Parish Council
On 16th November 2022 Sticklepath Parish Council received a report that a Sticklepath resident’s car was hit in the main road, and the resident herself narrowly avoided serious injury. The accident was one of a series of incidents caused by speeding through the village.
Although Sticklepath Parish Council was already working on the creation of new speeding signs, the accident has prompted a review of all the actions that the council has taken over the past eight years. This review will consider whether the council could have missed anything that could help in the reduction of speeding.
The review of minutes was carried out electronically on the available minutes. Further research could be done on the hard copy minutes held at the Village Hall, but there has not been sufficient time to date.
History
The following actions have been considered and/or actioned since 2014:
Police Speed Checks – Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Wilson conducted a speed check in 2014 and reported that cars were on the whole driving at an acceptable speed. In January 2021 a Road Safety Officer had also performed a speed check.
Mini-roundabout at the Ladywell end of the village – This was discussed in September 2014, and the chair was to take it forward with Devon Highways, presumably the response was negative, but the relevant minutes are missing.
Community Speed Checks (Speed Watch) – Discussed in July 2015, but rejected due to significant training required. A full report on Dartmoor Forest’s experience was made by Cllr Moore in September 2017. This started a process to obtain Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) and Village Gateways – see below. As part of the process of getting these Devon Highways carried out their Speed Compliance Action Review Forum (SCARF) process (completed by March 2018) which may have involved hand held surveys or fixed speed detection radar devices. Devon and Cornwall Police run a Speed Watch service. Community Speed Watch is a national initiative where proactive members of local communities join with the support and supervision of their local police to record details of speeding vehicles using approved detection devices.
Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) – In 2017/18 Cllr Moore liaised with Drewsteignton Parish Council (DPC) (who cover Whiddon Down), to obtain a mobile VAS funded by a joint grant from Devon County Council (DCC), topped up by DPC reserves. Devon Highways specified on which lamposts the sign could be used. The signs are currently shared with that council, they are moved around between the councils every few months, with Sticklepath having them for half the year. Volunteers help move them and put them up.
Village Gateways – As part of the 2017 action on speeding it was agreed to obtain gateways to highlight to drivers that they were entering the village. Planning consent was not required, following advice from Devon Highways on the sighting of the Gateways. DPC paid for both sets of gates. Volunteers helped install them in summer 2019.
Highways Signage – Devon Highways were approached for ‘no footpath’ signage in September 2017, which was installed in 2018.
Private Signage – From September 2017 it was proposed to have temporary signs to highlight safety. Signs designed by children were put up on the South Zeal road in 2021 in liaison with South Tawton Parish Council. Cllr Duffield produced a report in October 2022 on further options for road safety signs. In November it was agreed to get costs for metal sign holders, and approach local estate agents to produce ’20 is plenty’ signs. The Neighbourhood Highways Officer has confirmed that as long as signage does not cause a hazard, is on private land and does not imitate official road signage, then it is acceptable.
Correspondence – In October 2017 letters were written to local taxi companies as they had been seen speeding. Two positive responses were received.
Encouraging reporting – Throughout the years, both PCSOs and Neighbourhood Highways Officers have emphasised the need for residents to take down the numbers of speeding vehicles, and any near misses or accidents and report them to the police. Although no immediate action will be taken, persistent offenders can then be identified, and any other highways actions will depend on police reports.
Promotion – Various articles were written in the Beacon (Sept 17/Feb 21) to remind drivers and cyclists to slow down through the village and other hazards. It was often pointed out that locals were probably the worst offenders. The school was contacted in February 2021 to ask them to mention the issue in their newsletter, which they did.
Road to South Zeal – In February 2021 it was proposed to Devon Highways that the road to South Zeal was made one way to prevent accidents. DCC do not have the budget for this, and there is no history of accidents.
Zebra Crossing – In June 2021 the possibility of getting a crossing was discussed, but it was believed that as the road is the A30 diversion route, a crossing is unlikely to be allowed. There was concern that the required visibility areas either side of the crossing would result in lost parking spaces. The additional width of road (caused by lost parking spaces) might even encourage vehicles to drive faster.
Highways Officers – Two site meetings have been completed with DCC Highways Officers to consider traffic calming options, and we are not officially entitled to more.
Slow – In September 2020 DCC were contacted to ask for SLOW to be painted on the road to South Zeal, but this was turned down.
School Council – In November 2022 Cllr Wooldridge agreed to speak to the school council about speeding and the council.
These would be in addition to the work on private signage already being carried out.