Report to Follow

47.1    The Chairman informed Members that a petition had been received requesting the removal of speed cushions on the B5063 Wem Road, Shawbury and that it had been referred to the Scrutiny Committee for consideration.  Members had before them a briefing note regarding the scheme. He welcomed Mrs Gregory, the petitioner to the meeting and asked her to present her petition.

47.2    Mrs Gregory thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the meeting.  She informed Members that there had been considerable concern expressed over the installation of the speed bumps as part of the 30mph speed limit on Wem Road as they were considered excessive and there had been no public consultation on their installation.  She went on to say that residents did not object to the 30 mph limit but that if further controls were necessary they should be in the form of vehicle activated signs rather than the speed bumps.

47.3    The Area Commissioner South reminded Members that under the Speed Limits Policy Parish Councils and other organisations could raise issues of community concern with regard to traffic speeds.  He added that the Policy clearly laid out the consultation process.

47.4    The Project Manager (Capital Schemes) advised Members that the scheme on Wem Road had been introduced as part of a larger package of “Safer Routes to Schools” measures introduced in several areas around Shawbury following concerns expressed by the Parish Council, RAF Shawbury and the Local Member regarding increased pedestrian use following the closure of St Mary’s School and the transfer of pupils to Shawbury Primary School.  He informed Members that both informal and formal consultation was carried out and during this consultation West Mercia Constabulary had stated that they would only support a 30mph limit where appropriate traffic calming measures were introduced. Following this input from the police, a revised scheme was developed and further consultation had been carried out prior to the schemes’ installation. 

47.5    The Project Manager advised Members that surveys carried out to assess the effectiveness of the scheme had shown that mean speeds had reduced to below 30mph which meant that the scheme was delivering what was required.

47.6    The Local Member confirmed that concerns had been expressed regarding road safety following the closure of St Mary’s School and the increase in children walking down Wem road to Shawbury Primary School.  He confirmed that full consultation had been carried out and that the scheme had been considered by the Parish Council on two occasions.

47.7    Several Members commented that whilst they understood the concerns expressed by local people the scheme seemed to be reducing traffic speeds to the required level and for this reason they could not support the removal of the speed cushions.

47.8    In response to a query, the Committee Officer confirmed that under the Shropshire Council petitions scheme, signatories should reside in Shropshire and that whilst there were 1207 signatures on the petition, on checking it was found that a number of the signatories lived in the Telford & Wrekin Council area and could not be considered under the terms of the scheme.

47.9    The Chairman thanked Mrs Gregory for attending the meeting and presenting her petition.

47.10  RESOLVED:

            1. That the Scrutiny Committee support the retention of the existing scheme including the speed cushion traffic calming measures; and

            2.  That under part 8 of the Shropshire Council Constitution the Area Commissioner South ratifies this recommendation.