Ron and Chris were contacted a little while back by a resident regarding parking in Teignmouth Drive , Rayleigh. The issue is the amount of on-street parking near the junction with Down Hall Road, and the resident asked for the yellow lines at the junction (which Chris arranged in about 1988) to extend a little further down.
Ron raised this with the “South Essex Parking Partnership” who are a consortium of local councils, but its’ been rejected. Their latest response said:
Meanwhile , separate from this, County Highways are going to be doing a speed check in Teignmouth Drive and Exmouth Drive to see if a speed limit of 20 mph is appropriate here, bearing in mind this is near a school. The limit can only be introduced if the average speed in the survey is below 25 mph.
Any thoughts from our residents on either ideas?
Surely that should mean “above” 25 mph. Or is this another case of inverted logic!
I tried for this last year and had up to 100 signatures of parents/residents and a letter of support from the school. Rejected by highways along with several similar requests from other areas with schools. Brooklyn Drive could also need extended yellow lines due to buses/coaches going to pick up pupils.
Alistir @1 – the idea is that if the average speed is above 25 mph, you would have to do a lot of physical road calming (speed bumps and stuff) to make it work… and there’s no plans to do that
Bruce @2 the survey was requested via the Town Council , so I don’t think your efforts were in vain….
I know that’s the reason but you look round other towns and there are widespread 20 mph zones .it is cack handed that because most traffic is above 25 mph that nothing is done. It is reasonable to expect that nowadays in a residential street with nearby schools that 20 mph is right .I know it is a rat run one I have used myself but if the junction had had previous investment then it would not be so attractive especially if it was 20 mph .. Excuses do not save future casualties .
I live close to Teignmouth and see the fools that think it is smart to drive at 40mph + to cut off the two heavily congested junctions of Downhall Road and Rawreth Lane.( Youngish guy in ‘go faster’ black saloon can take note). My opinion for what is worth is that EVERY road with a school exit should automatically qualify for a 20MPH speed limit adjacent to the entrances. Any transgression leading to points and a hefty fine. I would think that would be a law/rule enacted that every parent would welcome. Sadly common sense seems to eludes many of our law-makers.
I think we should do everything to improve safety, its amazing how Health and Safety is policed in some aspects i.e. goggles to use blue tack to put up decorations, but when it comes to real danger a child being run over, nothing is done, schools should be protected as much as possible, waiting for an accident to happen is unacceptable. Downhall Park Way suffers from speed as well, the other side of the school, with the added danger of cars coming out of Harberts Way, not stopping at the T junction, I have had 5 near misses this year, I speak for many residents who have to pass this road junction, a petition has been suggested. I have now taken some photos, the line marking’s have worn away at the junction. The danger comes from drivers not looking left, as cars have to move over to pass cars parked opposite the junction,potential for a head on crash.
Geoff, as it happens I took a photo of the southern Harberts Way/ DHPW junction yesterday because of the faded lines, while I was doing that a resident from DHPW stopped and talked to me about speeding. I’m going to write a post about DHPW tonight….
I endorse what has been said in respect of any school and it should preclude parents delivering children in 4×4’s right up to the back gate entrance and parking there. And
whilst talking DPW the bend at the Park entrance ( with yellow lines added previously), some Muppet continues to park on the bend , facing the wrong way ( so
rear reflectors don’t work ) and needs to be nicked to teach them a lesson – or do we have no Police in Rayleigh now?,
I absolutely agree with the comments re Speeding BUT, these ignorant half wits take no notice of the 30mph signs ( a limit not a target ) so why would they heed a 20mph sign. Take the DPW estate, the majority of people that speed live on the estate, what chance do we have ?
It’s symptomatic of a much bigger issue, the f*** you, I do what I want brigade and if you don’t like it then tough. These morons breed more morons and the cycle continues….I have no idea what the answer is, except maybe punitive action against these people. Get caught speeding, no excuse, car crushed, minimum £1000 fine, then we get the love all brigade up in arms…..too harsh, had a bad start blah blah blah…
The article mentions SEPP’s budget restrictions, but I would suggest there are other considerations. Residents in Hockley had a run in with SEPP a year or so ago, when they recommended installing parking restrictions based on a few complaints, signed off by a councillor from Braintree(!), and supported by local RDC councillor despite significant adverse impacts and the fact that they had failed to get the required majority vote from residents. Bit of a dog’s ear really and lack of RDC support yet again.
That said, SEPP did eventually respond to the majority of local residents; over-ruled the local RDC councillor; and withdrew the proposals. However, several learning points did emerge. Firstly, residents will need to pay about £50 pa to have parking permits and, secondly, reduced parking will increase speeds, so may be counter-productive. But if the majority of residents still want to proceed, I would suggest its worth discussing with SEPP.