Parish Council Response

Timsbury Road Safety: Traffic Count in North Road

There cannot be many Timsbury residents who do not have concern about traffic conditions in North Road, particularly between Chapel Walk and the shops.

As part of the latest attempt to find a way to make the area safer for pedestrians Bath and N.E. Somerset technical staff conducted an automated traffic count in North Road continuously for 5 days (Monday to Friday), starting on 13th September. The equipment was placed “East of Chapel Walk”. The main points to emerge are as follows.

Total Traffic

Over the 5 day period 4618 vehicles were recorded, the majority between 6 a.m. and 7.p.m. The peak densities were 7 to 9 a.m. (724 vehicles over 5 days) and 3 to 7 p.m. (1303 vehicles over 5 days).

Speed

The average speed was reported for hourly time segments. The overall average was between 19 and 20 m.p.h.: no hourly average was higher than 28 m.p.h. Over the 5 day period a total of 29 vehicles exceeded 30 m.p.h. at the recording site; none was recorded faster than 40 m.p.h.

Large vehicles

A breakdown is given according to the vehicle length. For the 5 days, this records 19 very large vehicles (over 12 metres in length) passing through, of which 18 were going eastward (towards Bath). In the 5.7 to 11.5 metre length range (most other lorries and buses, presumably) there were 206, of which 157 were going eastward.

The statistics on which this summary is based, may be obtained from the Parish Clerk.

“Timsbury Road Safety Meeting Report” – Clarification of the note by Amanda Cranston

It might help to clarify some points from the note from Amanda, entitled “Timsbury Road Safety Meeting Report”, placed on the village website on 8th October

Please note that the meeting mentioned on the 4th October was called by Bath & N.E.S. officials. As it was an informal meeting, minutes were not taken, but an oral report was made to the Parish Council meeting that evening.

Amanda points out that the average speed recorded over the period of the survey was just below 20 m.p.h. This does not strengthen the case for a 20 m.p.h. limit favoured by 80% of the respondents to the Village Plan survey.

In several places, Amanda says that “the Council” is ignoring road safety concerns in the village. It should be emphasised that she is referring, not to the Parish Council, but to the District Council (B.& N.E.S.),whose response – see “Timsbury Road Safety, Letter from BANES” also on the village website – should be consulted.

Residents of Timsbury with particular concerns about these matters should contact the Parish Council through the Chairman or Clerk (derekhillyard@btinternet.com )  or individual elected members listed on the notice board on the wall of the Old Post Office in the High Street. Any further developments will be reported at Parish Council meetings and in the Timsbury Letter.

Mrs. A.V. Packham

Chairman of Timsbury Parish Council

13.10.10


Page published on: 31st October, 2010
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