Speeding in the Parish
Following complaints from residents
of Tump Lane, outlined below, Cllr Richard Smith (Pontrilas Ward) commissioned a survey of of traffic in the Lane.
This took place in September 2007 and the results were released at the Much Birch Parish Council meeting in December
2007. A letter sent by Cllr Smith to the Parish Council, outlining the results of the survey, is available to
download as a PDF file.
Tump Lane Traffic Survey results letter (44K PDF file)
A number of the residents in Tump Lane will appreciate that, as far as traffic is concerned, it is no longer a lane. Some of the drivers of vehicles which use the "Lane" show, by their style of driving, that it is getting more like a Motorway. A Department of Transport Regional Officer has referred to it as a "Rat Run" - a term well used by that department and they are not responsible for its upkeep. That is a Council responsibility.
Many of you readers will have, perhaps, witnessed or experienced a degree of rage at near misses upon your person, property, or seen others exposed to varying degrees of danger or abuse along its length. Although the bottom half has been resurfaced this year, the remaining, roughly patched, surface is in desperate need of attention, caused largely by frequent heavy traffic ranging from loaded car transporters and logging lorries with trailers, grain lorries and tractors with trailers going up and down the Lane, or where contractors have been working on the road surface and have gone away without bringing it back to a serviceable condition. The lane is too narrow for heavy traffic and, in part, has no footpaths.
There is a speed limit signed as 40mph. but for some sections of the lane, this is too fast. Even 30mph. can be too fast at times. What does that extra speed gain, more tyre wear, more fuel used, a few kicks maybe but not much saving in time. This problem is not confined to Tump Lane; it is a general malaise where some have little consideration for others. Use of a mobile phone while driving is an offence - if there was an accident do you think your insurance would foot the bill? If the posted speed limit is 30mph. this means up to 30mph. and no more! Not what you can get away with……. Better to get there, drive with care and read the Highway Code.