What other ways are there to restrict speed and why have they been ruled out?
The Parish Council has discussions with Highways about speed bumps, speed reduction tables, roundabouts and traffic lights.
Cost of these measures played a part in rejecting these ideas, alongside previous village feedback. Other reasons that these were rejected include:
- the impact on exhaust emissions of vehicles speeding up and slowing down;
- tyre wear and tyre particular emissions;
- noise;
- damage to vehicles.
Alterations to junctions (e.g. a mini roundabout) including Toyse lane, Pound Hill, Isaacson Road and Reach Road/Heath Road were also considered. These were ruled out due to cost and feedback from Highways that 20mph would be more effective in reducing speed and accidents.
One way traffic lights on Newmarket Bridge were considered turned down due to cost.
What else is being done to reduce speeding in the village?
40 to 30 mph buffer zones have been created on the approaches to the village: -
- Ness Road
- Newmarket Road
- Swaffham Road
Speed watch sessions continue and are held in various approved village locations. We are always looking for volunteers to help with this. Please contact us if you can help.
3 Mobile Vehicle Activated signs (MVAS) continue to be moved around 21 approved village locations. These provide the Parish Council with dates, times and speed analysis so we can see the number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit in a given period. This highlights speeding hotspots which can then be reported to the police for enforcement action and informing Speedwatch session locations.
The safety working group are continuously looking at other ways to increase safety including zebra crossings and other Local Highway Initiatives, however these would be need to be funded.