Traffic Management in Bovey Tracey Town
Centre
An
informal examination by Clive Sawers MICE CEng (Traffic
Engineering Consultant)
This is
intended as a review of what could be achieved as a low
cost series of measures to solve traffic problems in the
town. I have no access to traffic or accident data so the
plan is based only on observation and experience
elsewhere.
Links
to additional pages: at the bottom of each page
- these pages contain illustrations and pictures of the
town.
The
problems (these are summarised here but more details
are shown on subsequent pages):
| Item |
Problem |
Possible
Solution |
| Inappropriate
Speed |
Many
drivers drive through the town too fast when not
affected by congestion. This is a common
occurrence anywhere but particularly between Le
Molay Littry Way and Newton Road; this length is
rarely congested. |
Although
not guaranteed to reduce speeds a 20mph limit
through the town from somewhere near Coombe Cross
to the bypass and along Mary Street seems
appropriate - Twenty is Plenty
could be the slogan.
To help reinforce that I recommend a
mini-roundabout at the Newton Road junction
(Dolphin Square) which would make much better use
of the space there (no loss of parking spaces,
wider footways and additional pedestrian islands
with reduced speeds); consideration should be
given to a mini-roundabout at the junction of Le
Molay Littry Way (a more difficult site).Initially I
would probably not install humps or any form of
speed cushion or speed table, but a second stage
might be the introduction of the bus friendly
form of speed table known as the H-hump (see
drawing on later page).
|
| Congestion |
Parked
vehicles on the narrow Fore Street mean that
drivers must "shuttle work". But when a
pinch point of a few vehicles becomes a
pinch length all the way between the Town
Hall and Union Square, it becomes nearly
impossible for drivers to "work"
properly without driving along the pavement to
pass one another. |
The issue
here is to shorten the lengths where continuous
parking occurs to provide breaks where drivers
can pass one another more easily. This in itself
would prevent serious congestion or lock-ups.
Parking and loading would be prevented at one or
two short lengths to allow this. These
points would also be used for pedestrians to
cross; the kerbline would be built out making
parking very difficult but passing relatively
easy. |
| Insufficient
short term parking |
There is
manifestly more room for parking during the
working day than is currently provided. On the
rare visit of the traffic warden the road-side
space becomes unnecessarily empty. |
Much of the
current single yellow line (working day
prohibition) could be removed and designated for
(say) one hour parking as elsewhere at present,
except of course where the passing places would
be provided as above. Some exclusive spaces could
be provided for the Disabled. |
| Lack
of pedestrian facilities |
The problem
here is the poor visibility that pedestrians and
traffic have of each other when trying to cross
especially near the Post Office. Parked vehicles
on the inside of the slight bend in the road here
make crossing particularly hazardous. Coupled
with occasional excessive speed this can become
quite a problem. It is particularly
difficult for pedestrians between the car park
and the Craft Centre; the road is too narrow for
a footway.
|
Without
traffic and pedestrian flows available I cannot
comment on the practicality or otherwise of
providing such facilities as Pelican, Puffin or
Zebra Crossings. I suggest they are unnecessary
and would "sterilise" too much
potential valuable kerbside parking. Provision of
the two passing points with kerbline build-outs
(only on the side where parking generally would
continue) would help pedestrians, and reducing
free vehicle speeds would also help. Speed tables
help considerably, but if introduced would have
to be of special design (H-hump) because of the
use of the road by buses, delivery and emergency
vehicles. Provision of a footbridge alongside
the existing bridge could be considered.
|
What
NOT to do!
- One
way systems The effects of making even a
short length of road one way are far reaching.
Were any part of the Fore Street to be made one
way, there would be considerable diversion
through less suitable roads and junctions. There
would be a considerable increase in speeding
a. along the one way street itself (unless
forcibly calmed) and
b. as drivers are directed out of their way when
confronted with a no entry sign.
- Traffic
Signals I see no justification for the
expensive provision of traffic signals at any
junctions in the town. None of the junctions is
under such pressure as to ever justify such
provision now or in the future. Signals do not
provide convenient or necessarily safe pedestrian
facilities. But signals could possibly be used at
the Bovey Bridge (see below).
What I
have not covered in the basic plan.
- The
need for a pedestrian footway along the road by
the Bovey Bridge
This is the area near the Craft Centre where
traffic speeds are high, visibility is poor and
pedestrians on the east side of the road have no
footway. Provision of a footway here would be
difficult unless a way could be found of safely
"shuttle working" the traffic over the
bridge (signals?) or providing a separate
pedestrian bridge (planning permission? Cost?
Feasibility?).
- Other
areas outside the town centre
Pottery Road was mentioned in the press. I am
aware of some speeding there but have no
indication of the accident record; if there are
accidents due to speeding then traffic calming
may be appropriate using humps or speed cushions;
otherwise leave well alone other than providing
for footway continuity. There is one narrow point
where providing a proper pinch-point may enable
the footways to be better joined up.
- The
Disabled, wheelchairs, prams etc.
My concern here is a serious lack of continuity
of surface for this group of road users. All
footways stop at some point and there is a
serious lack of proper drop-crossings. Also some
footways are too narrow e.g. East Street where
the road is slightly too narrow for two-way
traffic. These lengths could be
"pinched" properly to provide better
footway width for pedestrians and wheelchair
users etc.
- Town
Centre Enhancement
Along with the drop crossings and build-outs is a
need for the enhancement of the town centre.
Residents and Traders make an excellent display
of flowers but the current road markings and
signs make the town ugly. Union Square could be
enhanced with the removal of most of the road
markings and use of better, more traditional
materials, the layout of which would define
priorities without the need for road markings.
Consultation
DCC got
into some difficulties over the Fore St, Kingsteignton
traffic scheme. Similarly the Chudleigh scheme was
unpopular (but I think it works quite well). A consensus
is required before going ahead with such far reaching
proposals as altering town or village centres.
The
October 2002 consultation was almost meaningless. The
Dolphin Square scheme had already been decided so why was
it displayed? DCC had no proposals for the town centre so
the public had no guidance as to what the possibilities
were. We cover consultation in my seminars on traffic
calming and Devon should do better. I hope this is not
repeated.
Further
information
There is a
huge amount of information about traffic calming on the
internet and elsewhere.
Comments?
E-mail me:- penntraff@aol.com
Clive Sawers - 25 September 2002
|
