Wilmslow Town Council has received confirmation that the temporary 30mph speed limit on Altrincham Road could become permanent.
The speed limit on a stretch of the A538 was reduced temporarily from 40mph to 30mph in October 2012, for safety reasons whilst a new site access was constructed for the Waters Corporation's headquarters and the road realigned in the area.
However, following requests from local residents, Wilmslow Town Council wrote to Cheshire East Council earlier this year requesting that the temporary 30 zone be made permanent.
Cllr David Topping, Portfolio Holder for Environment responded "Recently a road safety audit was carried out of the alterations to the highway in this location. This indicated that a speed reduction to 30mph would be beneficial in this area. Work to implement this permanent speed limit will commence in the near future and will be subject to statutory procedures regarding consultation and also the Council's formal decision making procedures."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
May regular police radar?
It has however had the opposite effect to what was wanted by whoever did it, incoming traffic used to slow down as it passed the pub and common and was doing 30 by Gorsey Bank School now traffic doesn't observe the 30 limit because it starts too far out.
Also the roundabout at Waters is fundamentally flawed as I mentioned some weeks ago the camber is all wrong.Outbound it throws the vehicles towards the island. In slippery conditions
I thought someone will hit the island , and guess what ! They have, and hard too, one kerb stone
is smashed and others moved .it takes some energy to do that.
Cheshire east should get that junction designed properly , oh and where has that listed
Building gone (Stamford Lodge)
Cheshire East are a disgrace , they are not looking after our environment !!!
The level of development is not sufficient for a 30mph limit - it is contrary to government rules on local speed limit setting. Limits imposed should self enforcing. And the main thing that affects whether a limit is self enforcing is what the road looks like - and it looks far too rural. The government rules are also clear that the start of a 30mph limit is also meant to coincide with where the main built up area begins so that drivers get the message reinforced that it's 30 and a built up area.
Have Cheshire East done a traffic speeds survey on the route (in free flowing conditions)? Have the police been consulted?
Diane. I've not seem it as I've been in the USA since 25th March. But I assume this is to enforce the current and temporary 30mph zone due to works at the Waters SIte. This was raised by residents at the last few Wilmslow Town Council Meetings as the signage that was in place was not enforceable.
http://bit.ly/YNvxoU
There's no mention anywhere in the text that a 30mph limit is allowable for a rural stretch of road.
There's a guidance note on what the definition of minimum levels of development are for a village here too: http://bit.ly/1278uFf
Some relevant snippits from this text:
"speed limits should, therefore, be evidence-led and self-explaining, and seek to reinforce people's assessment of what is a safe speed to travel and encourage self-compliance"
"or if it [the speed limit] is set unrealistically low for the particular road function and
condition, it may be ineffective and drivers may not comply with the speed limit"
"Before introducing or changing a local speed limit, traffic authorities will wish to satisfy themselves that the expected benefits exceed the costs."
"Speed limits should not be used to attempt to solve the problem of isolated hazards, for example a single road junction or reduced forward visibility such as at a bend"
"Roads suitable for a 40 mph limit are ... or those on the outskirts of urban areas where there is little development"
There is also a speed limit assessment tool for councils to use (which requires a traffic speeds survey etc.)
I have flagged this up with a local Councillor.