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ELSTEAD
PARISH
COUNCIL
- TRAFFIC
MANAGEMENT
Controlling traffic flow through Elstead is a subject close
to most residents' hearts. With the good news that a
small budget of £15,000 has been allocated by Surrey County
Council this year to implement traffic management measures,
Elstead Parish Council set up a Special Council Meeting with
Simon Hall, SCC Local Traffic Manager, to discuss how to use
this fund effectively.
Councillors agreed the main problem was that motorists were
ignoring the 30 mph speed limit on the village outskirts,
only slowing down if they encountered parked cars outside
the shops on Milford Road, and outside the Post Office on
Thursley Road.
Traffic also tends to speed along the straight stretch of
the Thursley Road beside the Village Hall, which is used by
many children. In addition, traffic around St James -School
is often congested at pick-up and drop-off times, particularly
if the school bus is parked on the road as well as through
inconsiderate and often illegal parking.
With such a tight budget, it was decided Elstead needed more
obvious visual gateways to remind motorists they were entering
a village. These visual gateways could be accompanied by signs
welcoming visitors and asking them to slow down to 30 mph.
As motorists continue into the village, additional visual
elements such as coloured road surfaces, speed signs painted
on the road and interactive speed signs flashing warning messages
could be included. An interactive traffic control sign could
be located beside the Village Hall.
The SCC Safe Routes to School Officer will be asked to examine
safety options in the vicinity of St James School, including
arrangements to improve the parking of school buses.
Simon Hall also suggested that Elstead starts a Community
Speed Watch scheme to help control speeding traffic, which
would be fully backed by Surrey Police. We would need volunteers
to participate in this scheme, which has proven successful
in other villages. Please contact EPC Chairman Denis Holmes
if you would like details.
In order to ensure the integrity of the visual gateways, the
30 mph zone - which was moved further out of Elstead ten years
ago - could be returned to a site nearer the village. One
of the reasons motorists have been ignoring the 30 mph zone
is because the signs are situated too far out of the village,
causing them to lose impact. There are clear traffic control
advantages in having a defined entrance to Elstead where the
housing density starts.
It must be emphasised that at this early stage, SCC Highways
is looking at a range of limited options within their budget
and this is not a full traffic calming scheme.
Please feel free to talk to any Elstead Parish Councillor
if you would like to discuss the implications of these traffic
management options.
Sally
Place
Parish Councillor
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