Parish council to tackle speeding

SPEEDING issues will be addressed by Melksham Without Parish Council, following complaints from residents and the results of a police speed watch exercise, which caught a number of drivers exceeding the speed limits.

At a Melksham Without Parish Council meeting held last month, the results of a police speed enforcement exercise which took place in Shaw and Whitley in December were shared; 88 drivers were caught for speeding, with 55 offered a speed awareness course.

The parish council resolved to write to the police to ask for the force to do more of these enforcement exercises in other areas of the parish.

Concern was also raised by a resident of Bowerhill, who had complained about speeding drivers on Pathfinder Way.

Cllr David Pafford said that Pathfinder Way is an ideal location for enforcement and having a traffic survey undertaken to ascertain the level of speed, in order to support further action.

Members noted when commenting on the original planning application for Pathfinder Place they had stated a ‘No Right Turn’ signage should be erected, given the flow of traffic coming off Bowerhill roundabout; and this was contributing to the issues of speeding on this stretch of road.

They said that drivers would be better to turn left, go round the roundabout and come back down Pathfinder Way. Cllr John Glover said that a ‘no right turn’ sign should also be requested on the exits of the next phase of Pathfinder Place being built on the other side of the road, including the new access for the proposed Pathfinder primary school.

MP Michelle Donelan had also made a request, asking for a 30mph speed limit through Beanacre and the installation of traffic calming measures between Beanacre and Melksham.

Cllr Baines noted the majority of the A350 through Beanacre was already subject to a 30mph speed limit and therefore concluded a reduction in the 40mph speed limit was being requested between Beanacre Church and Nortree Garage, which was currently subject to a 40mph speed limit.

Cllr Baines highlighted this was a similar request to the one in Shaw, whereby residents were seeking a reduction in the speed limit between Shaw and Melksham to 30mph which would result in a very long 30mph speed limit which was detrimental to the observance of speed limits generally, as drivers do not perceive there to be a reason for it and therefore, they will not adhere to the speed limit and the undeveloped section between Beanacre and Melksham is just such a stretch of road.

As regards traffic calming measures, Cllr Baines noted there were already traffic islands in Beanacre, which were intended as traffic calming measures and felt any further traffic calming measures would not be permitted on an ‘A’ class road.

The council resolved not to support a reduction in the speed limit, saying it was ‘unnecessary’ and ‘undesirable.’