COUNTY COUNCIL LOCAL COMMITTEE FOR ALLERDALE Paper No. Meeting date: 6 March 2007
From: CUMBRIA HIGHWAYS 13(2)
A596 CROSBY VILLA – PROPOSED 40MPH SPEED LIMIT
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 This Report informs the Members of the responses to consultation over proposals for the introduction of a 40 mph speed limit on A596 at Crosby Villa, and recommends advertising the Speed Limit Order with changes based on the responses.
2.0 POLICY POSITION, BUDGETARY AND EQUALITY IMPLICATIONS, AND LINKS TO CORPORATE STRATEGY
2.1 This is in line with the County Council’s Policies for Engineering Safety and Danger Reduction Schemes and its targets for accident reduction.
2.2 Funding is proposed from the De-Trunked Highways Budget.
3.0 RECOMMENDATION
3.1 That the Local Committee notes the responses received to consultation over the proposals to introduce a 40mph speed limit on A596 at Crosby Villa.
3.2 That the Committee agrees to advertise a formal Order to introduce a 40 mph speed limit at Crosby Villa including changes to the extent of the limit following consultation with the public.
4.0 BACKGROUND
4.1 The Committee has agreed to the addition to the programme of a 40mph speed limit on A596 at Crosby Villa, including on the side-road (from Bullgill) at its junction with A596.
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4.2 Cumbria Highways consulted on this proposal on 1 February, with responses required by 2 March. (Map at Appendix A)
4.3 The intention was to advertise the Speed Limit Order in parallel with the end of the consultation period, to speed up implementation, as the proposal was not expected to be contentious.
4.4 However there were a number of early responses seeking the extension of the speed limit southwestwards on A596 to include the crest of a hill. The view expressed was that the crest followed a long, fast, northbound straight from Crosby, and that there was not sufficient distance for vehicles to slow down before the village, if the speed limit was at the proposed position. One respondent suggested that in the last 3 years 37 vehicles had crashed between the crest and the bend near the start of the houses. This is not borne out by the personal injury accident record, which shows only 1 accident in 5 years before the houses (but close to them), although it is recognised that there will always be damage-only accidents (which do not have to be reported to the police) in addition to personal injury accidents (which do have to be reported). However there is little evidence of damage to boundary hedges. Nevertheless it was decided not to advertise the Order until the consultation responses had been reported to Committee.
4.5 More recently a response has been received from the Police, also requesting a southwest extension of the speed limit.
4.6 A summary of the responses received is at Appendix B.
4.7 Despite the lack of formally reported accidents southwest of the village, it is now recommended that the proposed start of the speed limit is moved southwest to include the crest of the hill, taking account of responses to the consultation. (Map at Appendix C)
5.0 OPTIONS
5.1 The Committee may decide to proceed with the original proposals, or could opt to abandon the proposal altogether.
6.0 CONCLUSION
6.1 A number of local residents, and the Police, have requested that the proposed speed limit should start further southwest on A596 before the crest of the hill.
6.2 It is recommended that the Speed Limit Order is advertised including the above change.
Ed Noble Capita Symonds 21 February 2007
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APPENDICES
A Map showing consultation proposals B Summary of consultation responses (to follow) C Map showing recommended proposals
IMPLICATIONS
Staffing: None Financial: Funding available from De-trunked Roads Budget Electoral Division(s): Dearham and Broughton * Please remove whichever option is not applicable
Executive Decision Yes*
Key Decision No*
If a Key Decision, is the proposal published in the current Forward Plan? N/A*
Is the decision exempt from call-in on grounds of urgency? No*
If exempt from call-in, has the agreement of the Chair of the relevant N/A* Overview and Scrutiny Committee been sought or obtained?
Has this matter been considered by Overview and Scrutiny? No* If so, give details below.
N.B. If an executive decision is made, then a decision cannot be implemented until the expiry of the eighth working day after the date of the meeting – unless the decision is urgent and exempt from call-in and the Head of Member Services has obtained the necessary approvals.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT COUNCIL OR EXECUTIVE DECISIONS [including Local Committees]
Allerdale Local Committee 31 October 2006 Minute 96
CONSIDERATION BY OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY
Not considered by Overview and Scrutiny.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
No background papers.
Contact: Ed Noble 01900 811170 [email protected]
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