 Speed
Calming Protest
Sunday 23rd November 2003
A great success with over 60 villagers attending despite atrocious weather. There
were the retired right through to babies in prams. Six local and district councillors
attended as well.
For two hours locals made multiple crossings of the pedestrian crossing outside
Sandridge Village Hall causing tailbacks of 20 cars stretching right through
the village in both directions. Villagers are intent on returning at rush hour
if the Highways Department do not come up with solutions forthwith.
A
Public Meeting on, 12th November 2003, over 50 residents voiced
strong concerns at the general high levels of speed through
the village and the ignoring of the pedestrian crossing. Herts
Highways engineers were there but offered no solutions and
hid behind procedures. For a fuller
report and background see here. The best they could offer
was (another) assessment.
Tragically
just days later on 20th November 2003 there was a serious accident
at the junction of Coleman Green Lane and the High Street.
One of the drivers, a local man, was pronounced dead on the
scene. Our thoughts and condolences go to the family and friends
of the victim. 
It's amazing that this should happen only a week after the public meeting with
the Highways Engineers. That such a tragedy was predicted at the meeting really
goes to show how badly our roads are managed. There was also an accident in
House Lane on Friday morning, 21st November.
To
reinforce the protest message please write to the Herts Highways
department. Tell them your worries and ask them what they are
going to do. Tell them the appetite to protest, but in rush
hour next time, till we get some results.
"The
traffic is too fast, what tragedy will happen next?"
|
"I
have to cross the road twice a day on my way to and
from school. The cars don't always stop on the crossing." |
"I
use the crossing everyday and even with a pram drivers
just don't stop."
|
We
need traffic lights for the pedestrian crossing. This will
break up the traffic and hopefully make it stop for pedestrians!
Also
a crossing is well overdue opposite Reynolds Crescent - which
again will serve to slow traffic into the village, and allow
crossing from the village path and bus stop on the north side
of the road.
The
village needs permanent traffic calming, including House Lane
not just the High Street, making it safer. We don't want further
human tragedies. We don't want more damage to our parked cars
and property. We don't want all the noise pollution excessive
speed brings either. We want speed cameras and an end to Highways
inaction!
So
please write today, address your emails as follows:
To:
hertsdirect@hertscc.gov.uk
Cc: sandridgeparish@compuserve.com
Subject: Please forward to the Highways Department
also
see: Background Kavanagh
Plan Solution
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