PC Speed Survey

This survey has been devised by the parish council (PC) to gather opinions from residents on the subject of car speeds through Hankerton.

This is to inform the PC of parish opinions and help them towards making a decision about any possible speed restrictions.

It is important to read the following information to aid you in answering the questions.

COST IMPLICATIONS
For minor highways improvements such as a speed limit the PC has to contribute 30% of the cost.

To achieve a speed limit would cost Hankerton PC £2500.

The required first step in the process would be a speed limit survey by Wiltshire council’s contractors.  This would cost the PC £870 (included in the £2500).  But there would be no guarantee that the survey would recommend a speed limit.  We might spend £870 only to find that a speed limit is considered not appropriate.

PC money is of course residents’ money, paid by you in the first place.  The PC current annual budget is about £5000.

However to complete the picture we should acknowledge that the PC is to be given £60k by the Minety Solar Farm once they start to build it, expected in mid-2024, for community benefit.  It is possible that the PC may judge expenditure on a speed limit to be a community benefit.  However we cannot be certain about this money until it is in our bank account.

KEY FACTORS FOR WILTSHIRE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT.

The speed limit survey will look at points including these:

  • Collision rate (per million vehicles)….very low for Hankerton
  • Traffic volume….very low
  • Frontage development…minimum of 20 properties over 600 metres. (the argument being that without a suitable level of development, drivers fail to make the association with the speed limit and the overall level of compliance tends to be low.)
  • Mean speeds
    • Hankerton has had 4 traffic surveys (known as ‘metrocount’, utilising a cable across the road) in the past few years, 2 locations in 2020 and 2 in 2021.
    • Average speeds recorded were:  30.8mph, 26.9mph, 32mph and 28mph.
    • 85th percentile speeds were: 39.2mph, 33.9mph, 39mph and 34mph. (85th percentile means the speed at or below which 85% of vehicles  were travelling.  The theory being that no amount of speed limit signs will influence 100% of drivers.)
    • Compare these speeds with a recent recommendation when another parish was asking for a speed limit “issue to be closed after metrocount speed survey showed 85th percentile speed of traffic to be only 40.7mph”.
  • On the face of it it doesn’t look like we have a strong case.  No matter that we would pay 30% – Wiltshire council will still have to pay 70% and they won’t do that unless the case is strong.

THE SURVEY

Go back

Your message has been sent

Does traffic drive too fast ?

Are you surprised that the Metrocounts recorded such relatively low speeds ?

Do you feel that a 30mph speed limit would make any difference to the speeds at which traffic drives through Hankerton ?

Taking all the points into account do you think the PC should attempt to get a speed limit for Hankerton ?

HOW TO ANSWER

  • This survey is being distributed in hard copy to all residents because we cannot know how many will see it on electronic means.
  • Please answer by email if you’d prefer to – to mrbg1@outlook.com .  Just copy and paste the questions into your email.
  • If you prefer to answer on hard copy please simply annotate this page and deliver it to Kate Nurden at 1 Hillwell.
  • In both cases please add your name and address clearly.
  • Timescale – the PC will next consider the issue at the 4 September PC meeting but the earlier you can answer the better, please.