Buchlyvie Traffic and Crossing Survey report 2018/19
Background
Buchlyvie is a village situated on a main road, the A811. The impact of the increasing level of traffic has been an ongoing concern and subject of discussion for local residents for many years. A history of traffic calming proposals, dating back to April 2002, was compiled from correspondence and minutes for a Community Council meeting in October 2017. This was updated in February 2019 and is included in Appendix A.
As described in Appendix A, past proposals by the Stirling Council Roads Department to introduce various traffic calming measures on the A811 in Buchlyvie, including ideas for pedestrian crossings, failed to secure local support. In 2016 it was suggested to us, that before any further feasibility studies could be carried out, Buchlyvie Community Council (BCC) needed to confirm that there was local agreement and support for a crossing.
The survey and collecting information
A small working group met in September 2018 to discuss carrying out a survey on attitudes to the idea of having a pedestrian crossing on the Main Street. It was agreed we would not ask for views on types and possible locations of any crossing at this stage.
A questionnaire was compiled, see Appendix B, Survey Questionnaire. Interviews were mainly door to door with an email version sent to some individuals outside the village. Respondents could complete the form with, or for collection by, the interviewer or return them to an email address set up by BCC for this purpose. The bulk of the interviews took place in October 2018, with some additional work carried out in February 2019.
Contact with Buchlyvie Primary School was also made in relation to concerns about crossing the Main Street by pupils on their way to and from school. See Appendix C, Buchlyvie Primary School, School Travel Plan, June2017/18 (page 21). We have requested, but not been able to obtain, a specific travel plan for Balfron High School pupils.
Survey results
With a total of 140 completed returns, 127 were from residents living in the village itself. Taking the distribution figures of the quarterly Buchlyvie Bulletin to 280 households in the village as a base, this gives a response rate of 45%. The Bulletin is also distributed to 86 households in outlying areas. Information about the composition of the household on all the completed questionnaires, indicates that this covers over 300 individuals, including children. Returns from those living in outlying areas were included but were not the focus of the survey.
As can be seen in the Table below, there is overwhelming support (over 80% of returns) for the idea of having a pedestrian crossing on the Main Street in Buchlyvie. It is particularly strong amongst residents living on the Main Street, to the south of the Main Street and those with children. Respondents who are less likely to be in favour of having a crossing or are undecided about the issue tend to be over 65, have lived in the area for a long time or live in outlying areas.
Table: Attitudes to having a crossing in the Main Street
Street Total Yes No Undecided Main Street and streets to the south of Buchlyvie 55 52 2 1 Baron Court, Culbowie Crescent (94%) Culbowie Road, Main Street Streets to the north of Buchlyvie 72 58 10 4 Fisher Place, Montgomery Place, Station Road (80%) Outlying areas and location not specified 13 6 3 4 Total 140 116 15 9 83% 11% 6%
Reasons for having a crossing
It was suggested by a number of respondents that the A811 cuts the village in half. The main reason given for supporting a pedestrian crossing is that it is a dangerous road - with an increasing flow of traffic with many drivers not observing the 30mph speed. It is recognised that the flow of traffic is particularly heavy at peak times in the morning and evening.
The road is considered dangerous. The density and speed of the traffic gives rise to concerns about safety when crossing the road, particularly for elderly people and those with young children. Some respondents mentioned that parked cars add to the problems.
I walk with difficulty…… and find it difficult to cross safely when the traffic is fast flowing
Many of the amenities are on the other side of the road. Many villagers are elderly or infirm and it takes them longer to cross the road.
The traffic is extremely fast. I couldn’t let my children cross the road themselves as it is completely unsafe
Often forced to cross between parked cars with children. The cars block the view of the road
In addition to a crossing, a number of respondents also support introducing further traffic calming measures such as speed restrictions, with 20s Plenty signs at both approaches to the village, flashing lights, traffic lights at the Station Road junction and an increased speed camera presence.
Reasons for not having a crossing
Respondents in this small group usually favour introducing a speed limit of 20mph through the village instead of a crossing. The main reason cited is that a crossing causes the traffic to bunch up and brings additional noise and pollution to pedestrians and residents.
Don’t think the main street lends itself to a crossing; it may increase noise and traffic with stop start traffic. Big step would be to limit all traffic to 20mph, making it easier for drivers to consider residents attempting to cross the road. Cameras or flashing lights would be more effective than rumble strips.
There’s adequate provision for children at school times already in place
Next steps
BCC is submitting this Survey to Stirling Council as evidence that residents in Buchlyvie are in favour of having a pedestrian crossing as part of traffic calming measures on the A811.
We are aware that traffic surveys on the road have been carried out in the past. We wish to have up to date up to date traffic information and made a request for a traffic survey in January 2019. So far, we have not had a response.
With evidence from the Survey that there is strong local support for better crossing facilities in the village, BCC requests Stirling Council Roads Department to look again at the issue and bring forward outline design proposals for consideration by the community. BCC would be pleased to convene a meeting in the village for the Roads Department to present their proposals to local residents and stakeholders.
Appendices
A History of traffic calming proposals in Main Street, Buchlyvie
B Survey Questionnaire
C Buchlyvie Primary School, School travel plan
Buchlyvie Community Council March 2019
Appendix A History of traffic calming proposals in Main Street Buchlyvie
Key dates
April 2002 Len Goodfellow, Head of Roads & Transport, Stirling Council, outlined criteria for a bypass. In his view Buchlyvie did not qualify
January 2003 Letter from Les Goodfellow to Secretary of Community Council describing village gateways and limited traffic calming measures introduced in 2000. He refers to a more extensive scheme, proposed in 1994, for traffic islands which was rejected by residents as too intrusive and restrictive.
March 2003 Buchlyvie Traffic Attitude Survey by Jack Bureau, member of Buchlyvie Community Council (BCC)
July 2004 Community Council Extraordinary Meeting 66 members of public rejected proposals from the Council for a mini roundabout at the top of Station Road
2003 - 2006 Stirling Council worked on a number of traffic calming measures which included traffic islands
October 2006 Community Council minutes: BCC accepted Stirling Council proposals with some reservations…rejecting the proposed traffic island at the end of Main Street (in the East) because of trucks turning out of the farmers market and east of the B835 as trucks would find it difficult to manoeuvre and concern over proximity to parked cars. This crossing was not seen as vital
April 2009 email from Brian Roberts, Traffic Management Team Leader, to John Andrew (chairman BCC) confirms that traffic calming on the Main Road was introduced about 2 years ago. Scheme did not contain all the measures originally proposed due to the lack of community support. He also refers to a proposal to introduce a mini roundabout about 4/5 years ago which was not implemented due to lack of support from the community due to the impact on parking and businesses. There is also mention of the traffic calming measures to be introduced on Station Road under the Safer Routes to School Initiative.
2011/2012 Stirling wide proposals, later adopted, for the introduction of speed limits at entry points on A and B roads. In Buchlyvie a working group was formed to consider the proposals and make recommendations: speed cameras, 40mph barrier zones, rumble strips, traffic islands in west and east
2012 onwards The Nib at the top of Station Road is a long standing issue raised regularly with the Roads Dept by BCC. It is a real problem for residents who turn left from Station Road onto the Main Street. In 2016 the Roads Department accepted it should be reduced and suggested that, if there is to be a crossing, their preference is for it to be here. In the past members of BCC have not been in favour of this location for a crossing.
2017/2018 In 2017 concerns, driven largely by the absence of a lollypop person (now appointed), were expressed on Buchlyvie Banter about the absence of a pedestrian crossing and brought to a Community Council meeting by a local resident. A working group was formed and an FOI was submitted to Police Scotland – unfortunately, very little was learned about the behaviour of drivers on the road from the report. Work was then put to one side, due to a lack of capacity, as members were involved in other community projects.
2018 Decision to conduct a survey The issue was picked up again in the summer of 2018 and a small group of BCC members and others met to put together a survey on attitudes towards a pedestrian crossing on the Main Street. If the evidence supported the idea, it was agreed that the new BCC (formed in December 2018) could approach the Roads Department and ask them to carry out a feasibility study.
(Originally prepared for Buchlyvie Community Council meeting in October 2017, updated in February 2019)
Appendix B Survey Questionnaire Pedestrians and traffic in Buchlyvie Buchlyvie Community Council October 2018 (and February 2019)
We are looking into pedestrians and traffic in Buchlyvie and would like your thoughts on this matter. We have considered a number of times in the past whether there should be a pedestrian road crossing in the village. These proposals did not receive significant support, partly because no one could agree on the type of crossing and where it should be.
1. What are your thoughts on pedestrians and traffic in the village? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Should the village have some form of pedestrian crossing on the Main Road (A811)? (please tick one) Yes …………… No …………… Undecided …………. If you wish to tell us more about you, please do so below Gender ………… Age under 16 ………, 16-24………, 25-39………, 40-64………, 65+……… Number of adults in your household ………. Number of children (under 16) in your household……….
We will call back to collect the survey but you can also email it to us at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with your name and address.
By completing the survey you agree to Buchlyvie Community Council using your responses in a summary report.