Speed Reduction Consultation Paper

Introduction

Speed of traffic through the village of Shipham is probably the most raised issue for Parish residents. The problem is made more dangerous because 90% of the village’s houses are on one side of the main road and Shipham First School and most of the other village services e.g. Hansfords, the Shipham Inn and the Village Hall, are located on the other side, with no designated crossing. The problem has escalated in recent years with the rapid growth of Cheddar creating more through traffic. 

In response, the Parish Council (PC) has, for the past six months, been working on plans to introduce a 20mph limit along a short stretch of the main road through the village. A working group has formed with members from a cross section of residents all with different interests on the subject and created a proposal to inform a village-wide consultation

Background

The PC has discussed the introduction of a 20mph speed limit directly with Somerset Highways and had an on-site meeting. Shipham, like all Parishes, is governed and limited by their regulations and policies. 

To introduce a 20mph speed limit effectively, the average speed of vehicles on the road should be at or below 24mph. This ensures that the new speed limit is achievable and aligns with driver behaviour. Lowering speeds from 24mph to 20mph is more likely to result in drivers consistently adhering to the new limit. If the current average speed is above 24mph, the Police, who must approve the change, will not give their support and it cannot be introduced. 

Using telemetric data, with speeds measured between red strips on the road near the junction with Broadway and at the bottom of Cuck Hill, Somerset Highways have found that the average speed through the heart of the village is in fact 24mph, therefore we do qualify for the introduction of a 20mph limit, and the police have said that they would enforce a reduced limit. 

The map below shows the proposed area to be covered by the 20mph speed limit. It includes the affected stretch of the main road and the residential roads that lead off it. At this stage it is for guidance purposes only as the exact parameters are subject to a Traffic Order. 

Areas of note:

1)    Cuck Hill

Residents from the East side of the village have expressed concerns regarding dangers associated with speeding on Cuck Hill, with particular areas of risk being the junction with Templars Way, the point where the footpath crosses the road, and at driveways directly fronting the main road. We have specifically asked whether the speed limit can be extended to include Cuck Hill but have unfortunately been told by Somerset Highways that due to the existing high average speed this will not be possible. 

2)    Beech Road:

The same applies to the stretch of New Road extending out past Beech Road in the Westerly direction. The current average speed here is, ironically, too high to qualify for a 20mph limit. We have, however, managed to persuade them to extend the boundary of the limit beyond the red strip just before the junction with Broadway, to cover the pedestrian crossing to the Village Hall. 

3)    New Road beyond Village Hall to A38

The Parish Council is also considering as part of these proposals to reduce the speed on New Road Westwards to the A38 to 40mph from the current 60mph limit.

Consultation with local businesses and organisations 

As part of the consultation process local businesses have written letters responding to the proposal. Their responses can be read by clicking the links below:

• Hansfords Butchers

• Shipham First School

• Studley's Garage

• Volvo Garage   

• The Shipham Inn

• The Village Hall

• SpeedWatch

• School children

Speed indicator devices (SID)

With financial help from local businesses, the PC will be purchasing a portable SID. This flashes the oncoming motorists' speed when traveling above the speed limit as a prompt and reminder to slow down and also records speed data we can use. We have applied to Somerset Highways to get approval for a number of different sites along the main road through the village, as the device needs to be moved regularly to stay effective.

Community Speedwatch (CSW)

You will hopefully have noticed your active CSW volunteers in the village in various locations. They primarily act as a community-led initiative to monitor and report speeding vehicles to the police.

Although CSW volunteers do not have the power to issue fines or prosecute drivers, they send data from each session to the police, who then send letters to people registered as exceeding the speed limit. In cases of repeat offenders, police can visit them at their home, or pursue prosecution. Because the police have agreed to recognise the 20mph limit through Shipham, the CSW group will be able to enforce this new lower limit. 

Compliance

We know there are concerns about whether reducing the speed limit will result in drivers adhering, especially with limited police enforcement. The SID and CSW volunteers will help encourage compliance and the police will attend occasionally with mobile speed cameras. Evidence from other schemes where 20mph limits have been introduced in places such as Wales, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset etc. demonstrates that average speeds are consistently reduced by a few mph and roads have become safer.

Hard infrastructure

Residents and businesses along the main road have raised the possibility of hard infrastructure (such as build outs or speed bumps) as an approach to slowing traffic and deterring cars racing through the village. In the context of Shipham, Somerset County Council requires a 20mph speed limit be in place before any other hard infrastructure is introduced. If a 20mph limit is agreed to by the Parish, it will be possible to investigate the feasibility of any other options. Current complications that make such interventions difficult are: costs in the region of £60-110k, lack of street lighting in the village and limited lines of sight along the main road. Reducing the speed limit to 20mph, as a first step to tackle the problem of speeding, may remove some of the barriers to implementation of hard infrastructure in the future, if data from the SID support an ongoing need for further intervention.

Useful information 

We have set out an Appendix of useful key information to help you decide whether you support or oppose the proposals.

The survey

To inform the way forward, it is important that as many parishioners as possible participate in the consultation. Parishioners will have another opportunity to comment on the proposals when Somerset Highways undertake their consultation later this year should the decision be taken to proceed.

PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE READ ALL THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION BEFORE YOU RESPOND TO THE SURVEY. 

Click here to visit the survey and have your say.

The deadline for participation is the end of September.  

The Parish Council will run an information event at the Village Hall during the Shipham Village Show on 13thSeptember. If you have any questions or comments about the proposals you can come and discuss these with members of the Parish Council at this time.

Should you have any queries about the survey or require help completing it then please contact the Clerk at shiphamparishclerk@yahoo.co.uk or call on 01934 844612. The same email address applies to any queries about the speed proposals.

The Results

Once the responses to the consultation are collated a decision will be made on whether to proceed and the results will be fed back to the residents.

Appendix 

Key advantages 

• Increased safety:

Lower speeds significantly reduce the risk of accidents and the severity of injuries in collisions. For example, a pedestrian hit by a car traveling at 20mph has a much higher chance of survival than if hit at 30mph. 

• Encouraging active travel:

20mph limits make streets safer and more pleasant for walking and cycling, promoting healthier lifestyles. 

• Improved air quality and reduced noise:

Lower speeds can lead to reduced vehicle emissions and noise pollution. 

• Stronger communities:

Calmer streets can foster a greater sense of community as people feel more comfortable walking and interacting with their neighbours. 

• Economic benefits:

Reduced collisions lead to fewer healthcare costs and less damage to property.  

Disadvantages:

• Increased journey times:

Slower speeds can lead to longer travel times, particularly on busier roads or were there are many junctions. However, since the 20mph proposal covers relatively short lengths of roads, the impact on journey times will be minimal.

• Enforcement challenges:

Ensuring compliance with 20mph limits can be challenging, particularly in areas where drivers are used to higher speeds. Enforcement can be resource-intensive, and some drivers may not adhere to the lower speed limit, leading to frustration.

• Driver frustration:

Some drivers may find the lower speed limit frustrating, particularly on longer journeys or when roads are relatively clear. This frustration can lead to disregard for the speed limit. 

• Potential for congestion:

In some cases, lower speeds could lead to increased congestion, particularly on major roads or during peak hours. However, Transport for London research has found no evidence that 20mph limits increase congestion. 

Examples of 20mph implementation:

• Scotland: The Scottish government has committed to introducing 20mph as the urban/village norm, with many local authorities already adopting it. 

• Wales: Wales has introduced a default 20mph speed limit in built-up areas. 

• London: Many London boroughs, along with Transport for London, have implemented 20mph limits on various roads. 

• Bristol, Edinburgh, Portsmouth, and Oxford: These cities have introduced city-wide 20mph limits on many roads. 

• Bath and North East Somerset: Throughout the county many rural villages are introducing 20mph limits.