Scheduled Highways works for Arlesey Road
Hertfordshire Highways will be installing speed tables along Arlesey Road, to replace the existing speed humps. The work is now scheduled for October, and the resulting road closure will be published in advance.
A brief history:
A meeting with Parish Councillors and Hertfordshire Highways Engineers was held on 2nd November 2020 to discuss concerns with the condition and effectiveness of existing speed cushions situated between Chambers Lane and 123 Arlesey Road. Whilst their concern centres around the condition of the existing modular cushions they also want to see an alternative solution to the current arrangement.
Average Speed Cameras were requested by Councillors; the report stated that Arlesey Road “does not meet the criteria for installation of Camera Technology in reducing the speed of vehicles as it does not does not meet the requirements of the Hertfordshire Speed Management Strategy which is 4 persons ‘killed and seriously injured’ for the most recent 36-month period”.
The report was released in March 2021, and recommended flat-top speed tables: “In reviewing the most appropriate alternative to the existing arrangement of six pairs of cushions, it is felt that the most appropriate physical replacement measure is to introduce flat topped humps.” The funding for this was not available in the 2021-22 budget, and so the works were scheduled for 2022-23.
At the same meeting, concerns were discussed about pedestrian safety under the railway bridge near Cadwell Farm. A subsequent site visit was conducted by Engineers to undertake a site survey and collect physical data to consider appropriate options in and around the immediate area of Cadwell Bridge.
The report was completed in June 2021, and confirmed that there is a need to provide better pedestrian protection in the form of a pedestrian footway. The existing bridge width is approximately 5.0m wide which needs to accommodate heavy goods and Agricultural farm vehicles thus limiting the overall footway width. Providing a footway under the bridge will mean that the vehicular traffic will need to be controlled either by priority give way or be signal controlled. As the alignment of the road under the railway bridge is on a bend there is not enough inter-visibility between vehicles, and therefore safe vehicular movement around the railway bridge would require signal-controlled working. The funding was not available for this in the 2021-22 budget, and although the works have not yet been scheduled, County Councillor David Barnard is pursuing the funding, as well as a potential interim solution, which, if costed significantly less, could be funded by the Parish Council.
A more in-depth history can be found in Parish Council meeting minutes, available on this website. All residents are welcome to join all Parish Council meetings – they are platforms for you to speak about any matter relating to Ickleford, and an opportunity for you to find out what is being discussed and decided upon for your village.
Thanks for your update. Regarding the criteria of 4 deaths/serious injuries in a 36 month period, have you looked at the figures more recently? We have the impression that there have been at least 2 deaths/serious injuries in just the last year.
Hi Alan, thank you for your comment. Yes indeed, the Parish Council, NHDC and HCC are aware of the increase in serious accidents more recently. County Councillor David Barnard has followed up the initial report on more than one occasion. We are still in the hands of Highways in terms of criteria for the ability to request solutions to speeding.