Following the implementation of the new 20mph zone in our village centre I asked Councillor Craig Browne to provide some more detail regarding the costs of implenting the scheme and which roads are included.
Please confirm the area area/roads included in the 20mph zone?
As a result of feedback received during the initial consultation, the proposed 20mph zone was extended to include Trafford Road, Clifton Street, Stevens Street, Chapel Road, The Avenue, Stamford Road, Talbot Road and Moss Lane (part). The revised proposals (shown above) were published as part of the statutory consultation which took place in April 2022 and subsequently endorsed by the police, our three village schools and Alderley Edge Parish Council.
It is important to understand that this is a zonal scheme, rather than a collection of streets each with individual speed limits; this reduces the requirement for signage and associated street furniture. Nevertheless, signage has been installed at each entry and exit point, as follows: Heyes Lane (by Barrington House), Davey Lane (by Aldeli), Wilmslow Road (by Brook Lane), Brook Lane (by Alderley Edge School for Girls), Moss Lane (by Marlborough Avenue), Mottram Road (by Orchard Green), Macclesfield Road (by Trafford Road), Ryleys Lane (by Chorley Hall Lane) and Congleton Road (by Beechfield Road).
Please confirm the costs of implementing the 20mph zone and where the funding for this came from?
The costs of implementation, including the initial traffic assessment, public consultation, traffic management, road permits, signage and engineering measures were approximately £60,000; however, the opportunity was taken whilst the traffic management and permits were in place to carry out significant levels of resurfacing on London Road and Ryleys Lane. Clearly, the resurfacing works were not part of the scheme, but it was cost effective to do the resurfacing at the same time whilst the plant and workforce were on site and whilst the traffic management and permits were in place.
The costs of the 20mph zone have been met from s.106 funds which were raised on the Westbrook (17/23 London Road) development, via a voluntary contribution from the developer towards highways infrastructure. The funds had sat dormant in an interest bearing account at Cheshire East Council since they were first received in April 2005. The ways in which these s.106 funds may be used are governed by legal agreement, signed at the time planning permission is granted. As a reminder these funds may not be used on routine highway maintenance or non-highway related infrastructure.
The raised tables on London Road have been constructed to a gradient of 1:15, which I initially queried with officers prior to installation. The gradient is consistent with DfT guidance on the installation of traffic calming measures on roads which are identified as blue light routes by the emergency services, or which are recognised bus routes.
Comments
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However, whilst we have been told SOME of the costs amounted to £60,000,
could you please explain in further detail and inform us what the TOTAL cost of the whole project has been, with EVERYTHING included ?
Thank you.
I also read an article in national press recently that highlighted that almost all most newly introduced 20mph zones were 'Advisory Speeds' and not legally enforceable speed limits, perhaps Mr Browne could confirm this point?
Thank you for your comment.
I am happy to confirm that the 20mph zone is mandatory. The statutory consultation carried out in April 2022 was a necessary part of the process of making a traffic regulation order (TRO) that is legally enforceable. Advisory limits, such as those you may have read about in other parts of the country, typically do not have associated traffic calming infrastructure and this is a key difference with the scheme that has recently been introduced in Alderley Edge.
Of course, no scheme is ever likely to achieve universal compliance and speed enforcement remains the responsibility of Cheshire Police rather than of Cheshire East Council.
Kind regards,
Craig
When is the acoustic camera going live so that it can start fining the revving brigade and are there plans to install more of the same on other roads leading into the village?
The problem on the high street is noise pollution and this scheme does nothing to help this. It gives the revvers more reason to rev really doesn’t it?!
As it is the responsibility of Cheshire Police I doubt if this will happen. I base this on the fact that placing a Police speed van on the same spot on Hough Lane for a few hours every Blue moon is not exactly contributing into stopping traffic speed issues.
Or is it that other areas need protecting more.
I took the cost statement by Craig to mean that the total cost of the measures were £60k and were paid from the s106 funds established in 2005.
The "petrol heads" I have witnessed make their racket by selecting a low gear and quickly accelerate to 30/40 mph plus to rev their engines, so the new limits should help.