Following recent accidents in Ludlow, I am calling a public meeting to hear concerns and discuss potential safety measures. The meeting will be attended by Shropshire Council’s portfolio holder for highways, David Vasmer and highways officers. The police have been invited. Other invitations are going out.
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 16 July at St Peter’s Parish Rooms, 6pm to 7.30pm. It is open to all and no need to book.
There have long been concerns about road safety in some areas of Ludlow. Traffic going at speed, drivers acting illegally. Poorly designed road layouts. Narrow roads used by large vehicles and trucks on unsuitable roads. All these are factors that contribute to increased risk for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers and to many cyclists and pedestrians feeling unsafe on the roads.
Lowering road speeds is one option to improve road safety and help people feel safe on the roads. The new Liberal Democrat administration’s commitment is to: “Introduce 20mph speed limits where there is the support of the parish council and local councillor.” Discussions are underway about reviewing Shropshire Council’s policy on the use of 20mph speed limits with the aim of making implementation simpler and more cost effective. In Wales, the widespread introduction of 20mph limits has led to 19% decrease in casualties in the first year of operation. The Welsh schemes were clumsily introduced. We will be following the Oxfordshire approach where 20mph limits are being introduced with the consent of the local member and the town or parish council.
Residents in Lower Corve Street have been asking for ANPR cameras to be installed to prevent traffic cutting through for several years. The road is access only but since new Raglan Place estate was built the number of vehicles cutting through without stopping has grown. Ludlow Police recently stopped vehicles that were using the road as a through route to give drivers warnings.
The previous council administration was cautious about ANPR restricting their use to just a few trials outside schools. We need to expand their use along with 20mph speed limits. This is one of many issues that can be discussed at the meeting.
Recently, I raised the issue at cabinet.
Question from Cllr Andy Boddington
There is growing interest in using ANPR to prevent driving offences which disturb neighbourhoods and reduce safety of pedestrians and other vehicles.
Lower Corve Street in Ludlow in an example of where we have an urgent need to prevent through traffic. Its use as shortcut has become intolerable with a constant stream of vehicles entering and exiting the access only road. In recent weeks two cars have been written off and many more have been damaged in recent years. Several solutions to this have been explored over the years but none implemented. The view of most people in the community is that only ANPR will check the through traffic and ensure drivers use more suitable (and only slightly longer) roads.1) What experience does the council have of using ANPR? 2) Has its use proved effective and are there lessons for rollout elsewhere? 3) What policies or guidelines does the council have for installing ANPR across the county where it will prove beneficial? 4) Give the difficulties faced by residents could options for Lower Corve Street be looked at with a matter of urgency?
Response from Cllr Rob Wilson, Portfolio Holder Transport & Economic Growth
The enforcement of moving traffic offences using ANPR cameras has been commonplace in London for some time under Part 6 of the 2004 Traffic Management Act. Since May 2022 Local Authorities outside of London have been able to apply for those same powers. Shropshire Council was granted those powers in July 2023. To date, those powers have only been used in Shropshire to enforce the six trial camera controlled School Streets across the county. We will be reviewing what has been learnt from this programme and assess how Shropshire Council could make further use of these “moving traffic offence” powers in the fullness of time. Meanwhile, Council officers are compiling a draft list of potential locations, and I will ask for Lower Corve Street in Ludlow to be added to this list.
If it was up to me I would;
Extend the 20 limit from the school to Applegreen as most of the kids cross on the 30 part.
Put a proper pedestrian crossing at the Galdeford/Tower St junction.
Extend the cycle lane up the hill past the cemetery so its actually useful and put a crossing at the top.
Crush any vehicle left outside Munchies or Station Drive doctors.
And install a roundabout at the Salway junction.
But the potholes on Gravel Hill being fixed would have been top of my list until recently so I live in hope.
Good idea – unfortunately I am not able to attend.
An item for discussion – Car parking on footpaths which achieves nothing but makes life difficult for those pushing children in buggies, wheelchair users and disability scooter riders. The extra width given, about 2/3 ft., is insufficient to allow vehicles coming in opposite directions to pass so why do it?
I complained to Network Rail about the overgrown vegetation on the embankment in New Road and was told it would be attended to this week, it’s Thursday and we’re still waiting. Don’t hold your breath!
The problem is parish councils and councillors are unaware of legislation. Ludlow is poorly inspected by the council and operational works undertaken by them are in breach of legislation .
Speeding in town is becoming a real issue, especially on all of the roads into Ludlow off the A49. People also seem to think the 30mph limit at Ludford starts/ends at the Charlton Arms and that the road from Weeping Cross lane to Temeside is a 40 or 50 – which is especially worrying as many families walk that way to St Laurence’s school.
Most worrying to me though, is the number of times I’ve been walking through town and a driver has sped past me only for me to catch them up at traffic lights and get a strong waft of cannabis smoke from the car.
You don’t seem concerned about introducing yet more surveillance? A bit authoritarian?
The upsurge in bad driving has been really noticeable everywhere the last year or two, not just Ludlow.
I have mentioned it before.
I’ve received feedback from many including shopkeepers and therapists that people seem more emotionally unstable, no doubt due to the stresses of recent years and this is likely playing a part.
I don’t see why the rest of should be subjected to cameras because of the few.
I have thought for ages that a roundabout at ‘Chancer’s Crossroads’ by the Salway would be sensible.
Whilst it would be a bummer for long suffering residents of Lower Corve Street to block off one end of the street, it would surely deter the thoughtless and lazy individuals who use it as a short cut whilst still allowing access for residents. Much more reliable, effective and less intrusive than cameras? Job done?