A number of residents have contacted the Residents Association to say that they were concerned about safety at places like school bus boarding points along either The Common in Earlswood or Broad Lane in Tanworth.
For the benefit of newcomers there were major campaigns in recent years to reduce the speed limit on both roads to 30 and 40mph respectively.
These new limits were only achieved because of extraordinary pressure being put on the County Council Highways authority (WCC) to assign the relevant funds. We were originally told that they would not be possible because of lack of funding or there were not sufficient deaths on the road to justify such measures!
Eventually, “the powers-that-be” relented thanks in no small part to the efforts of our then County Councillor Mike Perry. Times and personnel may have changed but the reasons for the bureaucrats to do nothing have not.
I went through a number of possible options to reduce speed with someone in the Warwickshire County Council Road Safety Group recently. All have cost implications and the major problem on Broad Lane is that 40 mph down to 20 is a very sudden jump.
- Current County Councillor John Horner’s suggestion of a part-time Lolly pop person – volunteers would be needed and training, kit etc. 40mph may be a problem
- Flashing 20 “when lights flash” signs – problem in a 40mph area
- Physical choke/chicane with “give way” in one direction to slow traffic
- “Residents Priority” temporary signs – used in Shirley but a B road may be a problem
- Pelican Crossing – very expensive and not really justified?
- Park up a fake white van with a black rectangle on back on hard shoulder morning and afternoon to deter speeders.
All of the above have arguments against – not least the cost. Also, WCC and local residents have long standing reservations about road humps or bumps.
After a lot of consideration my preferred option is a physical build-out of some kind.
At some carefully chosen sites this would slow down traffic – at all times of the day – and help traffic trying to get out side roads like Rushbrook and Arden Leys or Springbrook Lane. It could also be employed on both Earlswood Common and Broad Lane . The cost would be £5k to £6k each. The speed on Broad Lane would probably need to come down to 30mph.
I have attached below a photo of a similar arrangement at Bishop’s Itchington in the south of the County. In other words, WCC is already operating such schemes.
It must be stressed that it is hard to avoid the conclusion that some in the County is most reluctant to employ such a measure in case it is effective – everyone might want one.
I would appreciate the thoughts of concerned residents as soon as possible to me about both the principle and possible locations – copied to Councillor John Horner. Please consult neighbours to see if they want to support such measures.
If the idea was a success such physical traffic-calming might be applied elsewhere in the parish.
(Source: Tom Ross)