SPEED WATCH

A small group of volunteers, occasionally supported by the police, have been activelySpeedwatch 4.jpg (25148 bytes) involved in a Community Speed Watch scheme on behalf of the local community. Speed measuring devices, some of which have been purchased and some of which are on loan from the South Somerset group of Community Speed Watchers, are used to monitor and record vehicles being driven through the parish at speeds in excess of 30mph. In addition, a digital speed display board is often  deployed to indicate to approaching motorists the actual speed at which they are travelling. Having received details of speeding vehicles from us, the police send out warning letters to the registered owners and, if necessary, take follow-up action to deal with persistent offenders. The team is now assisted by a police officer, whose job it is to support all the teams in the area, and he recently issued three on-the-spot fixed penalty notices and warned several other drivers at the side of the road. The Speed Watch message is simple – “Curb your speed through our parish because it is dangerous to exceed the 30mph limit and it may cost you dearly to ignore it"  

If you would like more information regarding Speedwatch or would like to join the Speedwatch team contact:

Steve Yarrow at swsyarrow@btinternet.com

 

                                                               ROAD SAFETY FORUM

Village Hall Thursday 30th July 2009 at 7.30pm

Present : Gerry Sayers in the Chair, Steve Yarrow, Sgt.Giles Bazley (Road Safety Unit),
P.C.Andy Stuart, P.C.S.D.Ben Samways, Stuart Hunter (Speed Watch Co-ordinator) Graham Coombs (Chard speed watch) Ros Roderigo (District Councillor) 30 Members of the Public

Apologies – Margaret and Colin Bray

Gerry Sayers welcomed everyone to the meeting. The speed watch system has been operating for sometime in this Parish. Various points were brought up during this meeting and are listed below.

Steve Yarrow – This Forum has been set up as Insp.Pritchard attended a recent speed watch meeting and was appalled at the speed and standard of driving

‘Do we have a speed and safety problem in the Community?’ – The following areas were bought up as concerns by those present
Combe Hill Speeds though to be 40-45 and 60mph at night.
Frog Lane – particularly in Football season
Stoopers Hill – entry into village speeding down the hill (and up)
Junction of Fairclose. – cars parked on road stop visibility
Children going to school, etc. S.C.C.say it is `safe for children to walk to school`
To and from C.M.E.Ltd., a.m. and p.m. (5 – 5.15pm) walkers get wet from spray from puddles
Combe Wood – petition some years ago to move 30mph signs further up towards A.30 but as no street lights not given. Vehicles parked on verges near bend, so drivers have nowhere to go to avoid collision. Many walkers and horse riders use this Lane.
Chard main - walkers using this length concern that 75% of drivers appear to have over speed
Limit
Stantway – stables at top of road, near Pretty Oak main . Sign at top – Unsuitable for heavy lorries, but no sign t bottom Heavy lorries go up the lane, Better signs needed
Cat-tail
Shops. P..O. etc rely on passing trade – stopping traffic could have impact on their trade.
Wadeford Bends – Resident has list of known accidents – 1 happened today
Irresponsible parking causes problems


Suggestions - Comments
Speed traps would put drivers off
Traffic calming plateau – maybe expensive but do slow drivers down.
Traffic calming measures on Combe Hill – drivers will use another route (Underway) causing another problem.
Would ambulances have problem with a traffic calming plateau
SCC could issue 20mph speed limits to all villages ?
Illuminated speed indicator needed permanently on Wadeford bends. Cost? Would help pedestrian safety.
If illuminated sign there all the time it may just get ignored after time.
Lanes are difficult to enforce
Sign at either end of village/main road `Speed bumps for …. Yards` may deter drivers
An offer was made to take a letter up to the Football Club to be put on their Notice Board
If the Club gives P.C.S.O.Ben Samways a list of fixture dates he will attend when possible,

Between Combe and Chardleigh Green there are 36 signs, 30 yellow bar lines on the road, and ‘ …… x ‘Slow’ painted on the road. No excuse for speeding.



Road Policing Unit – Sgt.Giles Bazley has a number of P.Cs under his control, supporting the community Speed Watch Signage nothing to do with Police. Speed Enforcement, Education, and Engineering Speed is a problem in many places, not just Combe Parish

Graham Coombs – Wadeford has the highest % of speeding drivers recorded in immediate area.

School Lollipop Lady started March 2009. Sees drivers on mobile phones and drivers going much faster than 20 mph limit near school.

Speed Watch – Why do they stand at a particular spot – they have to be visible to drivers for a minimum of 60 yards Police carry out a risk assessment before a point is set up Can only operate in a 30/40 mph area. 20mph speed areas should be self-enforcing !! Can have some other traffic calming measure as well. If drivers is over the speed limit a letter is sent out by the Police – up to 3 times. If Police are present with the speed watch volunteers, enforcement can be carried out immediately – by fine, etc.
If everyone drove within the speed limit there would be no need for Speed Watch.
Suggested Scheme – sign up to the Promise – ‘I promise I will drive no higher than 30 mph through the Speed limit Zones in the Parish’

Haley Lynch will take letters into school for parents and Insert or have a `wrap-around` Cloverleaf magazine Why Speed Watch stand where they do, etc. How many have been caught, fined, etc.
Since January 35 drivers dealt with by the Police, 581 speeding t.

The Parish Council hope to arrange a Drivers Awareness Evening, when people can test their driving skills and see how good they really are.

What can local authorities do about the problems –
Police – Sgt.Bazley will provide as many risk assessments as wanted, re suitable sites, etc.
More speed watch volunteers needed, especially in Combe
S.C.C. – copy of report to be sent to Sonya Davidson-Grant Director for Environment and Community and Colin Fletcher, Traffic Engineer.


At the end of the meeting 10 people volunteered to join the Speed Watch team A training session has been arranged with them for Sun.25th Oct.