An extension to the 40mph limit on the approach to a major junction in Herefordshire is a step closer after councillors backed calls for it the reduced speed limit to be extended.
The scheme originated as a result of concerns from the Parish Council regarding the speed of vehicles entering Newtown Cross on the A4103 from the west.
A review of the length of the existing 40mph speed limit was requested.
This scheme is also partially in corroboration with a wider programme of works to improve the roadside environment on A4103 upon approach to Newtown Cross.
This will involve maintenance of the verges to allow drivers to see the settlement well before entering it giving notice of entry to a built-up environment and potential additional chevron signing and road markings.
Consequently, a review of the situation on the site was undertaken by officers and it was decided that details should be entered onto the prioritised Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Waiting List.
As a result of its entry onto the TRO Waiting List, this scheme was identified for commencement of investigations in the 2021/2022 Annual Plan.
Therefore, Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) set about investigating the potential for a new Traffic Regulation Order that would necessitate any changes within the area under investigation.
An on-site assessment and meeting with the Parish Council and Ward Member was undertaken in July 2021. During the meeting, councillors explained that at present vehicle speeds were very high upon entering Newtown Cross on the A4103.
This was said to be causing difficulty for residents accessing/egressing their properties and a general lack of confidence when attempting to walk on/cross the road.
The councillors highlighted collisions which had taken place on the bend on the A4103 just west of the existing 40mph speed limit terminals.
It was also stressed that the current terminal positions were thought to be located too close to the beginning of the settlement and were not visible enough to encourage reduced vehicle speeds and alert drivers that they are entering a built-up environment.
Councillors were aware of the wider programme of works to improve road safety at the bend in the road west of the existing speed limit terminals which would complement a potential speed limit extension.
During the site assessment, officers observed the location of the 40mph speed limit terminal signage as being close to the beginning of the settlement of Newtown Cross.
It was also observed that vehicles tended to come around the bend in the road west of the terminals and see the signage relatively late.
This led to either vehicles breaking heavily leading to increased risk of a rear shunt from a following vehicle, or a failure to reduce speed to an acceptable level upon entering Newtown Cross.
The bend was therefore identified as the primary section of the A4103 which was suitable to be included in any potential extension of the 40mph speed limit.
Department for Transport’s (DfT) ‘Setting Local Speed Limits’ document lists key factors for consideration during site assessments regarding local speed limits.
One of these is the collision history. Analysis of personal injury collision data for the latest 5-year period from January 2016 to August 2021 shows four personal injury collisions having taken place within the area.
The locations and classifications of the collisions are shown as Appendix C.
Two of the collisions took place on A4103 on the bend approaching the existing 40mph speed limit terminals. One of these took place in 2019 and was classified ‘serious.
It involved a car coming off the carriageway and colliding into a farmer’s hedge and telegraph pole.
This was attributed to a loss of control and concentration.
The second collision on the bend occurred in 2020 and was classed as ‘slight’. This involved a car clipping the nearside kerb and exiting the carriageway colliding with a BT post.
Another key factor in the document for consideration is ‘current traffic speeds’.
Therefore, as part of the site assessment phase, two Automatic Traffic Count (ATC) Surveys were undertaken in order to ascertain the current vehicle speeds as they passed through the potential extension area.
The vehicle speeds collected are above the maximum guideline intervention level for a 40mph speed limit of 46mph as set by Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) guidance.
However, the proposals shown in Appendix A are for the instalment of high-profile village nameplate signage, new repeater signage and road markings.
This is in addition to the ongoing programme of works to improve the road safety at the bend in the road approaching Newtown Cross from the west.
These combined measures will likely have an impact on vehicle speeds. At present, the terminal signage is not visible until approximately 90m west on A4103 for vehicles which does not leave sufficient time for the reduction of speed before entering Newtown Cross. The signage itself is also not conspicuous in its design.
Following the completion of the initial assessment, a Formal (Statutory) Consultation process was undertaken from 17th September 2021 to 8th October 2021, whereby a consultation letter and proposal plan was sent to all Statutory Consultees via email.
During this process, no objections were raised in relation to the recommendations as part of this TRO. A summary of the responses received during the Formal (Statutory) Consultation process is included as Appendix E.
During this consultation process, the Traffic Management Advisor for West Mercia Police stated that they had reservations as to how well the speed limit would be complied with if implemented in isolation.
However, as the limit is being proposed as part of a wider programme of works which would increase the impact of the new speed limit, no objections were raised with regards to this proposal.
The Notice of Proposal stage allowing the general public and Statutory Consultees to issue comments/concerns was undertaken from 28th October 2021 to 19th November 2021.
During this process no objections were raised from the Statutory Consultees nor from members of the public.
A summary of the responses received during the Notice of Proposal stage is included as Appendix F.
According to the Road Traffic Regulation Act (RTRA) 1984, it is the duty of a highway authority to ‘manage their road network’ and ‘to improve road safety’.
Section 122 of the RTRA 1984 states that local authorities must, so far as is practicable, exercise their functions under the RTRA so as to ‘secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic’.
There is an existing history of recent collisions (in 2019 and 2020) on the section of road where the 40mph speed limit is proposed to be extended, one of which was categorised as serious.
It is considered that there is a risk of potential further collisions in future, given the speed at which vehicles are currently travelling on A4103 on approach to Newtown Cross from the west, and the difficulty currently being faced by residents attempting to access/egress their properties.
Therefore, it is prudent that the proposals are endorsed in alignment with the highway authorities’ duties and given that this scheme aligns with the permitted purposes of a TRO scheme according to section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
In conclusion, the proposed 40mph speed limit aligns with guidance set out by Department for Transport’s ‘Setting Local Speed Limits’ document and the duties set out in section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
The proposed speed limit will act to improve road safety and amenity in the area by encouraging reduced vehicle speeds as they enter the settlement of Newtown Cross.
Despite current 85th percentile vehicle speeds being above the guideline maximum intervention level set in the ACPO guidance, the speed readings were undertaken in an area which is currently under national speed limit.
Additionally, the 40mph speed limit will be accompanied by high profile yellow backed signage, repeater signage and road roundels.
This is as well as a wider programme of works to improve road safety and the roadside environment on the bend in the road west of the existing speed limit terminals where two collisions have taken place in the last 3 years. No objection has been raised by West Mercia Police. Finally, the proposals are fully supported by the Parish Council, Local Member, and local residents.
You can find out more by visiting – https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/s50112959/A4103%20West%20of%20Newtown%20Cross%20Speed%20Limit%20Extension.pdf
