Calls for road safety study

Calls have been made for a road safety study to be carried out on a south Shropshire road.

Caroline Crump and Peter Howarth, the chairs of All Stretton Village Society and Little Stretton Village Society respectively, have written to Church Stretton Town Council about issues on the B5477.

They say the road has experienced significant increases in traffic, which has included LGVs serving the water works and people visiting Carding Mill Valley.

However, they add that the road is of low quality with much of the route having narrow carriageways and no pavements.

“It is simply not possible for two vehicles to pass safely, a problem which is exacerbated when two or more large vehicles, for example two lorries or buses, meet travelling in opposite directions,” said Ms Crump and Mr Howarth.

In recent years, the town council has taken steps to improve road safety, including installing two Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS).

However, Ms Crump and Mr Howarth believe more needs to be done, and have listed the following areas that they feel need to be investigated:

• The use of parking restrictions at dangerous junctions and any adverse impact
  on vehicle speeds
• Introduction of speed restrictions (and any likely impact on increased ribbon
  development)
• Street furniture, for example ‘gates’ at the entry to villages which can help slow
  vehicles
• Improvements to pavements along the length of the B5477 in the town, the
  villages and the intervening countryside
• The introduction of weight limits to manage the routes of LGVs
• The purchase of more VAS
• The development of an active travel policy for the parish which should include
  improvements to safety in crossing the A49 and reflect the needs of all road
  users
• Possible changes to improve the management of traffic visiting Carding Mill
  Valley
• Entry on to and and exit from the A49
• Choke points
• Prioritising safety for pedestrians particularly those who are disabled and who
  need to use walking aids.

They said: “Although there have been some improvements in recent years, there is still much to be done to bring roads in the parish up to a recognised safe standard, and whilst it is appreciated that money is not always available, the development of a holistic strategy which sets out the priorities for work will provide residents with confidence and targets against which improvements can be measured.”

Church Stretton Town Council will consider the request at a meeting on Tuesday (June 23).