To receive the following petitions submitted in accordance with the Council’s Petitions Scheme:
· 20mph speed limit zone in the central area of Shipston;
· Safe Cycling Network to the proposed new Kenilworth School.
Minutes:
1) 20mph speed limit zone in the central area of Shipston
The Chair welcomed representatives of the Shipston 20mph Campaign Group to the meeting to present a petition against seeking speed control in Shipston-on-Stour.
Jacey Jackson, Shipston Speedwatch Co-ordinator, stated that the increase in traffic speed, volume and weight on the A3400 had increased since she moved into the village in 2013 and that she had been volunteering with Speedwatch to monitor speeds on the main roads in and out of Shipston since 2017. The group had provided details of 1718 speeding incidents to police and in 2018, a survey had found 80% of vehicles were exceeding the speed limit. As the country emerged from the pandemic, residents along the main roads were finding the speeds unbearable and the petition was launched as a result. 1080 signatures were collected and those choosing not to sign were generally supportive but sceptical of enforcement capability. She urged the introduction of a 20mph zone to begin a change in driver psychology to improve the lives of residents and sought discussions with highways engineers to seek to address the local issues.
Town Councillor John Dinnie explained that residents wanted a 20mph area covering the bulk of the town and other measures on the approaches to slow traffic. He noted that the Town Council had opened discussions with the County Council’s road safety team and would be hosting a site visit in May 2022 when advice would be sought on speed control measures. He welcomed sensible discussions around the key danger zones in the town and considered that enforcement was a separate issue for the police.
Councillor Wallace Redford (Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning) thanked Ms Jackson and Mr Dinnie for the petition adding that he would consider it and provide a response.
2) Safe Cycling Network to the proposed new Kenilworth School
The Chair welcomed George Bell and Isodora McAinish to the meeting to present a petition supporting a safe cycling routes in Kenilworth.
Isadora McAinish stated that the Pedal to Protect campaign had been set up in response to her own and George Bell’s desire to cycle more and that other young people were put off from doing so due to the dangers involved. She noted that the route to the new school could take one hour or more to walk and that there were no safe cycle routes, despite there being provision for 544 bike racks with the potential for 240 additional ones. She asked the Council to consider introducing segregated off road cycle paths together with pedestrian and cyclist friendly measures to support a change in home to school travel habits.
George Bell stated his view that Kenilworth was being left behind in the development of cycle routes, with the narrow roads often being cited as a barrier. He considered that there were simple measures that could be introduced around changing priorities at junctions, reducing speed limits and traffic calming measures and the creation of off-road cycle paths. He understood that funding was available for such projects. He also reflected on the #JustOneJourney project which sought to help tackle climate change by encouraging young people to walk or cycle for one journey more. Recognising that the new school would open in 18 months’ time, he urged the Council to take action.
Councillor Wallace Redford (Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning) welcomed Isadora McAinish and George Bell for their involvement in local issues at a young age and thanked them for the petition. He added that the Council was keen to work closely on more detailed plans and that officers would be pleased to meet with them to discuss the issues and improvements that could be made.