A verbal update by the Traffic & Road Safety Manager, Tony Carr, RBWM.

The Chairman welcomed the Traffic & Road Safety Manager, Tony Carr, to the meeting and asked him to address the item which had been requested by a resident, Trevor Robinson.

The Traffic & Road Safety Manager referred everyone to the briefing note on page 17 of the agenda.  It was noted that traffic had been falling over the years and whilst speed was not increasing it could be down to people’s perceptions.  The Traffic & Road Safety Manager explained that some areas in London had put in 20 mph limits and that he wanted to start a discussion into the possibility of revised speed limits in residential areas. 

The Chairman asked the Lead Member for Highways, Councillor Colin Rayner, if he had anything he would like to add.

The Lead Member for Highways reminded everyone present that it was not the Council who enforced speed but the Thames Valley Police.  It was noted that the Council could write to the Thames Valley Police to alert them to concerns raised, ask them to put up warning signs and request that they undertook ‘counts’. 

Trevor Robinson stated that he had been very pleased to see this item on the agenda as he felt it was very worthwhile and had been grateful for the briefing note that had been provided by the Traffic & Road Safety Manager.  It was noted that Trevor Robinson hoped to see this item on the agenda again in the future.  Trevor Robinson informed the Forum that he had been interested to see the figures on traffic volumes in the briefing note rather than the information about speed.  The question was asked as to whether the information included in the briefing note could be found on the RBWM website.   

Trevor Robinson went onto state that he did agree that the speed concerns could be down to people’s perceptions and that he considered which routes to use depending on speeds / narrow roads and high kerbs, etc.  It was noted that Trevor Robinson had looked again at the area from the A308 from Windsor to the Brigidine School and that the only thing that showed the reduction in the speed limit was one sign which he felt could be improved on.  It was suggested that a large ‘SLOW’ sign painted on the road might help raise awareness along with 50 mph limit warnings along with lit up speed monitors.  It was noted that there was also a very sharp turn / curve from Windsor to Ascot Road where the traffic tended to travel very fast.  It was noted that people using that road might miss the speed limit sign on the lamppost.  Trevor Robinson added that he was interested to hear more about the 20 mph speed limits as he felt this could be something good to think about although understood they might be quite costly. 

The Lead Member for Highways explained that the Council was concerned about speeding on those junctions mentioned along with Kings Street and the crossing on the Long Walk.  It was noted that discussions were currently taking place with the Crown Estate and the Head of Highways & Transport, Ben Smith, and that full public consultations would follow in due course.    The Lead Member for Highways went onto explain that the Council also had a declutter policy in place which could help with the A308 Albert Road past the Brigidine school, the area past the Army Barracks in King Street and the sharp turn / curve from Windsor to Ascot Road areas. 

The Traffic & Road Safety Manager explained that he felt that people tended to drive to the speed they felt comfortable with and tended to drive as per their surroundings.  It was noted that there was perhaps the potential to drive round and do a review to see if there was potential to introduce 20 mph speed limits in residential areas.  Resident Garry Williams added that he believed the issues were caused by individual pests rather than the public as a whole and that he would not like community speed watch schemes and mobile cameras all over the Royal Borough.   It was noted that Garry Williams felt the Army Barracks, Legoland and two hospitals all had an effect on traffic in Windsor and that he believed cars on a whole were much more silent then they used to be.  The Traffic & Road Safety Manager responded by explained that the community speed watch schemes were generally run by the Thames Valley Police and manned with volunteers with mobile speed guns to gather data.  It was noted that anyone caught travelling at excessive speeds were sent warning letters rather than fines and Garry Williams was assured that these schemes were not something the Council actively promoted. 

Councillor John Bowden informed everyone present that before he had been elected he had written to the Thames Valley Police to highlight two areas of concern to him which was the Goslar ‘speedway’ (a 40 mph down to 30 mph zone within 20 / 30 yards of a junction) and Alma Road.  Councillor John Bowden explained that he had not been satisfied with the response he had received from the Thames Valley Police which had been that they felt the two areas were considered unsafe for them to stop vehicles / place someone there with a speed gun. 

Resident Helen Price informed everyone present that recently the Thames Valley Police had imposed a 20 mph speed limit in Imperial Road when the schools finished for the day.  Helen Price asked whether the Council received feedback from these initiatives.  The Traffic & Road Safety Manager explained that flashing speed limits were only advisory limits. 

Trevor Robinson thanked the Forum for the debate that had taken place tonight.  It was noted that the Council had a Local Transport Plan (2012-2026) which was felt to be a worthwhile document and well worth a read. 

RESOLVED: That the Lead Member for Highways would write to the Thames Valley Police on behalf of the Council to see if they could address the issues raised at tonight’s meeting. 

It was requested that a contact for speed issues be added to the minutes.