Agenda item

Traffic Speed - High Hazels Road, Treeton

Minutes:

Representatives of Treeton Parish Council outlined the reasons for the request of this Parish Liaison meeting and expressed their concerns about traffic speeds on High Hazels Road at Treeton.

 

The Parish Council had seen a dramatic increase in traffic movements through the village over the past few years caused by commuters from outlaying areas like Aston, Aughton, Thurcroft, Dinnington and Wickersley, which resulted in the B6067 being traffic calmed prior to High Hazels Road being opened.

 

Reference was made to a speed survey that was undertaken between 21st May, 2009 and 2nd June, 2009, which identified the critical times as being between 8.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

 

15,243 traffic movements were reported during this period, of which 9,197 were travelling at more than 31 mph with 3,698  travelling at more than 36 mph.  Some traffic speeds of between 71-80 mph were also recorded.

 

High Hazels Road was a predominantly long stretch of wide carriageway with little control or restriction.  A speed camera had been suggested, but  consideration of this request would have to wait until the South Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership had finalised their revised Community Concern Site Protocol.

 

The Parish Council expressed further concern that not all this stretch of road was adopted and that the intention was for it to be adopted in the next few weeks.  However, it was noted that in the absence of any reported incidents/accidents any action by the Council would be  difficult to justify given current criteria for funding road safety schemes.  An unofficial survey undertaken in 2008 revealed 936 vehicle movements between 7.30 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. in a morning.

 

 The Parish Council also contacted the Deputy Chief Constable regarding their concerns over road safety and traffic speeds.

 

To add to the problem traffic was also parking immediately adjacent the roundabout at the junction of Wood Lane and High Hazels Road and causing some disruption with motorists having to move out to get round.

 

Representatives from the Transportation Unit acknowledged the Parish Council’s concerns, but were willing to investigate what had been reported.   However, the criteria set down for traffic calming measures is based on the accident records reported by the Police and any scheme requested would be subject to priority and available resources.  It was pointed out that a lengthy waiting list of traffic calming measure requests was in existence and funds had been allocated for this financial year.

 

Andy Strelczenie from the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service reported on concerns on Wood Lane, Treeton and referred to accidents attended to by the Fire and Rescue Service from 10th September to present.  He confirmed that there had been five road traffic collisions, two relatively serious and one involving broken limbs.  From the eleven motorists involved in these five incidents, four were children and one involved a bus.

 

From the information provided the timings of the calls related to peak periods, namely:-

 

1.            3.27 p.m.

2.            8.26 a.m.

3.            8.20 a.m.

4.            3.21 p.m.

5.            3.44 p.m.

 

To assist in the reporting and recording of incidents on this stretch of road contact had been made with other Local Authorities to ascertain how they dealt with such issues.  A copy of a form produced by North Yorkshire County Council was passed to representatives of the Parish Council to see if this was of some assistance.

 

Agreed:-  That representatives from the Transportation Unit investigate the Parish Council concerns and report their findings back to the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation in January, 2010.