • This road should be assessed in terms of minimising and managing traffic movement, in • The speed limit on this stretch of road should the interests of retaining the village be reviewed in the light of the Minuteman environment, together with improving access monitoring survey, together with the dangers at and safety for pedestrians and cyclists. the junction with Station Road, and the other road conditions, hereto explained. The view expressed in the Parish Plan consultation is that the speed limit should be no more than 40mph.

5 Lower Street – Thieves Lane • The Primary School is attempting to encourage parents to walk their children to school, not Situation only for health purposes but also to relieve the congestion on Cheyney Avenue. A few parents When the 20mph speed limit was proposed in are now parking at the Bell Inn and the Jubilee Cheyney Avenue, a request was also submitted by Hall and walking children to school along this the Parish Council to extend it. The proposal was stretch of Lower Street. to include the section of Lower Street from Bell Corner through to Thieves Lane, and also to include the length of Thieves Lane to Norwich • Children in this part of the village wishing to Road. use the playing field or play area have no option but to use Thieves Lane. Lower Street is a main residential road serving some 380 houses and is the only feeder route to • The poor road surface on Thieves Lane, Cheyney Estate, the Primary School and the particularly when flooded, together with the Jubilee Hall. It is also a through route from the narrowness make it even more dangerous. B1140 to Woodbastwick and onwards. As a consequence, there are peak periods during the day when traffic density is high. Although served by pavements, the conditions vary enormously in terms of surface, width and encroaching vegetation. The stretch in question is used by Salhouse Primary School children, as well as mothers and toddlers attending the various children’s playgroups located in the Jubilee Hall. The ‘yellow’ school bus also stops at Bell Corner and in front of the Jubilee Hall. Proposals The present speed limit is 30mph. A Minuteman survey was conducted in Lower Street in May 2007 • The 20mph speed limit presently in force on but results were distorted by on road parking of Cheyney Avenue should be extended to include development vehicles. Lower Street between Bell Corner and Thieves Lane, and the length of Thieves Lane to Thieves Lane is a single width residential road Norwich Road. This will not only comply with with no pavements and is also a main feeder the Dept of Transport guidance on 20mph between Norwich Road and Lower Street; the road speed limits around schools, but will provide a is in poor condition with regular flooding at its much safer environment for children travelling southern end during periods of heavy rain. The to school or wishing to use the playing field. present speed limit is 30mph. The playing field and children’s play area are situated in Thieves Lane and 57 houses are also accessed along this • The Minuteman survey results should be short stretch of road. There is a through footpath, discarded and a further survey conducted in linking the Lane to Cheyney Estate, used not only context of the above. by children using the school bus, but also children from the estate wishing to use the playing field. • If it is considered that a 20mph speed limit will not resolve these problems the matter of traffic Issues management/ calming along the length of Lower Street and Thieves Lane should be • For many children using the ‘Yellow’ bus stops examined more fully, to provide the same in Lower Street (at Bell Corner & Jubilee Hall), safety benefits. Lower Street and Thieves Lane are their prime access routes. Lower Street (Eastern End)

Situation The stretch of Lower Street from Bell Corner to • Cheyney Avenue is well used by mothers and Beyond the village shop/Post Office at the eastern children going both to the Primary School and end of Lower Street there is a bend which is to the play groups in the Jubilee Hall. Children relatively sharp where the road narrows and are either in buggies, on foot, or on bikes. The visibility on both sides for oncoming traffic is pavements are notoriously uneven and narrow, virtually non existent. Sight seeing coaches, while the increase in traffic density and agricultural vehicles and trucks frequent this perceived speed over this stretch are subjects stretch of road. Invariably, in the case of two of great concern. For some, accessing the vehicles meeting, one of which is large, it is school requires the crossing of Lower Street. necessary to use the pavement to pass safely.

6 Issue Proposals

• The narrowness of the bend and the lack of • In order to reduce the pressure on Station Road visibility, together with the presence of large and its related danger spots, namely the vehicles, result in potential dangerous junctions and Railway Bridge, it is considered situations. that this area should be included in any review of the local highways infrastructure when planning for the NDR.

• As an interim measure, signage should be more restrictive to prevent large vehicles from using this route unnecessarily.

• The results of the Minuteman survey should be Proposal incorporated into this review.

Honeycombe Road (C284) This stretch of Lower Street should be included • in any review of traffic management/calming. Situation

Station Road This road runs from the mini-roundabout on the B1140 to the C874 at its junction with Norwich Situation Road/Belt Road. Salhouse village entrance begins some 500 metres from this junction. Some 15 This road forms the link between Norwich Road, properties access this road, in addition to a small Salhouse and the A1151 with access to some 110 concrete artefacts business, a farm and an properties. Where it becomes Muck Lane there is increasingly popular Garden Centre, with its tea a restricted height railway bridge. Loading access room. is restricted to 7.5 tonnes to allow vehicles to reach Salhouse Industrial Estate, Wood Green Honeycombe Road is flanked by 40mph zones at Road, and the Charringtons ex coal yard in Muck either end, the remainder is de-restricted. It has Lane. The road does not have a pavement but is no central white line and is susceptible to ice and used by children and adults alike to reach the bus frost conditions in the winter, because of the stops in Norwich Road and Salhouse Railway shelter offered by Brakes Wood. There is no Station. Accidents have taken place on this road, pavement along this road. coinciding with children walking to the bus stop. Increasingly this road is being used by traffic This road is a key route for traffic, including HGVs, transiting east/west across the north of Norwich transiting between the A47 southern bypass and including HGVs, some of which are sugar beet the north of the County. lorries. Issues Issues

• The residents of this road report high traffic By its very nature, as a commuter route, • speeds which are considered dangerous Station Road gives rise to traffic perceived to because of the road condition and particularly be exceeding the speed limit. because they have no pavement/footpath to access the village and its amenities. • The safety of pedestrians has been compromised, particularly for children heading Proposal for the school bus stop in Norwich Road, and for pedestrians passing under the railway • Honeycombe Road (C284) should be included in bridge on their way to the Railway Station. the review to rationalise speed limits within the Some parents do not allow their children to use Parish; it is considered that the speed limit the school bus for this reason. should be no more than 40mph.

• The volume of traffic using this road has B1140 (Bell Lane) to Wroxham increased the dangers at its junction with Norwich Road and, as Muck Lane (Rackheath Situation Parish), at the junction with the A1151. The section of road under discussion begins at a • It is understood that a Minuteman survey was point of undulation and bends, referred to locally conducted in the vicinity of the railway bridge, as the ‘hills and holes’, located at the Wroxham/ on Muck Lane, in early 2007. Salhouse Parish boundary and continues to the

7 village 30mph restriction signs. As stated before, it Proposals is a designated HGV route, as well as a sugar beet lorry route during the winter months. It is, by • The 30mph speed restriction signs should be nature of its B classification, a wide fast road with moved further north and mounted in such a a generally sound surface , but it is beset by a way as to give them more prominence. number of significant hazards. • In view of the hazards and history of accidents Issues it is considered that the speed limit through this

section of the B1140 should be reviewed with • Heading south, the road is undulating and the object of it being reduced to 50mph. contains several sharp bends at which a large number of accidents have occurred. PAVEMENTS

• There is a cross roads (Stonehouse Road/ As already highlighted throughout this Appraisal, Vicarage Road) with the easterly junction the consensus from the Parish Plan consultation serving The Lodge PH. The camber is very poor was that some pavements within the village were at the crossroads and there have been several in poor condition and that there are too few in accidents, some of which have been number. There are residential areas within the unrecorded. village that have no pavements at all resulting in pedestrians having to walk on the road to access • The entrance/exit to the village church is the village amenities. situated on a bend and on the brow of a hill. This is also the crossing point of the main rural Notwithstanding the fact that many of the footpaths and the unofficial lay-by is also often pavements are too narrow , due to encroaching used for car parking vegetation and root growth, which is recognised as and as a starting a Parish Council enforcement responsibility, the point for walkers. surface on many of these pavements is now Traffic speeds, dangerous. This is attributable to underlying roots particularly by from long standing hedgerows and mature trees, motorcycles, can be as well as patchwork maintenance over many excessively high at years. This is particularly noticeable in Lower this point. Street, which is a main thoroughfare, and in Cheyney Avenue. • The result is the loss of visibility of traffic approaching from the north and, for In some places, the pedestrians, the loss of visibility of traffic over pavements are insufficiently the brow of the hill, accelerating out of the wide to allow the use of village from the south. mobility vehicles and moreover, they cause • The 30mph restriction signs, at the entrance to problems for pushchair and the village, are positioned too close to the wheel chair users. This village and in such a way that they are problem is exacerbated by the absorbed into the landscape visually, and lack of accessibility ramps on factually, by overgrown vegetation. certain key pavements eg Mill Road. • The result is that the majority of cars fail to Lower Street achieve the required reduction in speed and enter Bell Corner in this manner. Similarly, To summarise, the key areas where there are no some vehicles exiting Bell Corner, heading pavements are:- north, currently start to accelerate upon sighting the de-restriction signs. Norwich Road - where most of the houses are located. • Along the whole of the route there are access Station Road - a residential area of some 110 points into fields for farm traffic and sugar beet houses. lorries.

Thieves Lane - between Lower Street and • The volume of traffic on this road has increased Norwich Road. significantly since the opening of the Norwich

southern bypass, as has the level of noise Lower Street - from Mill Hill through to Salhouse pollution. Broad car park and pedestrian entrance to the

Broad.

8 Proposal • Consideration should be given to upgrading the footpath to include a joint cycle path, similar to • There should be a review of the extent of, and that provided in the Plumsteads. This would be the condition of, the existing pavements within more in keeping with current policies to link the Parish paying particular regard to width and cycle paths in the county and encourage more surface. This should also include the provision outdoor activity. It might also encourage of accessibility ramps on all pavements. children to walk and cycle to school more often, as well as providing a facility for those with UPGRADING OF AN EXISTING RURAL mobility vehicles. FOOTPATH OTHER FOOTPATHS Station Road – Hall Drive (Bell Corner) (Footpath 14) There are two other areas specifically where footpaths of a more rural style, i.e. not road edge, Situation are required.

The fact that Salhouse village is geographically Village to the Church – Salhouse Parish Church, divided into two parts presents a number of All Saints, is situated some half mile outside of the problems of accessibility. Pedestrians are faced main residential area to the north, on Bell Lane with two alternatives. Firstly, they can use the (B1140). Norwich Road where there is no pavement or negotiable grass verge, and where the speed limit Proposal is 50mph. Secondly, they can use a rural footpath (Footpath 14) which exists across the intervening • A rural style walking/cycling track is required to fields, starting near the Howletts Loke junction on link the village with the Church and provide Station Road and ending in Hall Drive on Bell appropriate safety for pedestrians. This would Corner. This footpath, which is 1km in length, has also act as a further link to the existing rural a variable surface and a tendency to be very footpaths. overgrown in one area. Honeycombe Road – There are residential The Parish Plan Steering Group had a meeting with properties situated along Honeycombe Road, as Mr P Barber (Countryside Access Development well as the Salhouse Garden Centre. This road is Officer from the Planning and Transportation relatively narrow and currently in the speed de- Department NCC), at which, inter alia, restricted area. Villagers feel cut off from joining in improvements to, and the potential upgrading of activities in the village because of the difficulty of Footpath 14 were discussed. Mr Barber walked pedestrian access. Footpath 14 for which a separate report is attached at Annex F. Proposal

Issues • A rural style walking/cycling track is required, In summary, the condition of this footpath away from the road edge, in order to provide precludes regular use by:- safe access to the village amenities for pedestrians/cyclists from this remote village point . Those villagers wishing to make use of • Salhouse Railway Station. • In time, consideration should be given to Children wishing to walk to school. • linking both these walking/cycling tracks back • Villagers wishing to join in activities at the Bell to Little Plumstead and on through to Wroxham Inn PH, Jubilee Hall, Church or make use of the providing yet another element of the County village shop/Post Office. network. • Tourists arriving by the Bittern Line to visit the Conservation Area and Salhouse Broad. VILLAGE SIGNS

• Non–able bodied villagers and/or visitors. Salhouse Conservation Area (Broadland Area 16) is unrecognised in terms of signs approaching the Of equal importance, the problem fuels the relevant part of the village. In addition, there are perception of a divided village. no signs indicating ‘village’, ‘please drive slowly’ and other similar, environmentally friendly Proposals informative signs.

• Footpath 14 should be maintained to allow it to The 20mph imposed limit on Cheyney Avenue, for be used by all pedestrians as well as those with the Primary School, has routine speed limit signs pushchairs or wheelchairs. but the ‘Twenty is Plenty’ and similar signs lend

9 themselves to this situation. On other village rationalised approach to, the problems raised in roads, rather than repeaters, ’30mph still applies’ the Parish Plan process. could be productive. By carrying out this comprehensive research and Proposals including the results with this Appraisal, the Parish Plan Steering Group is confident that Salhouse will • Signs more in keeping with the character of a benefit from the information that has been Conservation Area should replace existing provided to the Highways Department. signs, where applicable. This Appraisal will be annexed to the Formal Parish Plan Report and Action Plan, due to be distributed • Existing speed limit signs should be replaced, to all relevant bodies early in 2008. where appropriate, by those which are more innovative and eye catching, in order to encourage the reduction of speed within the Salhouse Parish Plan Steering Group village. September 2007

ROAD FURNITURE ANOMALIES

Attached to this Appraisal is a CD containing an

Inventory compiled by the Parish Plan Steering

Group of all road furniture in the Parish. There are a number of inconsistencies and anomalies which should be addressed as should the possibility of reducing the amount of road furniture within the

Parish.

CONCLUSION

This Appraisal has been derived as the result of a long and detailed consultation with the village of Salhouse, which was the basis for the Parish Plan process. As such it is wide ranging in that it addresses significant concerns, primarily associated with safety and accessibility, as well as those seeking to promote an increase in the use of public transport.

Aspects covered include traffic speed and density, the increase in HGVs, the need to encourage more villagers to use public transport, and the need to link the community. Added to which, the importance of providing the right environment to promote an increase in walking and cycling, particularly for children, was addressed.

Research into the NDR plans revealed that changes to adjoining road infrastructure could benefit the village and surrounding areas, if incorporated at the early planning stages. A survey of the road signage throughout the Parish uncovered anomalies, if, which addressed, might ANNEXES assist traffic management. A. Map - Salhouse Parish It was evident that many of the Highways issues in B. Map - Salhouse Village the Parish arose from piecemeal solutions to individual complaints in the past, where an C. Map - Salhouse Conservation Area overarching and more cohesive, interlinking policy might have been more appropriate. D. Map - Salhouse Village Amenities and Existing Speed Limits

In a meeting with Mr Laurie Egan, it was agreed E. Map - Salhouse Village - Junctions and that this overall Strategic Appraisal on all these Danger Spots matters should be submitted to NCC. This would F. Report - Footpath 14 enable a more structured review of, and a

10 (100022319) (2008) (2008) (100022319)

Annex Annex A Salhouse

Parish

11 Annex B

12 Annex C

13 Annex D Salhouse Amenities Map and Existing Speed Limits

Annex E Salhouse Village Junctions and Danger Spots

© Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. (100022319) (2008) 14 ANNEX F The footpath continues along Hall Drive into open countryside (Fig 3).

HALL DRIVE - STATION ROAD WALK (FOOTPATH 14)

INTRODUCTION Fig 3

Present: Pat Gallanders, Chair Parish Plan Steering Group; Malcolm Prestwood, Vice-Chair and Transport, Highways and Village Infrastructue; Juliette Bendy, Secretary and Recreation and Leisure; Gerry Crombie, Lifelong

Learning; Ann Prestwood, Community Services;

Peter Barber, Countryside Access Development

Officer from the Planning and Transportation

Department of Norfolk County Council. Fig 4

The purpose of the walk was to familiarise Mr

Barber with the condition of Footpath 14, to ascertain whether any improvements would be feasible and to determine the level of upgrading which could be achieved to improve access between both ends of the At the crossroads of this section of the footpath village. and Salhouse Hall coach drive, access to the main

road appears completely overgrown; this is not a FOOTPATH 14 public footpath. However, over a number of years, the edge of the adjacent westerly field has Hall Drive - Salhouse Hall Drive. The first been used as a shortcut to the village from section of Footpath 14 is in Hall Drive, which is the Norwich Road, which has no pavement. During access to some 8 properties (Fig 1); there is a the Parish Plan process requests were made by black on white signpost by the chevrons on the villagers to formalise its status as a permissive pond railings, indicating the route to the Railway path. The landowner does not appear to have Station and distance, but no CW57 markers in tried to prevent its use as a shortcut and research evidence. Hall Drive is an unclassified road and will be carried out as to whether this route is appears to have adopted status between its officially named in the Countryside Stewardship entrance and the pond adjacent to Hall Farm; as Scheme (CSS). However, these access routes such it could be low on the priority list for usually have marker signs and there is none highways maintenance. Beyond this point (Fig 2), present at this point. Under the CSS farmers and potholes near the new barn conversions have been land managers enter into a 10 year agreement to filled in with rough hardcore. manage land in an environmentally beneficial way , in return for annual payments. This scheme also provides for more walks, bridleways and areas of open access for the public.

NB. Research on the CSS website currently shows no official routes in Salhouse. Fig 1 Salhouse Hall Drive to Station Road . Footpath 14 continues in a westerly direction along the perimeter of the next field following the northern edge and is clear to walk (Fig 4). There is some evidence of use by horse riders on this section.

Midway, (Fig 5) a staggered metal barrier separates the sections of footpath but, adjacent to the barrier, a shortcut over the corner of the Fig 2 northerly field has been created either by walkers or horse riders (Fig 6).

15 SUMMARY

Footpath 14, which is 1 kilometre in length, fulfils Fig 5 its function as a footpath predominantly for able bodied walkers however, in its present condition, it cannot serve as a formal access between both ends of the village. This denies the opportunity for some villagers and tourists to access, by foot, the Railway Station, village stores/Post Office, Jubilee Hall, All Saints Church and The Bell Inn PH, as well as Salhouse Broad. Moreover, it does not encourage mothers and children to walk from Station Road to the Primary School or playgroups. Fig 6 PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO

FOOTPATH 14

Maintenance. Mr Barber suggested that the first Mr Barber questioned whether this barrier has any step to improving the condition of the Pekedell practical use and whether its presence is appropriate. Stables section of the footpath might be to carry out maintenance by cutting back the hedges The section of path alongside Pekedell Riding Stables radically, in order to gain extra width. This work is wide at first but narrows in the middle (Fig 7). It could be incorporated into the Norfolk County has been the subject of ongoing complaint by Council schedule of maintenance commencing in villagers regarding overgrown vegetation but it was October. If this increases usage of the path, noted that, at the time of walking, the vegetation further improvements could be considered with had recently been cut back slightly by parties regard to upgrading the surface quality. unknown. Upgrading To Cycleway. Notwithstanding the The path, however, is still narrowed by dense proposals to improve the footpath, the provision of hedgerow including brambles and bracken (Fig 8). cycleways was a significant issue in the Parish Plan After rainfall this narrowness forces pedestrians to process. The possibility of upgrading Footpath 14 the central point creating a muddy, uneven and very to a cycleway, in accordance with the current slippery gully to negotiate. The path joins the practice of extending and linking cycleways within driveway to Pekedell Stables, which is an unmade the County, would mean its incorporation into a track, and then continues to its junction with Station higher schedule of maintenance. However, this Road, where there is a fingerpost and CW57 marker. upgrade would considerably improve access for villagers and tourists alike between Station Road and the remainder of the village.

CONCLUSION

The issue of Footpath 14, and its importance for the village, will form part of the Highways Strategic Appraisal to Norfolk County Council Highways with a view to including the matter as part of the Safer Routes to School Scheme.

Fig 7 Fig 8

16 Annex G Salhouse Village Rural Footpaths

Norfol k Rural Community Council