Verwood Town Council

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Highway Matters

Current considerations for road safety improvements include speed indicator devices (SID) and crossings at various locations. Speed surveys are requested for several areas. Additionally, feasibility and cost analyses are underway for other projects.

Please refer to the links for broader traffic calming options, including reporting speeding concerns or participating in Community Speed Watch.

Roads Under Consideration For Safety Features

  • Manor Road by Scout & Guide Hut – Crossing

Completed.

  • Newtown Lane (junction with Manor Rd) – Crossing

Awaiting further details from Dorset Highways but progressing.

  • Newtown Road – Installation of a speed indicator device (SID)

Completed – SIDs installed at these locations:

70A Newtown Road for Northbound Traffic:
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South of Claylake Drive for Northbound Traffic:
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  • Woodlinken Drive – Request for speed indicator device (SID)

Completed.

  • Ringwood Road – South East Bound – Request for speed indicator device (SID)

Council has approved the installation of an SID at this location.

Locations of Poles Where Speed Indicator Devices Can be Deployed

Rotation of 4 weeks operating, 8 weeks relocated

Not Yet Installed But Approved For Speed Survey

  • Edmondsham Road

Matters Previously Considered But No Further Action

Manor Road – Speed bumps

Highways advise that Dorset Council does not have a formal policy on speed bumps but they would need to be cognisant of the The Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1999 (legislation.gov.uk).

Dorset Council advised that they wouldn’t wish to place speed humps on A & B roads as a traffic calming measure due to the difficulties it can cause to bus routes in addition to the long-term maintenance costs, concerns raised by emergency services regarding response times and risks to spinal injury patients and also concerns regarding pollution, noise, and vibrations created by the thump, thump, thump which has previously resulted in some unpopularity by immediate residents.

Flat-topped, more gentle road humps might be an option for specific schemes elsewhere on the network, for example, in a 20mph traffic calming zone with adequate street lighting.

On the wider issue of traffic calming measures, this link – Traffic Calming Guidance – from the Department for Transport indicates measures that can be considered.

 

Options that can be considered for speeding:

 

    • Consideration for Speed Indicator Devices. See above.
    • Make a request for new traffic management measures – this can only be undertaken by the Town Council.

Requesting Road Improvements / Traffic Management

Dorset Council values residents’ input when requesting an improvement to road or traffic management measures. It directs all enquiries to the Town Council in the first instance, recognising the importance of public involvement in these matters.

The Town Council is receiving increased requests for yellow lines, speed bumps, Speed Indicator Devices, etc. By looking to help a small section of the population, we could inflict damage on an equal and opposite group, hence, a conflict of interest.

Whenever The Council has a group attending a Community & Plans meeting, requesting speed restrictions, what we are actually doing is imposing a greater burden on the car-driving public, who are frustrated enough – as it is with the volume of traffic on the road – without even more reasons to slow down and spend longer driving.

To satisfy the wider public, The Council must find a way to speed up travel, not slow it down, while ensuring the safety of a few. This is a balancing situation for The Council, which the Members may wish to debate.

We seek Members’ views before passing the request details to Dorset Council.  

Considerations

The Council will discuss and consider the proposal at a Community and Planning Consultative Committee; there may be a need to further consult with residents and carry out a local analysis which takes into account Dorset Council’s four key factors: 

Suitability

  • Is the introduction of a restriction suitable for the area?
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages?
  • Does the road already have traffic calming features; such as signs, speed bumps and on-street parking? All these can contribute to road safety in one way or another.
  • If the proposal does not meet Dorset Council’s various criteria, they are unlikely to be implemented?

Cost

  • Would the proposals be achievable financially? It is not a case of just of introducing a restriction, so consider the costs of advertisement, consultation and materials required, which can run into thousands of pounds.
  • Dorset Council’s funding for traffic management has reduced substantially in recent years.

Opinion

  • Do other residents agree that there is an issue in the area?
  • Would the proposal actually inconvenience you, your neighbours, the community and others?
  • If your concerns are related to traffic offences, have you contacted Dorset Police to see if they are able to carry out enforcement? It may negate the need for any changes in the first place.

Impact

  • If implemented, would the restriction have the desired effect or will it actually introduce more problems?
  • Will the introduction of a restriction just move the problem to another area?

Make a Request

Complete and submit our interactive form to request road improvements or safety features on a particular road, providing information to assist Council Members. Please supply any further evidence to support your request, including photos, as evidence of inappropriate parking, etc.

See the following websites for further assistance before submitting your request –

Dorset Road Safe Partnership
Dorset Council – Road Safety

Please use the What3Words website to find the exact location for your request.

What3Words will give you a unique three-word code to enter in the form below (for example, the entrance to the Town Council Office is ///coherent.rebel.respected).