Have your say on 20mph zone proposed for Alderley Edge

Something has to be done to stop these high powered idiots in cars zooming up and down the village and causing a real danger to pedestrians young and old. Interestingly enough when the village centre is busy at peak traffic times people cannot speed much anyway, but major speed and lets not forget noise is around the week-end. And surely the safety of children outside schools is paramount to stop a major disaster.

Hopefully, as part of the project, they will also look to resurface the route/roads which are in a diabolical state and are equally as dangerous to cyclists who have to swerve and zig zag around the full length of the village!?

I fail to see what this scheme is trying to achieve and why the current speed limit isn't appropriate. The governments own document for setting speed limits states that villages should have a 30mph limit.

The current 30mph limit is not specifically a target and driving through the village at busy periods the flow of traffic rarely allows you to reach that 30mph. So is this proposed 20 zone a target or a limit and will it be enforced ?

If "Alderley Edge is unfortunately an area that experiences speeding traffic" as stated above does that mean many people are regularly breaking the speed limits ? Are the current limits being enforced or not ? What is the evidence of this assertion and have serious accidents occurred that can be attributed to this speeding traffic.

Why do the crossing points need to be raised when the current pavements taper down to the road ? Are these speed bumps in disguise ? If this scheme is also intended to attract cyclists then why have raised crossings in the road ?

Utterly pointless.

Changing the speed limit to 20mph is going to do nothing to deter those that clocked up speeds in excess of 80mph in the current 30mph zone.

So the people who ignore speed limits will carry on regardless and those who abide by the limits are the only ones affected.

As mentioned, most speeding is at night and weekends.
So put speed humps (effectively) outside the schools to protect the children.

You can legislate any speed limit or restriction you like but unless there is effective and punitive enforcement you are wasting your time and (more importantly) our money, again.

These are just lazy, cash-strapped ideas don’t a Council who are unable to think outside the box

As a driver I agree that a 20 mph in and around Alderley Village is important. However is it enforceable??I walk along Heyes Lane 2-4 times a day and frequently see that speed limit camera recording speeds in excess of 45 mph.Why?So Yes a low speed limit is vital considering the high number of parents children and elderly people walking.

How about speed cameras on the 30 MPH main routes in to the village to catch and prosecute speeding cars? Wilmslow Road, Congleton Road, Heyes Lane, Chelford Rd/Ryleys Lane and Macclesfield Road.
The speeding takes place in these roads on a daily basis. Could be a nice earner for Cheshire East whilst helping reduce speed.

My experience is the London Road, Alderley Edge car problems are more noise related than speeding . Will a 20 limit and raised crossings deter regular speeding motorists? What’s the plan to identify and fine speeders in the village?
How many prosecutions have there been for 30+ speeders in the village in the last 12 months?

Dear all,

Clearly there are a few recurring themes arising in the comments above, some of which I believe are addressed in the substance of the article, but in any case probably bear repeating.

Firstly, the proposals are for the introduction of a 20 mph zone in the village centre. A zone differs from a simple speed limit, in that it applies to a clearly defined area and is supported by physical traffic calming infrastructure. In this case the proposal is to introduce raised tables at key points within the zone, which if introduced would help to make the speed restriction within the zone self-enforcing (all drivers would be forced to drive slowly).

Secondly, the scheme would be paid for using s.106 funds; these are funds which have been raised on historic developments within Alderley Edge, paid by the applicants to mitigate the impact of those developments upon the local community (the development on the corner of London Road/Clifton Street is one such example). The funds are subject to specific legal agreements defining how they may be spent; in this case, on improving highways and pedestrian safety within the village. Crucially, they are not "public money" that has been raised through Council Tax and cannot be spent on routine maintenance.

The proposals have been drawn up following a speed assessment, informal consultation with local residents and businesses and consideration by the Multi Agency Action Group (MAAG - comprising representatives from Cheshire East Highways, Cheshire East Council Anti Social Behaviour Team, Cheshire Police & other Emergency Services). A range of alternative options were considered, including the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order; however, the proposals that are now being consulted on were identified as being the most viable, realistic and cost-effective option available.

Speed monitoring is regularly carried out within the village by Cheshire Police, as well as by our own Community Speedwatch volunteers (who act on behalf of the police). Local Authorities themselves do not have the powers to enforce speed restrictions, or to issue fines; that responsibility remains with the police. Like the MAAG, I believe the current proposals represent the best option available and will help to make the village safer for all residents and visitors, but especially for our school children. I strongly encourage everyone to support them and to respond positively to the consultation.

Kind regards,
Craig

I am not an Alderley Edge Resident so will not specifically comment on this proposal. What I will say is that prevention is always better than a cure. So how do you prevent speeding?
Will these proposals be a cure?

This is moving away from poor road surfaces,and other more serious matters. Have you travelled out towards A/Z recently ? Its bad in a car, and worse on a bike !
Reduced speed limit wont stop thevehicle parade, or the infrequent 'revving', it may push fast drivers onto the bypass, but there doesnt seem an appetite for enforcement.
Prestbury 'cobbled' traffic calming seems to work.. Dont waste uneccesarry time and taxpayers money on this , common sense please as the serious accidents are on the by-pass , not in the village.

Well said Nick

Nick and Jon, may I suggest that you read paragraph 3 of Craig's posting ?

Absolutely agree with you Nick Jones ..... Well Said !!

Nick,
your comment re' Prestbury's cobbles is quite right.
I was told by Highways, a time ago, that changing from one road surface to another was the best way of slowing/calming traffic.
Some time ago there was a suggestion to investigate the cobbles that are believed to be still present, under the tarmac, in A/E. If the cobbles were usable as they are of after a 'doing up'
then they could be exposed/reinstated for example where the railway road bridge passes
Heyes Lane.
If effective, also cheap?

Craig Browne states: "raised tables at key points within the zone.... .....all drivers would be forced to drive slowly". Not so, Craig. 4X4 drivers can crash over them without slowing down, as if they were not there. And Alderley Edge traffic includes a large proportion of these vehicles.

Road humps (to give 'raised tables' their common name) cause expensive damage to tyres and suspension parts of ordinary cars, even when negotiated at low speeds. Particularly insidious is damage to the inside tyre wall, which is invisible under normal circumstances and potentially lethal.

There are more imaginative and more effective ways to control vehicle speeds, such as 'shared space' schemes, strategic positioning of street furniture, and Duncan Herald's suggestion of regular changing of the type of road surface. These need not be expensive, but do need a modicum of imagination and out-of-box thinking, as Alan Brough observes.

Is speeding an issue on London Road? It’s near to a standstill most of the time
I consider noise pollution to be more of an issue
Maybe acoustic cameras can be considered??
Very interesting info on government website and Sytner pages
Let’s stop the ‘car’nival we all have to endure every Friday-Sunday!

Does anyone know how much is in the 106 pot earmarked for Alderley Edge specific use?
Will it cover all the costs associated with the proposal?
What other projects beneficial to the village could be funded from 106 monies?
Interesting to read a number of comments that it’s the noise ( associated with excessive revving) that many folk believe to me just as much a problem as speeding.

What weight will comments logged at the Police Commissioner's meeting carry ? Hopefully there’s a joined up plan agreed by the community , Cheshire East and the Police .

I am not a fan of bouncing my car over 'raised platforms' multiple times during the day to access my local village. Many folk will agree with the 20mph zone, but not like living with the new infrastructure one bit.

There was once talk of installing roundabouts in the village on the junctions of Brook Lane, Ryleys Lane, Macclesfield Road and a mini roundabout at Hayes Lane ? These roundabouts would slow traffic and improve the flow with less standing traffic pollution.

A 40 mph speed limit when leaving the village on Chelford Road (passing the cemetery) would be welcome too.

We definitely need a 20 mph zone around the village and these traffic calming measures are very welcome. On Ryleys Lane the speed limit is constantly ignored and the Thurs -Sunday ‘observers’ on the triangle opposite Piccolinos encourage speeding, revving and popping exhausts.The humps will help slow speeding drivers at night and protect children going to school and the park during the day. They will also put off the super car show-offs spoiling the village. Speed cameras with fines would also help and a continued police presence to challenge the noise pollution from these awful cars. The more that can be done to deter these anti social drivers, the better. It’s about time we put residents, children and pedestrians first.

How about reducing the speed limit past the Wizard, the entrance to the Tea Rooms, Artists Lane, Alderley Edge car park and Bradford Lane from 60 mph to something sensible such as 30 or 40. I think this would have much more safety benefit overall. That stretch of road has already seen two serious and two fatal collisions.

There is a 2 mile stretch of road where I live that has had a 20mph limit put on it. I am one of the very few who respect it. However, there has been dozens of times when inconsiderate idiots have flown past me. Locals now realise that the road is a good bit more dangerous now than it was before. If authorities want to put in 20mph limits, then they should take every effort to enforce them !!

Why do we think that drivers who don't respect the 30mph speed limit are suddenly going to change their attitude and respect the 20mph.
I have recently spoken to a member of the council who informs me that a scheme like this would cost much more than the available section 106 funds, so money will have to be found from depleted council coffers
The introduction of traffic calming brings its own problems, including increased noise, vibration and air pollution as vehicles approach and then speed up after. The discomfort experienced by bus passengers and those travelling in ambulances, as well as the damage caused to vehicles.
Enforcement has to be increased to ensure a change of attitude and behaviour, i would like to know how many times has the mobile speed camera vehicle been seen in the village.

I Agree with John Blake’s views on the 20 mph restriction achieving minimal benefit and actually having some negative impact.
I favour income earning speed cameras on the current 30 mph zones and rigorous enforcement.
Maybe the council can confirm what monies are in the 106 pot? Please save us the hassle of submitting a freedom of information request?

As someone who helps with the Community Speedwatch to discourage people speeding around the village, there are definite problems on the major roads leading in/out of the village. A recurring theme here is 'How do you enforce speed limits'. The major responsibility for enforcement lies with Cheshire Police so the revised A34 public meeting called by the PCC on 23rd September in Wilmslow should be interesting.
Local people need to attend this to make it chrystal clear what an important issue this is and then hopefully we will get a positive response from the PCC and Cheshire Police as to how they intend to tackle enforcement.
I for one will be attending and will not be happy to hear possible feable excuses such as 'lack of police resources' or police funding as this problem is not going away.

It's all well and good reducing the speed limits on the roads in question but.............................who's going to enforce them ?

Allen Lunt makes a valuable point on enforcement.
I can’t see speed bumps and 20 mph making much difference if nobody is identified and fined .
So many people in the village highlight noise from revving engines as a major intrusion .
Whilst there are a few over 30 mph through the village , the main speeding issue is on the roads in up the village.

I’m supportive of speed cameras on the main 30 mph routes in the village with rigorous enforcement . I’m
Presuming Cheshire East and The Police still operate speed cameras, anybody know for sure?