Staplefield Village, Various Roads 30Mph Speed Limit
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Appendix B Summary of Objections and Comments Staplefield: Various Roads 30mph Speed Limit – CMS1024 Comments Engineer’s Response Sussex Police Objection 1. The WSCC policy easement avoids the use WSCC Policy was amended in March 2010 to and application of national make such an exception to allow individual guidance and best practice County Local Committees to reduce 40mph village speed limits to 30mph on a case by case basis and allowing for the usual link with actual speeds to be disregarded. 2. If national guidance and best practice were Largely true, see response to 1.above, but to be applied the proposal would also note various mitigating features in 4. and not meet the implementation criteria 7. below. 3. The differential between the mean speed Average speeds from the B2114 Cuckfield and the existing speed assessment Road north of Staplefield are in the range of criterion is too great and compliance levels are 36mph – 40mph, which is in keeping with the likely to be low present 40mph limit, and indicates a reasonable level of compliance, but may present difficulties with a 30mph limit being heeded. 4. Pedestrians and other vulnerable road users This is difficult to accurately determine or will have the expectation that predict. In terms of topography and character traffic will be travelling at 30mph or slower, so the B2114 which runs through Stapelfield has may unwittingly endanger several bends on each approach, then runs themselves when using the road as a result of relatively straight, with a crossroads, Village the subsequent speed Common and playground, through the centre. differential There is a degree of frontage development, adjoining side roads, and other features including Village Hall, Church, Stables, Public House, bus stops, and schools. Comments Engineer’s Response 5. The introduction of a lower limit will raise This is difficult to determine but may prove to public expectation and if unrealised be the case. Enforcement is primarily a will generate complaints to the police for matter for the Police, although Sussex Safer blanket enforcement activity, as Roads Partnership promotes other initiatives already exampled elsewhere within the Mid such as Local Speed Watch Campaigns and Sussex area Operation Crackdown which residents and the Parish Council might perhaps wish to become involved with. 6. We anticipate Crime and Disorder Act It is possible that public aspirations for lower issues will be generated where there speeds may not be fully realised simply by were none or few previously lowering the speed limit. 7. There are no additional gravity factors This speed limit reduction was approved by identified within the proposal that the Central Mid Sussex County Local would justify the lowering of the limit Committee in response to residents’ concerns. And there are a number of mitigating features i.e. it is a self-contained village divided by a B Class route with a degree of frontage development, a cross-roads and adjoining side roads, an adjacent Village Hall, Church, Stables, Public House, bus stops, and schools. In the latest three years for which data is currently available there has been one reported injury-accident immediately north of the crossroads resulting in serious injury to a motor-cyclist. Support for the Proposal: Resident of Brantridge Lane: proposal will increase safety primarily for horse riders and pedestrians which share the road as most of the roads involved have no pavements. Resident of Tanyard Lane: The stretch of road through Staplefield is straight with one intersection for St Marks School. This straight piece of road is constantly subject to traffic speeding at 50-60 mph. Putting up signs for the new limit will not be enough alone, other calming measures like those in Ditchling will be needed to control speeds otherwise speeding drivers will simply overtake people driving responsibly. Enforcement by the police is also needed. Resident of Handcross Road: Walks their children to St Marks School and the proposed speed limit is greatly appreciated. It will enhance the village and reduce worry of parents of children playing on the common or walking to the playground. It will also benefit cricketers, dog walkers and the many cycling clubs who visit the village and horseriders. Resident of Tanyard Lane: The speed limit will reduce the risk to young children who are encouraged to walk to school, along pavements which are narrow in places along the B2114. Resident of Tanyard Lane: The main road through the village passes close to the car park of the Jolly Tanners pub and there are regular close shaves there due to speeding traffic. Local roads are frequently used by horse riders and cyclists who would both benefit from the restriction as long as it is observed. The footways along the affected roads are also very limited but the roads are regularly used by school children and walkers. Residents of Staplefield: Wholeheartedly support the proposal – 40 mph is ridiculous on these narrow windy lanes. School Secretary: fully supports the proposal – vehicles are seen daily travelling too fast along Brantridge Lane, the section near the school should possibly be lowered further to 20 mph as seen at many other West Sussex schools. With parents cars parked outside the school it would be easy for a child emerging from between cars to be hit by passing vehicles. A reduction in the speed limit should reduce injury if such an accident occurred. Children can be easily distracted and it is up to the adult population to do everything possible to protect them. Resident of Handcross Road: Supports the proposed new speed limit, walks their child to school and any reduction in traffic speed will be appreciated. This will also enhance the village and reduce concerns of parents letting children play on the common, the playground or when visiting friends in the village. Resident of Stanbridge Lane: supports the proposal as the affected main road runs past a park and a school. It is a worry trying to cross the road with children at the current speed limit. Support for the Proposal: Resident of Staplefield: Supports the proposal as the road is very close to a school a children’s play area and the village green. The roads in Staplefield should have 30 mph speed limits in line with other nearby villages. Resident of Brantridge Lane: supports the proposal – having a school in a 40 mph speed limit is unacceptable as most other schools have 20 mph limits. Also there are no pavements. Residents of Staplefield: Are 100% behind the proposed speed limits, people drive far too quickly along the main road as well as the tiny country lanes. Only recently lost a wing mirror to a speeding cab on Brantridge Lane. Residents of Brantridge Lane: Family often rides horses on roads around Staplefield, which has very few bridleways. Often experience trouble with road rage and speeding cars. Resident of Staplefield: Strongly supports the proposal: has a child at St Marks School and keeps horses nearby. A reduction of the speed limit is necessary for the safety of everyone and is in line with other West Sussex villages such as Ansty. Resident of Cuckfield Road: Supports the speed limit as excessive speed on the B2114 is common. Took part in the Sussex Police Speedwatch campaign and recorded drivers at 60 mph on this length of road. The council’s walk to school initiative has encouraged St Marks pupils’ parents to park at the village car park and walk to the school and parties of children are occasionally escorted across the road by teachers to use the common. The Children’s playground is near a crossroads which is approached by a blind brow and it is possible traffic speeds at this location will cause a tragedy. Respondent is one of a number of wheelchair/disabled scooter users in the village who regularly use the narrow pavements with traffic speeding past close by. In some cases there is no pavement leaving them with traffic racing up to them at up to 50 mph. Crossing the main road at the dropped curb for wheelchair users is very dangerous due to the speed of traffic and the blind brow. In view of these circumstances a 30 mph speed limit is absolutely necessary. .