Portable speed camera in action

Jim, I don't understand why you have located the device so close to the bridge? Even the most adamant of speeders wouldn't have time to build up speed by the time they reach the sign.

As someone who walks up and down that road several times a day, speeding is definitely an issue but much further down the road, nearer Ryleys Lane.

Out of interest, will you be putting the unit on Ryleys Lane itself. At a guess at least 85% of people speed down that road.

Is it possible to 'request guest appearances' for where the device is positioned next/in the coming weeks/months, Macclesfield Rd is like a race track and would certainly benefit from some 'speed reduction' devices.

I agree with Jeremy. People speed just opposite the school.

We could probably do with putting these things on most roads in Alderley Edge - Macclesfield Rd and Brook Lane to name just 2. Today I was driving down Macc Rd a tadge over 30 when some idiot overtook me just by the hotel. I'm often driving down there with motorists ahead doing 40plus, certainly not 30.

Brook Lane is also pretty dangerous. As a resident, I think most drivers do 40-50 along here, which is crazy given the narrow footpath on one side only. It would be interesting to look at speeds on all roads that approach the village as it's my guess there's a lot of dangerous speeding.

These Speed Indicator Devices won't stop the nutters driving at high speed on our roads.

What it needs is a couple of police officers with Radar Speed Guns standing at either end of the Village once or twice each week. Eventually these idiot drivers will get the message and maybe a few tickets!!!

My interest is on Wilmslow Road where there has been a largely ignored new 30mph zone. This has not been helped by the council giving the shed like structure (now redundant) a contemporary vandalised look with its removed speed sign.

Does anyone know if the traffic survey is being undertaken that was part of the Parish Plan? There seems to be various cables crossing strategic roads and I suspect this is not part of Jim Newns initiative.

I presume (hope) that the Parish Council is looking to collect data before pushing the Police and East Cheshire further.

Isn't Wilmslow Road the one that leads into the village from the roundabout & past Merlin? The road that becomes 30mph just by Horseshoe farm? Doesn't traffic generally crawl along here? Although I believe all roads entering the village ought to have data collected to inform council/police how best to reduce speeds, I'm not sure if this road is anywhere near as bad as Brook Lane, Macc Rd, Congleton Rd & Ryleys Lane. Unless you're talking about another Wilmslow Rd in the village?

Wilmslow Road does not become 30mph just by Horseshoe Farm. It is now a 30mph limit from the bypass roundabout, but the continued presence of the old 30mph sign lulls motorists into thinking that they are in a 40mph zone until they reach it. I share Mark Hillyard's view of that old sign. It was ugly and unnecessarily expensive when it was first constructed, and would now be best re-cycled and replaced by a small 30mph reminder sign.

I think that the SID is a step in the right direction but what is needed is a more permanent and effective deterrent - presumably the results from the SID data will be used to inform that next step? As a resident of Nether Alderley the opening of the bypass has certainly helped to remove the volume of traffic from Congleton Road. However, this in turn has freed up Congleton Road encouraging drivers to put their foot down - many vehicles doing well in excess of the speed limit. This is particularly alarming in the area where Nether Alderley primary school abuts Congleton Road. Are there any plans afoot to review the speed limit in this area (currently 40mph) or erect any deterrents? Such a speed limit seems entirely at odds with well publicised road safety campaigns where schools are concerned.

Also if you are coming into the village from the Merlin roundabout the new 30mph sign can be easy missed - a second or larger sign is needed.
Also improvement is needed to the road surface, try riding a bike from Wilmslow !

While we are on the subject of the Merlin roundabout, I think that the lane and directional markings coming from Alderley Road should be changed. I don't think that they have been changed since the bypass opened, and they seem to cause a fair bit of confusion. In my opinion, left lane should be for left turn and straight on, and right lane for right turn only.

Crikey! I hadn't even seen a 30mph near Merlin - just the Horseshoe farm 30 sign. Although it's hard to do over 20 down there most days.

I agree with what everyone says here. All along the roads mentioned unless the traffic can be slowed down then I suspect that drivers will continue to go through the village rather than use the bypass simply on the grounds that it is perceived as quicker and so we are back to the need for enforcement whilst the council via the Parish Plan slowly sorts out its traffic calming measures. I am sure a lot of other drivers (including lorries) still use the village because they haven't updated their sat-navs. Anyway, it will be interesting to see the data from the surveys to see if it can persuade the council or police to take more action.

Something needs to be done on Brook Lane. Cars often fly past (from both directions) with little regard to the speed limit or road conditions.

On a slightly different note, I believe there should be two roundabouts introduced in the village. A mini one at Brook Lane by the school and a bigger island at the bottom of Macclesfield Road. These are both bad junctions so would benefit from an improved layout but in turn they would slow traffic and perhaps discourage the people who I still believe drive unnecessarily through the village rather than using the bypass.

Can Heyes Lane be included please?- the stretch from the allotments to the old library is bad for speeding - I would love to find out what the machine states as the average speed there.

Most of the main routes in and and out of the village have received mention in alderleyedge.com dispatches.

Just a note to add my own personal observation of driver behaviour ( or lack of it) on Chelford Road near to the junction with Merrymans Lane.With the speed levels sign in place last few days, still plenty of of 60 + racers in a 40 zone. Also some remarkable braking by those with a social conscience, but still thinking they are the Stig or Jeremy Clarkson! On a serious note, too many ignored the sign rushing to get somewhere, I know not where, in record lap time.

I'd be interested to know the accident statistics on the twisty bends section of Chelford Road. Does anybody know if they are available to the public?

I was crashed in to and my car written off by an out of control car skidding at the tightest of bends about three years back ( on the very severe left bend about 1.8 miles out of the village going towards Chelford). Seems to be an accident on this bend whenever we get rain after a dry spell. In my local opinion , an accident blackspot but no warning sign!. No surprise to see the sand all over the bend in the road again post an accident yesterday. Locals say the camber is tricky, my view is people just drive too fast. Some are motor bike thrill seekers we should have removed form SK9.

Would really appreciate it if anyone can direct me to the accident stats for the bends section on Chelford Road before the straight ( vroom vroom) before Merrymans Lane appears on your right.

For many years when the old school was on Alderley Road in Chelford there was pressure to reduce the then 60 limit. There were numerous accidents and several people killed right outside the school but nothing happened until after the school moved! The statistics are interpreted however the council chooses to interpret them and as usual it must be box ticking rather than common sense that gets things done.

It's inappropriate speed that is dangerous, which is relevant to the situation and time of day. 30mph is too fast in the village centre any time apart from the middle of the night so it should have measures like Prestbury to reduce speed, the schools should be 20mph during start/finish times. There's a lot that could be improved and would be more effective than just speed cameras which only work in that exact spot and can even make driving more erratic.

Does anyone know what is happening with the speed limit signs by Horseshoe Farm? The previous sprayed graffiti look has now been removed, and the sign reinstated as 40mph. At the very least it presumably makes the supposed 30mph limit along Wilmslow Road unenforceable (if indeed it was enforceable in the first place).

Unbelievable! I am sure this must be a mistake but I will find out tomorrow - if the highways department will deem to speak to me. I have been waiting for a reply to my last query for 5 weeks now. Has anyone else had the experience of wanting to speak to the highways department getting a "query" number and then nothing happening? They are meant to get back with 5 - 7 working days and other responses have a been a bit tardy. I suspect that speaking to the public is not a priority.

Wilmslow Road seems to be 40mph leaving the village (sign by Horseshoe Farm) but 30mph entering it (sign by Merlin roundabout). Can it really be two differing limits depending on direction of travel?

Its not lawful to have different limits for a single carriageway in different directions, just for the simple reason that you have to ask yourself, what is the limit if you do a lawful U turn in the gap between the two limits ?

This is clearly a cock up by CEC - my guess is that the replacement sign was ordered before the limit was changed and the left hand did not know what the right hand was doing. Anyone gets a speed ticket in the gap should give me a call until it is fixed :)))

By way of information - the SIDS are not the panacea that people might think. The problem is that people tend to slow down when they see it flash at them. The SID therefore stores artificially low speeds and is then used to justify no need for further measures.

Since everyone is so exercised about speed I hope that the Parish Council will now be inundated with volunteers to set up a Community Speed Watch group as is run in many other neighbouring parishes. They buy a speed camera, undertake a little training with the police, volunteers spend time on the road with the camera and record the numbers of speeding motorists at certain locations. The motorists get a pretty stern letter from the police threatening prosecution next time. It really works.

20 mph zones are required by law to have numerous other treatments, take a look at Prestbury to see what happens, this makes them expensive. That is one reason why all I have been able to persuade the highways team to consider is an advisory 20 mph on Ryleys Lane outside the schools. For me a 20 mph zone is needed there. The advisory is affordable and the full zone is not.

Hope this is all useful info.

I spoke with the highways department and they wlll investigate the 40mph sign. Officially it is still a 30mph per hour zone. As Marc Asquith points out any enforcement is worthless because of the confusion of the signs In addition, I have asked them to look at the 30mph signs again at Horseshoe Lane because I suspect (they are investigating) they are also illegal. They are "terminal signs" implying the end or start of the zone. I believe any repeater signs are also illegal in a 30mph zone. I have been trying to have reasonable conversations now for 7 months - I feel like I'm moaning but it seems like forever to undertake a simple straightforward task.

In their defence, there are a lot of changes within the HIghways department not least is the plan to devolve more powers to the Parish Council who theoretically (but not yet) will have direct access to funds to manage more of their local roads (part of the Localism Bill?). I am quite happy to volunteer provided I see what the Parish Council's joined up thinking is? Of course it will follow the Parish Plan but there is a lot of room for interpretation. Does anyone know who's the best person on the Parish council to ask about this?

Yes, the replaced 40 mph sign at horseshoe Farm is very confusing for those who know that the stretch to the Bypass roundabout is governed by 30 mph signs. Is it not cheaper to just have some white painted "gateway" 30 mph" signs added to the road way in both directions as helpful reminders?

I have had a meeting with my colleagues to discuss all the points raised.

We have noted the various different roads where people would like the device putting and it will be done in due course.

Thank you for your assistance.
PCSO Jim Newns.

Just to confirm that the 40 MPH signs have been removed from the birdcages and so the 30 MPH zone appears to be fully effective once again.