Data received from a Speed Indicator Device (SID) has shown that 83% of motorists were breaking the speed limit on Morley Green Road, whilst more than 25% of motorists were driving at a speed which would warrant prosecution on key roads in the town.
Wilmslow Town Council purchased the SID earlier this year and have been working with Wilmslow Police in effort to cut speeding.
The portable sign has been sited on a major road in the town for approximately two weeks at a time before being moved to the next main road - to detect and record the speed of approaching vehicles.
The focus was on Altrincham Road, Adlington Road, Styal Road, Handforth Road and Morley Green Road.
With the exception of Adlington Road, which is the only stretch of road surveyed that has a speed limit over 30mph, the data showed that the majority of motorists were driving in excess of the speed limit.
Also with the exception of Adlington Road, where the average speed was below the 40mph speed limit, more than 25% of motorists were travelling at a speed that would warrant prosecution.
The average speeds recorded were: 39.7mph on Adlington Road, 30.7mph on Altrincham Road, 32.9mph on Handforth Road, 35.8mph on Morley Green Road and 32.3mph on Styal Road.
Whilst some of the top speeds recorded give reason for concern, the data is unable to distinguish between speeding motorists and legitimate emergency vehicles.
A spokesperson for Wilmslow Town Council said "The Town Council will be revisiting sites over the coming months, working in partnership with Cheshire Police.
"Whilst the system is currently not recording number plates the data is being provided to Cheshire Police traffic division to highlight the issues."
Wilmslow Police also have the facility to provide speed guns to volunteer residents groups wishing to take more direct action to provide the police with useful data and remind people of their speed. If you are interested in setting up a speed watch group contact Sgt Andrew Miller on 01606 362712.
Photo: (l-r) Cllr Ellie Brooks, Cllr Ruth McNulty, PCSO Emma Littlewood, Town Clerk Matthew Jackson and Cllr Jo Milnes.
Comments
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I think the problem is that apart from a short section, it doesn't really look like a "built-up area" which a 30mph limit would normally apply - in fact most of it looks positively rural. National speed limit guidance says that what a road looks like is one of the more important things in how fast drivers actually go.
National guidance also suggests a road should have at least 3 dwellings per 100m along its length, particularly at the start and end of the limit. Morley Green Road has this in the middle, but not at the start and end.
One possible option is to extend the 40 from Mobberley Road to the point where houses are on both sides on Morley Green Road, and add a proper gateway treatment. You might find, counter-intuitively, that moving the 30 back, might result in lower speeds in the centre past all of the houses - because drivers can clearly see that the 30 coincides with where the houses are.