The Action Group for a Safer Shenley

The Action Group’s achievements to date are significant

Shenleybury: Recent test have shown that there has been a small reduction in the average speed of traffic along this road. It is felt that a crossing, probably a Pegasus Crossing, would encourage more people to walk to Clore Shalom School and reduce the amount of vehicles accessing the school in Farm Close. It was also felt that a crossing would help to reduce vehicle speeds in Shenleybury. The provision of such a crossing has been agreed in principle however there are a number of conditions that need to be met not least where the funding for such a crossing will come from. We are reasonably confident that a funding source can be found, although as with everything else to do with the Council it will not happen quickly

Black Lion Hill: The traffic speeds for Black Lion Hill are considered to be excessive for the existing 30mph speed limit. The road has been put forward for inclusion on the speed limit review list, but the review may recommend that the speed limit be changed to 40mph to reflect the existing traffic speeds and the character of the road. We, and all residents, need to make our feelings known to the Highways department that this really is not acceptable bearing in mind the increased foot traffic along the road that may result from the Pegasus Crossing in Shenleybury and both Primary Schools using the route between the two schools.

There is sign clutter along the road as well and Highways are looking at this issue to see whether there are any signing improvements that can be made. Unfortunately this again will be subject to funding becoming available.

London Road: This road has been put forward for inclusion in Highways’ speed limit review. They are also investigating whether there is scope for improved signing in this road to help reduce speeding.

Green Street: this road has been put forward for inclusion in the speed limit review. Highways are also investigating whether there is scope for improved signing in here to help reduce speeds.

The Action Group is becoming better known within the community as the messages we receive via the website show. The contacts we have had recently all revolve around the selfishness of drivers who seem to care little for others and indeed seem oblivious to others who are out on the roads and pavements.

Concern has been expressed over the accident earlier this month (May 2011) when a young boy was hurt on a crossing in the village, and those commenting say that some drivers going through the village seem to be unaware of the crossings, being more intent on the conversations they are having on their mobile. At the same time, pedestrians should be equally aware of the traffic and be more careful than ever in this day and age. Not all accidents are the fault of the driver.

Concern has also been expressed by bicycle riders, one in particular who cycles to Borehamwood Station each morning, a highly laudable action in these days of high oil prices and our ever growing carbon footprint. This villager finds cycling along Green Street highly precarious. Most vehicles do travel that road at the 60 mph speed limit and some overtake when they certainly cannot be sure of what is coming in the other direction. Is there a need for a cycle lane along here? Or should the riders be allowed to cycle on the footpath? Please let us have your thoughts. Why not start a discussion on the comments page.

Finally what are your thoughts about farm vehicles using the roads and how they are driven? We have had complaints from one villager which we have taken up with one of the local farmers and have ascertained that his vehicles are not at fault. Just as well as he is a Parish Councillor! Indeed it is an issue the Stewart Hunter is taking seriously and is in contact with the villager concerned.

If you have any comments, ideas or suggestions about how we can try to make the road and paths around Shenley safer please let us know. Contact me or put your views on the comments page.

The Year Ahead

I hope you have all had a thoroughly enjoyable summer and are refreshed ready for the longer nights ahead.

The Action Group are now swinging back into action and Mark has already had a short interview on Three Counties Radio He was asked about a report by Admiral, the Car Insurance Company which places Radlett at the top of a list of towns with the highest percentage of drivers with a speeding conviction in the last 5 years. The top ten list is full of towns that are recognised as being among the most affluent areas of the country whereas those at the bottom of the list appear to be the less affluent areas. I wonder if this is because the more affluent do not see the speeding fine as a deterrent. Perhaps fines should be higher and maybe even means tested. Any thoughts?

We do have a good deal to get through in the coming months. We are trying to arrange a meeting with Hertfordshire Highways in conjunction with the Parish Council and Clore Shalom School to discuss the speediest (please forgive the terminology) way to implement the recommendations made by the Highways Department.

There are discussions to be had with the Police over a greater usage of speed guns on all Shenley’s approach roads.

We will be having further discussions with the Parish Council about any possible petition to Hertsmere concerning Pound Lane and the possibility of making it one way. Please again let us have your thoughts on this. We have already had many in favour and a few against. Put your comments on the website and maybe we can get a discussion going on-line.

Please use this website to give your thoughts to make comments or to add new topics that we can get involved in.

Shenley Fete 2010

27th April 2010 - Hertsmere Highways Committee

On 27th April, 12 members of the Action Group attended the Civic Centre to hear the Highways Committee discuss the report that the Assistant District Manager of the Hertsmere Highways had prepared in response to the 800 signature Petition we presented back in October last year.

We were advised by the Assistant District Manager that we would not be able to read his report until after the Committee Meeting. This naturally made it almost impossible for us to raise any specific question. We were then told that we could have read this report 5 days earlier. I wonder why we were given false information in the first place.

However, Mark Blundell had sought, prior to the meeting and been given permission to speak. The attitude of the Chairman of the meeting was very much against our presence and against any of us speaking. Indeed initially he refused Mark permission to speak. He was eventually allowed to and anybody who would like a copy of what he said can request it by e-mail to
info@SaferShenley.wd7.org.uk

The report was long with many irrelevances but the conclusions were, at least, promising. Some of the recommendations are listed below:

1. The Speed of traffic in Black Lion Hill is at a level which requires further consideration. The Hertfordshire Highways Transport Programmes and Strategy Manager will be asked to consider whether a scheme would be appropriate.
2. The Committee was requested to fund a traffic / speed survey for all the main access roads into Shenley so that a comprehensive review of speed limits for the Shenley area is carried out
3. Further investigations will be carried out to see if a low cost traffic calming scheme can be introduced on Shenleybury. If such a scheme is funded then it would consist of improved traffic signing and road markings.
4. Confirmation that the 40mph limit would be extended as agreed nearly two years ago.

It was further confirmed that the 40 mph limit would definitely be extended before the end of May. A personal assurance of this was given by Mr M Goodyear, Assistant District Manager Hertfordshire Highways.

We will keep the pressure on to ensure that this long and tortuous process to make our roads safe for all to walk and drive on is brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

If you have any views or comments please let us know via the website: www.safershenley.wd7.org.uk

Pound Lane

There is a petition asking for Pound Lane to be made one way. We have however received an objection to this which proposes a different solution to the problem In our view it is a better and probably cheaper and quicker solution. We will discuss this with Hertfordshire Highways as soon as we are able. Should anybody want to know what the alternative proposal is, please email: info@SaferShenley.wd7.org.uk

Our Progress So Far.....

Speed of traffic through our village and particularly on the main approach roads is resulting in more and more accidents and it is only a matter of time before somebody is killed. With close to 1,000 signatures already under its belt the group has been steadily working towards reducing the speed of traffic to a safer level on all the approach roads to and from the village. At the moment attention is being focussed on Shenleybury and Black Lion Hill but once improvements have been made in this area the group will immediately turn its attention to the other areas equally affected by the hazards caused by high speed traffic.

Despite the frustration of unfulfilled promises from Hertfordshire Highways, who almost 18 months ago, agreed to extend the 40 mph speed limit on Shenleybury to beyond the junction with Farm Close, the group refused to be discouraged and challenged the Highways and Transport department to carry out its promise without further delay and indeed the Executive Member for Highways & Transport, Hertfordshire County Council has just confirmed that this limit should be moved during the course of March. This is a significant success for our Group and is our first success in making Shenley safer for all

Further notable progress has been made. At the Parish Community Fair on 25th February, contact was made with Councillors who expressed their whole-hearted support of our cause and during our discussions with them we gained valuable insight into the workings of local government which we will use to good advantage. Two Parish Councillors have joined the group’s steering committee and with their help and guidance we are confident of a successful outcome. Encouraged by their support a firm plan of action has been formed for the coming weeks.

Keep an eye out for us on the streets where in various guises we will be collecting information on vehicle types, numbers and speeds. Coverage in the local press is being arranged and the group take this opportunity to thank everyone, concerned residents, schools, councillors and committee members for their help in its campaign for a safer Shenley.