Report on the Hurley Residents meeting in October 2008

The meeting was well attended with over 20 residents of Hurley Common dropping to see the proposals and to discuss them with me. Generally residents understood the reasons why it was not possible to introduce a 30mph speed limit into the village and therefore that it would not be possible to install any physical traffic calming in the form of speed humps or chicanes.  There were a number of issues which residents asked to be given further consideration, these are itemised below.

• Introduce a speed limit to the section of Brick Kiln Lane between Hurley and Hurley Common.
• Install improved bend warning signs on this stretch
• Introduce a   flashing vehicle activated warning sign at the approach to the village from Hurley.
• Introduce a flashing vehicle activated warning sign at the approach to the village from Wood End.
• Enforcement of the existing speed limit and 7.5t weight limit.
• Concern over the size and speed of buses using Brick Kiln Lane  

We have looked at each of these items and we are able to address a number of them :-

• WCC's Transport Operations section who monitor Warwickshire's public bus services will be writing to both Stagecoach and Arriva drawing their attention to the concerns of residents and the Parish Council regarding the excess speed of busses through the village.
• Warwickshire Police are always consulted as part of the process of bringing the village speed limit review scheme into fruition. I shall make sure that the request for improved Speed limit and Weight limit enforcement are brought to their attention.
• I have discussed the introduction of a reduced speed limit between Hurley and Hurley Common with the Road Safety Engineering Team. They point the guidance from the DfT and consider that for speed limits to be most effective they should be appropriate for the character of the road and thereby ‘self enforcing’, as drivers base their speed on the perception of the road environment and not on the speed limit signing.  Inappropriate limits are often ignored and make drivers less willing to comply with the system generally. To adhere to a speed limit therefore, the perception of a driver must be that they see a change in the environment from rural to village.  In the case of Brick Kiln Lane  between Hurley and Hurley Common, with the lack of frontages and very small number of houses, there is little change for a driver to observe and therefore any reduction in the speed limit would not be effective. they are however willing to investigate any improvements that may be appropriate to   warning drivers of the bend. This improved signing may be incorporated into the Village speed Limit Review.
• The residents felt that two additional flashing vehicle activated signs may be of benefit in alerting drivers to the speed limit. One situated on the approach to the village from Hurley and one at the opposite end of the village for traffic approaching from Wood End after the speed limit signs. Vehicle activated signs should not be a substitute for conventional signs and they should therefore only be used sparingly. Over use of the flashing signs can lead to a reduction in their effectiveness. A pair of signs are already proposed for the semi rural stretch of Brick Kiln Lane in the middle of the village to reinforce awareness of the 40mph speed limit. The guidance from the DfT states that vehicle activated signs should only be deployed where there is evidence that the problem cannot be remedied by improving the fixed signing. The DfT go on to advise that permanent conventional signs should be installed first and if the problem with the associated hazard persists, then a flashing vehicle activated warning sign can then be considered. We propose to install two village 'Gateways' with improved road markings and speed limit signage designed to enhance the change of environment from rural to village, making it much more conspicuous than at present and giving a stronger message to drivers to reduce speed.

I suggest that additional flashing vehicle activated warning signs should only be introduced if, after the scheme as it is has been constructed and its effectiveness monitored, that vehicle speed results for the each end of the village indicate that further measures need to be taken to reduce traffic speed to within the speed limit. A monitoring survey would take place approximately 6 months after completion. I propose to carry out an additional speed survey at the Hurley end of the village adjacent to the houses prior to construction of the scheme in order to be able to compare results (we already have survey results from the Wood End end of the village).  

Should the Parish Council wish to discuss any further issues relating to the Village Speed Limit I will be more than happy to answer them, however I am anxious to progress the scheme to the formal consultation stage. I would be grateful if the Parish Council would confirm whether or not this is that this is acceptable.

I have attached a copy of the latest plan of the proposals for the Village Speed Limit Review below. Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

yours sincerely

 Latest proposals following meeting are below

Downloads\H  Traffic A_VILLAG Hurley Common Drawings Proposed Nov 08.pdf click here

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Pictures from around Hurley

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Hurley

• Hurley is situated 11 miles north-east of Birmingham and its name means ‘a clearing in the forest’.

• Hurley Church is situated at the top of a hill and is a small wooden structure.  It was built about 1860.

• The Holly Bush Inn used to have steps up to its front door and it overlooked the Bull Ring where the village stocks were sited.

• Dexter colliery was sunk on the south side of the village in the mid 1920’s and was demolished in 1987.

• On the outskirts of the village, where a brook flows through a spinney to the river Tame at Kingsbury, is the site of an old paper mill.

Use the hyperlink on the left to access Hurley Community Association's website.

Hurley Village Hall - Groups

(correct at time of entering on website Jan 06)

Tumble Tots   - The playtime group for all pre-school children.  Every Thursday 12.30pm - 2.00pm.

                          Contact Dawn 01827 873130

Lunch Club    - Everyone is welcome to join in a sociable two-course meal and a cup of tea all for £2.50.

                         T he group meets in the Village Hall at 12.30pm on alternate Wednesdays.

                         Contact Paul 01827 872492

Prize Bingo    - Every Friday night 7.30pm - 9.30pm.

Bingo             - Every Monday 7.30pm for 8.00pm.  20p per ticket - all welcome.

Gentle Exercise for the over 50s - Every Monday 1.30pm - 2.30pm.  Only £2.00 per session including

                         refreshments.  Ageing Well runs this in conjunction with Age Concern.

Bowls              - Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings - contact Alan 01827 873228

24/08/2009