Traffic calming...who do i contact?

snails's_pace

:mad: as you know,easter half term has begun. my ds was playing on the pavement this morning outside our house when a lorry reversed at high speed,mounting the pavement and luckily my son moved out of the way. we live in a no through road and its full of young families, the downfall is that there is a busy business park opposite us and the traffic is getting worse.
there is no consideration from these drivers and we have no speed limit signs or any other kind of traffic calming measures at all. could someone point me in the right direction as to who to contact about this.
im also after the stickers you see on wheelie bin's that tell you to kill your speed. ive spoken to my neighbours who are all in agreement .
if anyone has got any experience in dealing with this then please post.
thanks very much!

snails's_pace

well ive looked online and cant see where i can get hold of the stickers for the wheelie bins anybody got any ideas please

scatz

I would imagine that you would need to contact the highways agency. Speak to your local council, they should be able to point you in the right direction.

It make's a change for someone to be asking for traffic calming rather than slating it.

Don't know about the stickers, but again I would imagine your local council could help there?

snails's_pace

a reply.......!!

yes..ive rung both and they keep on telling me to ring different departments but no joy as of yet (re the stickers)

wondered if sum1 knew of a website where i could order them

waster_2

Traffic calming would normally fall within the remit of your local authority (Council). It is difficult and time consuming to get traffic calming orders made and implemented. Can take as long as 3 years even if a case can be justified. Often acccidents will have had to have occurred.

I would suggest you contact your local ward Councillor(s) and enlist their support. Council Officer's will operate within the powers and duties given to them by either statute or Council Members (Councillor's) taking decisions. They cannot act independently and cannot make a decsion on traffic calming off their own backs. You need a Council Decision which will often be driven by need and funding availability.

Poppycat

This is what I did in my last house. Start a petition, speak to councillors and press. Printed about 70 posters out of my own pocket on a4 paper and asked people to pop it in there windows when I got them to sign petition.

I got about 97% agreement from people in 3 streets of roughly 450 houses, 2% were never in and 2 people said "dont want to get involved" or "you will never get council to do ought". I got media involved and backed my campaign, it worked we got traffic claiming but it took 2 years in all.

I also made placards and some of us in the street stood in street waiving them, it kept press coming back and keeping campaign fresh and in public eyes.

The street still gets very large artics but the council will not stop them coming down even though street is too narrow and either car or lorry has to drive on pavements.

Poppycat

http://www.transport2000.org.uk/ may help they have a shop to buy posters but never seen wheelbin ones

I cant give direct link as my pc is playing up taking yonks to load pages up today, give really peeved off with it now

scatz

Found these two web sites;

This one has some free downloadable/printable signs which you could laminate and use where you want. They also do some sort of pack called 20 Now! which is available for a small cost.

http://www.transport2000.org.uk/communityaction/SpeedToolkit.htm

This page on a web site sells proper aluminium signs, but at a cost. However, if all your neighbours are in agreement, then the cost would be a small price for you all to stump up.

http://www.archersafetysigns.co.uk/search.asp

Hope this helps.;)

snails's_pace

guys!!
thanks so much for your useful replies and links...gonna grab a coffee and get researching :j

Poppycat

Transport 2000 are good they may be able to help, I spoke to Linda from there before.

You really need people on your side though get a few of them interested if you go with a petition some show more signs off wanting to do something than others, get them together and diverse a action plan.

I was leader but I also had a press officer (though he was never here) so did that myself. I had good relationship with councillors which always help.

I really detest drivers who ever they are using the pavements to drive on, its illegal and dangerous.

flang

Local councils maintain all residental roads, and some main roads, however trunk roads eg: A303/A36/and Motorways are maintained by the Highways Agency.
With regard to the stickers, just remember not to attach any of them to any Street furnature as it is an offence.
my first point of call would be a local councillor as funding for traffic calming comes out of a seperate pot of money direct from the goverment