Agenda item

To answer any written questions from residents or businesses within the area in accordance with Standing Order 69.  Notice should be given in writing or by email to the Community Partnership and Committee Officer by 12 noon, four working days before the meeting.

There was one written question from Kate Lewis, local resident.

Signage of the 40mph Speed Limit on the Portsmouth Road from Ravenswood Roundabout to American Golf. 

The problems are:-

• The speed limit is being exceeded by some drivers, incurring noise nuisance for residents as they accelerate.
• This acceleration is particularly noticeable as cars exit the Ravenswood roundabout and enter the A30 heading up towards the American Golf.  There is no immediate reminder of the speed limit, with no road markings or signs that are easily visible.   
• The only 40 mph sign visible is a small sign on the side of on-coming traffic, just before Iberian Way.    This is very easily missed.
• Some motor bikes and cars accelerate out of the roundabout and up this section of the Portsmouth Road causing considerable noise nuisance.  A large 40 mph sign just off the roundabout would be a good speed limit reminder.
• As you get further up the Portsmouth Road there are more 40 mph signs so the problem is just off the Ravenswood roundabout, heading up.

Suggestions:

• Vehicle activated signs - 40 mph
• Painted 40 mph on the road and / or large 40 mph sign on the left hand side before Lime Avenue and Iberian Way turnings, from the Ravenswood roundabout end.
• Mobile speed cameras

Response on behalf of the Committee

Vehicle activated signs are an expensive asset and installation is typically done on roads where average speeds are slightly higher than the speed limit, showing that the majority of traffic do not comply with the speed limit.

Surrey County Council and Surrey Police have previously reviewed both sections of Portsmouth Road, either side of the roundabout over the M3, through the Speed Management Plan. The Speed Management Plan is a list of roads within the borough where data shows that compliance with the speed limit is found to be low. These roads then receive additional monitoring and are reviewed to determine whether enforcement or physical features would be most appropriate. The latest data collected by Surrey Police shows that there is good compliance with the speed limit at the time of review. As a result, no further actions were taken.

However, we will raise your concerns with Surrey Police to consider. Should they believe that the situation has changed since the last review then the road will be put back on the list and reviewed.

The reason why there are no terminal signs coming off the Ravenswood roundabout is because there is no change in speed limit.  The current 40mph signs along Portsmouth Road are repeater signs for the speed limit. The legal order that makes the rest of Portsmouth Road 40mph also covers the roundabout over the M3 making the roundabout officially 40mph. That being said, the speed limit is a limit and not a target and we do not expect traffic to be travelling at 40mph around the roundabout.

As the other adjoining roads are all 30mph, there should be terminal signs on those entrances giving the new speed limits. It was probably an intentional decision to have the speed limit on the roundabout at 40mph so that drivers coming off Portsmouth Road onto adjoining roads will cross terminal signs as they enter them, reminding them of the lower speed limit. Were the roundabout reduced to 30mph then there would be no signage of the speed limit on Crawley Hill, Briar Road or Youlden Drive as we cannot legally put repeater signs in 30mph speed limits with a system of street lighting.

Highways will visit the area to make sure that all terminal signs are still in place.

N.B.

Councillors discussed this item in detail.  It was noted that there were only a few repeater signs along this stretch of road, but that the speed data showed good compliance which meant no need to introduce new measures.  Councillors noted that if new speed and accident data showed a need, this would be reviewed.