Thursday, 8 December 2011

Arden 20mph plan moves closer

PLANS to enforce a 20mph speed limit outside Arden school have taken a step forward.

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Permission has been given to put a road hump on Station Road, near the junction with Purnells Way, in a bid to slow traffic down.

After monitoring its impact, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council said it will consider part-time speed limits from April.

The raised table top hump has to be built as part of an agreement with the council to build a games area on the field, with new access to the back of the field.

The hump will also act as an uncontrolled crossing.

It comes after a child was struck by a car on Station Road in the first week of September.

Headteacher Martin Murphy has said he is concerned about speeds on the roads as the school expands to meet new housing demands.

In a letter to parents he said: “There is no doubt it could have ended in one of our young people being killed – he was probably saved by a matter of a few miles per hour.

“Sadly traffic does speed along Station Road.”

He said: “I am also now investigating, with other local community groups, traffic calming measures on Station Road with the traffic authorities.”

Three objections to the hump were received after an October consultation.

Centro, the West Midlands’ transport authority, said humps “can have a disproportionate effect on buses, even at slow speeds”.

It said: “They cause significant discomfort and possible injury to passengers and increased wear and tear on vehicles.”

While backing a new crossing, The Knowle Society said the plan would “cause permanent disruption to traffic and cyclists”. It backed a 20mph limit only.

A Station Road resident warned the plan would create too much noise and “there is little evidence of speeding traffic at school opening / closing times”.

But a council transport officer said the hump would be “bus friendly” with lesser ramp gradients and would be safe for all drivers at 30mph.

Noise would not increase “significantly” they added.

The 20mph limit was first proposed in 2008 as part of its Safer Routes To School project, a major Government initiative to encourage walking to school.

Though it was approved, the speed limit was never introduced because of concern over how to put up signs that would be “sensitive” to the area.

Yet the Government has now issued guidance on acceptable signs and the council is poised to introduce them at some borough schools, subject to funding.

The 20mph zone would not extend to the rear access to the school by Purnells Way as this would need another road hump, for which there is no cash, it says.

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