In the 27 years we have lived in Holme Court Avenue, every few years someone writes letters to the Chronicle or gets up a petition asking for measures to reduce the speed of the traffic.
We had hoped that as part of the national initiative "Safer Routes to Schools" in 2000 something would be done, but apparently the size of the 20mph zone was limited as were the measures used to control the speed within them. There is another "Safer Routes to Schools" scheme about to be put out to consultation but HCA is not included in that either.
We had hoped that as part of the national initiative "Safer Routes to Schools" in 2000 something would be done, but apparently the size of the 20mph zone was limited as were the measures used to control the speed within them. There is another "Safer Routes to Schools" scheme about to be put out to consultation but HCA is not included in that either.
Following a Freedom of Information request in 2007, concerning speeding in HCA, I was provided with drawings by Bedfordshire County Council, dated March 2006, proposing traffic calming measures from the London Road junction of Dells Lane to the other end of HCA, at its junction with London Road. It appeared that it was accepted that there was a problem with speed, although a Beds CC spokesman said:
"There are no proposals for traffic calming in Holme Court Avenue, but we intend to improve the crossing facilities on the road near the link with Derwent Avenue."
All that happened was that we had a different coloured road surface that looked like a patch and wore off within a few months.
The next scheme in 2008, was two sets of speed cushions on either side of the bend at the natural crossing point from Derwent Avenue, together with some bollards and tactile paving. This was apparently the only scheme that Beds CC were prepared to fund. The "cushions" were built up on site and are within certain tolerance parameters but are not uniform or effective. Not like the proprietary ones in Chambers Way. "A" 30mph illuminated speed indicator was later funded by a Government grant through Biggleswade Town Council.
From 7th May 2008 to 16th May 2008 a speed data collection box was attached to an adjacent lampost which showed 85th percentile speeds of traffic to be 31mph westbound and 28mph eastbound.
Not convinced that the majority of traffic had slowed down I continually lobbied Central Bedfordshire Highways people Amey, until they agreed to carry out another survey in 2010 after the school holidays.
The survey was carried out from 3rd September to 13th September and the data collected shows an 85th percentile speed of traffic of 30.3mph westbound and 29.6mph westbound. Which according to Amey validates the previous data, despite a large anomaly over one evening of 532 vehicles between 21.00 and 0.00 when the average was 75, together with traffic slowing down for the traffic lights at the roadworks.
"The counts taken before the cushions were installed showed an 85th percentile speed of 34mph. The original aim of this scheme was to reduce traffic speeds closer to the speed limit of 30mph. Comparative results do show a small reduction in speeds which are now close to the speed limit. Some vehicles will undoubtedly be faster than that and some slower."
So there is not a speed problem, official !!
(If anyone wants a copy of the speed data for May 2008 and September 2010, I can email it to them)
All that happened was that we had a different coloured road surface that looked like a patch and wore off within a few months.
The next scheme in 2008, was two sets of speed cushions on either side of the bend at the natural crossing point from Derwent Avenue, together with some bollards and tactile paving. This was apparently the only scheme that Beds CC were prepared to fund. The "cushions" were built up on site and are within certain tolerance parameters but are not uniform or effective. Not like the proprietary ones in Chambers Way. "A" 30mph illuminated speed indicator was later funded by a Government grant through Biggleswade Town Council.
From 7th May 2008 to 16th May 2008 a speed data collection box was attached to an adjacent lampost which showed 85th percentile speeds of traffic to be 31mph westbound and 28mph eastbound.
Not convinced that the majority of traffic had slowed down I continually lobbied Central Bedfordshire Highways people Amey, until they agreed to carry out another survey in 2010 after the school holidays.
The survey was carried out from 3rd September to 13th September and the data collected shows an 85th percentile speed of traffic of 30.3mph westbound and 29.6mph westbound. Which according to Amey validates the previous data, despite a large anomaly over one evening of 532 vehicles between 21.00 and 0.00 when the average was 75, together with traffic slowing down for the traffic lights at the roadworks.
"The counts taken before the cushions were installed showed an 85th percentile speed of 34mph. The original aim of this scheme was to reduce traffic speeds closer to the speed limit of 30mph. Comparative results do show a small reduction in speeds which are now close to the speed limit. Some vehicles will undoubtedly be faster than that and some slower."
So there is not a speed problem, official !!
(If anyone wants a copy of the speed data for May 2008 and September 2010, I can email it to them)
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