Twenty is plenty in the City Centre, but not in King's Hedges...

The new 20mph limits in parts of the City Centre is a welcome sign that the County Council are perhaps becoming more flexible in their previously rather rigid approach to speed limits.

However they are still only willing to put in such limits where the speed of the traffic is already below that limit: basically where there is less need to do so.

As a result Northfield Avenue remains off the list of possible reduced limits. This is despite the decision of the City and County's Joint Committee to look at possible options in February 2008.

(Picture shows Andy on Northfield Avenue)

More Guided Busway traffic problems...

Hopefully this will be the last time I write that headline!

The team received an email from the County Council highways team about more work on the Guided Busway around Orchard Park (or Arbury Park).

The temporary lights should be gone by the weekend.

The email says:

On behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council, Busway contactor BAM Nuttall Ltd will be carrying out adjustments to the traffic signals at the junction of Kings Hedges Road and Chariot Way. At the same time permanent traffic signals will be installed here for The Busway.
Whilst carrying out some of this work, it will be necessary to operate temporary traffic lights at this junction and reduce Kings Hedges Road, Arbury Road and Chariot Way to a single lane at the approach to the temporary traffic lights.
This work will take place between 20 and 28 October 2009, from 7.30am to 6pm, however the temporary traffic lights will only be in use between 20 and 23 October 2009. They will be in place day and night.

They give contact numbers in case of problems: 01223 716 972 for the County Council, and 01954 785 200 for BAM Nuttall Ltd, the constructors.

As ever give us a call if you want more info, or this causes problems.

Speed Survey: Northfield Avenue

At the last North Area Committee it was agreed that Northfield Avenue along with King's Hedges Road would be subject to a "speed survey" sometime in the near future. Once the survey has been completed we will have one whole weeks worth of traffic data for these two main roads which will enable us to put a much stronger case to the Conservative-controlled County Council for some form of speed reduction/ traffic calming in this area (as requested by numerous local residents).

Watch this space ...

PS. You can still sign the petition to have a 20mph speed limit on Northfield Avenue outside the school. The link is here. The more signatures the more weight we have with the County Council!

Welcome news on traffic problems

A quick news update:

The Cambridge News are reporting a further crack down by the police on traffic offences in Cambridgeshire. Included in that is a target on King's Hedges and the north of the city.

The LibDem team shall continue to campaign for more such action. I have asked at North Area Committee for more enforcement on King's Hedges Road and Northfield Avenue in particular.

"20 is Plenty" Petition for Northfield Avenue

Following on from our Residents Survey along and around Northfield Avenue it became clear there was clear community support for something to be done to reduce speeding, especially outside the Primary School.

To demonstrate this support to the Conservative Run County Council I've created a Petition to introduce a 20mph Speed Limit on Northfield Avenue. A form for this Petition will be included in the next "Focus on Kings Hedges" issue (due soon). To kick things off the form is also available online at;

http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/northfieldave

You will also have the opportunity on the website to sign-up for Notifications from this campaign.

The recent announcements by the Government has led to the County Council considering changes in some parts of the city (see this Cambridge News article). This change is very welcome and suggests that the County Council might be willing to listen.

Please sign up so we can get a sensible limit in King's Hedges!

County council ignores pleas for action to save lives

The whole team here fear someone will be killed in the King’s Hedges area unless the county council changes its priorities to include the safety of city residents.

The Conservative run Cambridgeshire County Council has refused our ideas for cutting drivers’ speed on King’s Hedges Road. Speeding drivers are also putting lives at risk in the Northfield Avenue area.

Yet again, there's been two crashes on King's Hedges Road, supports our fight for traffic calming measures.

Councillor Mike Pitt said: “All the ideas I have put forward to try to cut speed and save lives on this road have been turned down by the county council.
“It is only a matter of time before someone dies on this dangerous stretch of road and yet the county council seems oblivious to that fact. Its priorities have been set up to exclude Cambridge city residents and their concerns for safety.”
Mike has suggested better signage, temporary or fixed speed cameras, painting the 30mph limit on the road and even moving the 30mph sign at the Histon Road end to make it more visible, and all of these have been turned down.

Campaigner, Andy Pellew has also been fighting for traffic calming measures in the area. He wants to see action taken in Northfield Avenue especially on the stretch between King’s Hedges Primary School, The Red Hen House and The Ship.

He said: “There have been accidents on this road and traffic regularly speeds along this stretch. I believe it is only a matter of time before there is another serious accident.
“The county council must start listening to the people of Cambridge and realise that speeding traffic in this area is a real threat.”

Worried about speeding on Northfield Avenue, or anywhere in King's Hedges? Please get in touch!

Speeding/ Accidents on Northfield Avenue

First of all let me introduce myself, my name is Andy Pellew, I live locally and I'm campaigning to get some taffic calming measures implemented for Northfield Avenue - especially the stretch of road between King's Hedges Primary School, Red Hen House (part of the Red Hen Project), and The Ship. Many of us are aware of accidents or have witnessed speeding on this stretch of road and I believe it's important we do something before there is a serious incident.

Myself, Mike Pitt, and Neil McGovern have already begun speaking to local residents about this idea and I hope soon to start a petition to put before the council to make this road safer not only for local residents but for all users of this important road. Watch this space!