Traffic calming raises tempers

8:49am Saturday 21st June 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

Major traffic-calming plans in Bushey have been met with a mixed response from residents, some of who believe speed bumps will do nothing but damage cars and add to parking problems.

The proposals unveiled by Hertfordshire Highways last week include the extension of a 20mph zone, double yellow lines and 15 pairs of 65mm “speed cushions” and “speed tables” in Greatham Road, Park Road, Bushey Grove Road and Bushey Hall Road.

Along with tackling speeding and improving crossing points and lighting, the £250,000 scheme plans to cut down the number of cars using the roads as “rat runs” into central Watford.

While all the residents at a consultation on Wednesday and Saturday welcomed the measures to tackle speeding, many said cameras would be a better solution.

Brenda Gray, of Greatham Road, said: “I have seen them coming down the road at 70mph, not many go down driving less than 40 or 50. I fear for my life. It’s so dangerous for the people crossing the road. I can’t even bear to have my grandchildren visit me as it’s so dangerous.”

The 68-year-old Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator added: “I know there need to be so many deaths for them to put cameras in. I will certainly not be wishing for that so we have to work with what we have. Unfortunately the road is too narrow for chicanes.”

Rod Senior, of Belmont Road, said: “Surely instead of them spending money on this we could have speed cameras? Everyone gets affected by this, not only the ten per cent who speed.”

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s bad for people with asthma as you have more cars slowing down and speeding up. There’s also been a large increase in the number of accidents on motorways as people have damaged shock absorbers because of the bumps.

“With speed cameras you can generate revenue. Reducing speed is a good thing but not with silly bits of concrete.”

Independent of the Hertfordshire Highways consultation, Hertsmere Borough Council officers and councillors are attempting to arrive at a decision on parking issues which many residents said overshadowed the speeding problem.

Hertsmere Borough Council representative, Catherine Feast said a consultation with residents showed a clear divide in people’s opinions over extending a controlled parking zone in Greatham Road to the surrounding area.

She said: “If the residents want it they will get it but it would be nice if everyone wanted the same thing.”

The area is close to The Harlequin shopping centre in Watford and is used by many shop staff for parking.

Pamela Jenkins, of William Street, said: “I think we can solve our parking problems by Watford Council allocating parking for people in The Harlequin centre. People who work there are not on high salaries, they cannot pay £5 and £10 a day.”

If approved, The Hertfordshire Highways’ scheme will be funded entirely by a Section 106 agreement from the developers of the former International University, in The Avenue.

The consultation ends on Monday, July 14. A second Hertsmere Borough Council consultation has been planned.