Petition - Village Petition – B3051 Kingsclere

Thank you for your letter dated 16th July 2019, enclosed petition and previous correspondence.

In respect of the footway overrunning, I can confirm that a number of bollards have been ordered. Installation will be arranged in due course by the local highway depot.

The road markings at the junction of Swan Street with George Street and Newbury Road were refreshed in December last year. The local highways team will inspect the markings at the traffic calming measures to assess whether these markings now require refreshing. Wholesale resurfacing is unlikely to be a highways maintenance priority given the relative condition of many other sites, but some patching work may be included in this and future years’ programmes.

The drainage gullies on Swan Street gullies are cleaned once every three years and are next due in 2020. Since the last routine cleanse, orders have been placed to clean individual gullies in this area and the local highways team will inspect this location to identify if further cleansing is required. I understand that some gully and outlet pipe clearance has also been carried out.

In most cases trees and hedges are the responsibility of the adjoining landowner to maintain. Sites where there are particular issues can be reported via our web site https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/roadproblems/treehedge. Our highway inspectors will investigate and take enforcement action where appropriate.

The use of road markings and traffic signs/signals is tightly regulated by the Department for Transport. Only give way markings are authorised for use at traffic calming features. Stop signing is reserved for junctions where visibility is severely restricted or where there is an identified casualty problem. Traffic signals would also not be appropriate.

A double white line system to prohibit overtaking is only authorised on roads where it is unclear that the visibility is restricted, and the carriageway width is wider to reduce the risks associated with larger vehicles travelling close to the road edge, as well as ensuring larger vehicles have sufficient space within carriageway lanes; a ban on overtaking is only suitable where the road alignment for drivers reduces forward visibility but is unclear to drivers, causing them to take risks in overtaking. This traffic management measure is not suitable for routes where the road alignment incorporates bends but is clear, or where forward visibility is good.

Flashing warning lights for horses, similar to a cattle crossing, have been considered. The lights are only authorised for use at cattle crossings. The Department for Transport were asked to consider an authorisation for Kingsclere but I’m afraid have not approved the request.

It is the County Council’s policy to prioritise speed limit changes where there is a related road casualty history and where drivers would be anticipated to comply with an amended speed limit without further measures or regular police enforcement. The road casualty history for Winchester Road and Whites Hill is being reviewed and traffic surveys have been arranged for September. The Parish Council will be advised further on completion.

In June 2018 a Decision Day report was published highlighting the outcomes from a comprehensive review of fourteen 20 mph “signed only” speed limit pilot schemes across Hampshire, which comprised of a mix of urban, residential and rural village centre areas in the County. The comparison of before-and-after vehicle speed data recorded for the pilot schemes demonstrated that reducing the speed limits in these areas had very little impact on driver behaviour. Speed reductions were found to be very marginal and, in some instances, speeds were shown to have increased slightly. The outcome of the report was twofold as follows:

• No further schemes would be implemented, but the existing schemes would be retained
• Consideration will be given to introducing 20mph speed limits in locations where injury accidents that are attributable to speed are identified, with such proposals assessed in accordance with the current casualty reduction led policy and DfT guidance on setting speed limits.

Enforcement of traffic regulation, such as speed limits, is the responsibility of the Police, and concerns can be reported directly to them to consider the appropriate level of enforcement.

The Parish Council may purchase and temporarily deploy a vehicle activated Speed Indicator Device (SID) or Speed Limit Reminder (SLR) under a licence agreement with the County Council. This would enable the Parish Council to place a SID or SLR device for 2-3 week periods at a number of agreed sites. For further information, please e-mail at [email protected]

Village gateways can be considered on a community funded basis. This is an initiative where Parish Councils may fund straightforward measures on the basis that they fund the cost of the work, the delivery fees and contribute towards ongoing maintenance. Again, for further information, please e-mail the Traffic and Safety Team using the above address.

The need for residents and businesses to receive deliveries limits the options for physical measures to prevent unloading in Lower Swan Street. Individual stores may be able to work with suppliers to use smaller vehicles, but this will clearly depend on the hauliers delivering to them and others.

The routing of Heavy Goods Vehicles around Kingsclere has been considered previously and advisory signing has been placed to discourage this traffic where it is possible to do so. I’m afraid the absence of a suitable alternative route from the south means that a weight restriction is not viable and will not be effective.

I trust this information is helpful.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Rob Humby
Deputy Leader
Executive Member for Environment and Transport