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Crossing the road in Harbertonford (response)Tim Padfield writes, Friday, 25 February 2011 John Halliday of Highway Management, Devon County Council, responds to the proposal (next item below) thus: The proposed location of the crossing south of the bridge has been considered previously. When the intention to install a crossing was confirmed, extensive surveys of the movement of pedestrians were undertaken. Fewer people crossed south of the bridge than did so north of the bridge. Also the traffic paths favoured the introduction of a new footway over the bridge on the west side, not the east side and there is insufficient room for both. The western path also connects Moreleigh Road to the northbound bus stop - which an eastern footway would not. Tim responds: Thanks for the footpath on the west side, but people also board and alight at the southbound bus stop, presumably in equal number, where there is no footway in any direction. If the bridge is judged too narrow for a second footpath, a footbridge over the river would be a good solution. If artistically designed it would be an asset to the village, encouraging dallying, conversation and idly watching for the salmon to run. Crossing the road in HarbertonfordTim Padfield writes, Sunday, 13 February 2011 The debate at the village hall on Tuesday last took a predictable course. The highways people insisted on recorded accidents as necessary to trigger action and the locals eloquently expressed their anxiety, induced by the poor sight lines at the existing crossing. Unfortunately, the debate was limited to a discussion of the warning road sign. This turned out to be experimental, irreversibly paid for and disfunctional. However, the exchange of opinions and statistics continued along this predetermined track, on the assumption that there was no other, or better solution than a better flashing sign. My point is that the road sign is irrelevant. Nobody should rely on signing for safety. The crossing is presently placed where motorists and pedestrians cannot see each other until they are dangerously close together. If I were a slow moving person crossing from church side to shop side, I would wait with a toe on the crossing until a car comes around the bend from Halwell and stops. Only then would I begin to cross, hoping that following traffic would stop behind the protective stationary vehicle. That is hardly a good way to smooth the traffic flow. My analysis of the situation is that the crossing has to be moved to a position where there is sufficient visibility to be sure that it is safe to cross immediately, or to wait for the distant approaching vehicle to stop. There is only one position where that is possible: at the south end of the bridge. This means that a footpath must be built on the east, village green side of the bridge. At a Parish Council meeting with Mr Halliday some two years ago, he spread out large sheets of computer printout demonstrating that large vehicles could not pass each other on the bridge if there were footpaths on both sides. However, heavy vehicle drivers do not have in-cab computer assistance, so in practice it is common for big vehicles approaching the bridge from opposite directions to stop completely to allow single track working. The bridge at present functions as a one way system for heavy vehicles, but without assigned priority to either direction. If the footpath is added, heavy vehicles will not be further inconvenienced than they now are and there will still be space for cars to pass each other. The bridge should then be signed with a road narrows sign with priority for traffic from the Totnes direction, so there is less need to grind the gears to prepare for the steep hill out to the south. I point out that a survey of the movements of residents would show that most people now cross at the point I suggest the crossing should be, because it is safe. These people, as well as children alighting from the school bus, have then to cross the bridge where there is no footpath, but visibility is good. My proposed layout is shown on the plan below.  An open letter to the Devon County Council Highways Department, on the occasion of its representative's visit to Harberton Parish Council's February meetingby Tim Padfield, Jan 30, 2011 Dear Devon County Council Highways Department I have some suggestions for traffic management in and around Harbertonford which I hope you will respond to at the coming meeting of Harberton Parish Council 1. The footpath past the Old Toll House on the A381 Totnes western bypass This footpath was recently rebuilt and extended to the Ashprington road turning. This would be a major regional benefit because it avoids people walking and cycling on the busy and steep main road. It is very disappointing that it is not designated as a mixed footpath/cycle path. According to local officials, the path was designed for this purpose but was built too narrow. Is this true? If so, who is responsible for the error and why has it not been put right? A second concern, for pedestrians and particularly for those with pushchairs and handicapped people, is that the footpath narrows to 75 cm at the Old Toll House because the residents have put out concrete planters, wound around with barbed wire and furnished with wooden posts connected by chain link fence. This bastion is shamelessly obstructing passage. There is no reflective tape, no padding, nothing to stop accidents at night. The house owners have truculently rejected my initially polite requests to clear the path, claiming that it is their property. I have raised this matter of public safety with local authorities, most recently with councillor Paula Black. I would like a clear statement of what the Highways Department intends to do to remove this wilful obstruction to safe passage. [Update to this post on 9 February: After the meeting, Mr Halliday gave me the following description of the situation: The recent extension of the footpath was not designed as a combined cycle/pedestrian path. The owners of the Old Toll House do not have any rights of ownership over any part of the pavement outside their house. The Highways Management will install 'cyclists dismount' signs to protect the oriel windows which project over the footpath. The owners will be required to remove their planters and associated poles, chains and barbed wire. If they do not, the Council will remove the obstruction at the owners' expense. Further update 20 February: the ''cyclists dismount' signs are up. We are still waiting for the barricade to be removed.] I attach a picture of the site, with measuring stick showing the 75 cm free space. Also a picture taken at night showing that there is no warning reflective material.  The inset on the right shows the 75 cm space between the planter and the kerb.  A night view of the Toll House armoured garden, showing no reflective material. Suggestions for improvements to cycle and pedestrian movement around Harbertonford 2. A footpath can easily be built on the east side of the A381 between Brockhills farm and the turnoff to Harberton. The distance is about 100 m, there is a rough grass verge which is wide enough for a pedestrian/cycle path. This would allow convenient, dry and safe movement between Harbertonford and Harberton. I attach an aerial view showing the suggested route.  An aerial view of the region between Brockhills Farm and the road to Harberton, with the proposed foot/cycle path. 3. South of the bridge at Harbertonford the A381 passes through a narrow canyon where lorries and buses cannot easily pass each other. There is no footpath, so pedestrians are very exposed, and also put motor traffic at risk if drivers swerve into the path of oncoming traffic to avoid pedestrians. A path from the short green lane just south of Kiln Lane could go through the field on the east side of the A381 and join the unmetalled road which leads from the A381, past the old chapel and on to join the road to Washbourne.  An aerial view of the A381 south of Harbertonford, with suggested route for a high level footpath to the lane leading to Washbourne. These three improvements to foot and cycle traffic would improve the quality of life of the people of Harbertonford with a very modest outlay. Even if the last two stretches of path cannot immediately be constructed, they could be surveyed so that construction can be put in hand when funds are available. I ask for confirmation that the Devon Highways Department does have long term plans for improving the quality of life, not just reacting to public indignation, fatalities and potholes. 4. Traffic consequences of expanding Harbertonford by 60 houses, as proposed in the DPD. I note that Devon Highways had no comment on the proposed site RA18, immediately north of the filling station in Harbertonford, nor did they send a representative to the public hearing on the 10 November 2010. At this hearing we expressed concern that traffic from the new houses could emerge onto Old Road, nearly opposite the school. That would be a simpler solution than channelling traffic onto the A381 immediately north of the filling station and is therefore something the developer might try to do. We would strongly oppose adding traffic to Old Road for these reasons: it is a steep single track road without pavements, 14 dwellings have front doors which open directly onto the street and it is the walking way to school for many children. Northward, Old Road is a valuable quiet route to Totnes for walkers and cyclists. When the Highways department sorts out the Old Toll House barrier described in item 1 above, we will have a quiet and safe route for children cycling to the Totnes schools, as well as other commuters. I ask the highways authority to assert that it will object to proposals to give motor vehicle access from the new development onto Old Road, so that developers are clearly informed from the start that they will have to send traffic onto the A381. All the items mentioned in this letter will, if implemented, increase the pleasure of living in Harbertonford and add convenient access to and from Totnes for walkers and cyclists visiting and commuting from further south in the South Hams. I hardly need to add that a 20 mph limit throughout the village, including the A381, will greatly benefit the village. It is not just a matter of waiting for the body count: I don't like having to scurry over a crossing where I cannot see far enough south to be sure that there is not an unobservant motorist about to rush round the corner. Large vehicles already have to slow down to be sure not to have a collision on the bridge, so why not slow all traffic to a civilised speed through the village. sincerely |