Comments on: Toft Monks and speed restrictions http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/toft-monks-and-speed-restrictions/ Looking after Clavering Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:29:55 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: tonytomkinson http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/toft-monks-and-speed-restrictions/#comment-109 tonytomkinson Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:06:54 +0000 http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-109 Thank you Peter for your comment. I have asked Planning and Transportation to provide me with information giving datails of all Primary Schools situated on A class roads and the speed limit applicable at their location. The officer who will provide this information for me is about to go on holiday, she has promised to do the work as soon as she is back on the 22 February, watch this Blog for more information then. Tony Thank you Peter for your comment. I have asked Planning and Transportation to provide me with information giving datails of all Primary Schools situated on A class roads and the speed limit applicable at their location. The officer who will provide this information for me is about to go on holiday, she has promised to do the work as soon as she is back on the 22 February, watch this Blog for more information then.
Tony

]]> By: Peter Lambert http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/toft-monks-and-speed-restrictions/#comment-106 Peter Lambert Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:14:30 +0000 http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-106 An alternative approach to tackle the issue would be for Norfolk County Council to adopt a policy that no school in Norfolk should have a speed limit in excess of 20 miles per hour outside the main entrance. I am sure such a policy would be applauded by constituents across the county who would see such a policy as a sensible and safe step and demonstrate a commitment to putting children first. So, instead of planning and transportation department or the minister being seen as the villian of the piece the County Council can take a positive and direct initiative. Children's Services and the Education Department should be asked to provide a view on such a proposal to counter the reservations that seem to be coming from the Transportation Department It would be interesting to know how many schools in the county have speed limits of 40 or more miles per hour outside the main entrance. An alternative approach to tackle the issue would be for Norfolk County Council to adopt a policy that no school in Norfolk should have a speed limit in excess of 20 miles per hour outside the main entrance. I am sure such a policy would be applauded by constituents across the county who would see such a policy as a sensible and safe step and demonstrate a commitment to putting children first. So, instead of planning and transportation department or the minister being seen as the villian of the piece the County Council can take a positive and direct initiative. Children’s Services and the Education Department should be asked to provide a view on such a proposal to counter the reservations that seem to be coming from the Transportation Department

It would be interesting to know how many schools in the county have speed limits of 40 or more miles per hour outside the main entrance.

]]> By: tonytomkinson http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/toft-monks-and-speed-restrictions/#comment-100 tonytomkinson Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:56:35 +0000 http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-100 I am pleased to report that my persistance has a small result. There is to be a site meeting (date to be agreed with Chris Alston). At this stage I would not like it to be a meeting of the full Parish Council, but perhaps Linda (Chairperson) would like to join us. I will then try to get Chris to attend a PC meeting to cover all the points with them. I am pleased to report that my persistance has a small result. There is to be a site meeting (date to be agreed with Chris Alston). At this stage I would not like it to be a meeting of the full Parish Council, but perhaps Linda (Chairperson) would like to join us. I will then try to get Chris to attend a PC meeting to cover all the points with them.

]]> By: William Kemp http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/toft-monks-and-speed-restrictions/#comment-98 William Kemp Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:19:52 +0000 http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-98 Having read Cllr Gunson's response I am extremely disappointed by it. His answer, if such a vague and empty response could be described as an answer, has not addressed the points of the residents and ignores the very real dangers of this road. I would ask Mr Gunson to spell out plainly why he refuses this request, not try and fob people off with 'officer speak' and vagaries. The children and parents at the school deserve better from the County Council and so do the people off Toft Monks. Having read Cllr Gunson’s response I am extremely disappointed by it. His answer, if such a vague and empty response could be described as an answer, has not addressed the points of the residents and ignores the very real dangers of this road.

I would ask Mr Gunson to spell out plainly why he refuses this request, not try and fob people off with ‘officer speak’ and vagaries.

The children and parents at the school deserve better from the County Council and so do the people off Toft Monks.

]]> By: tonytomkinson http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/toft-monks-and-speed-restrictions/#comment-95 tonytomkinson Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:47:57 +0000 http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-95 I continue to have difficulties convincing Planning and Transportation that there is a serious problem at Toft Monks, through the village on the A143 and past the school. I have written to Adrian Gunson Cabinet Member and invited him to join me in Toft Monks. I am publishing his response below:- "Your comments regarding the side road speed limits are noted and understood. As detailed in my previous email this will be considered as part of the 09/10 Traffic Management Programme. I note your request for me to go on a tour of Toft Monks and Glebelands School site, but I am fully aware of the issues in Toft Monks and have looked at them personally. I have to say that I am very impressed by the depth in which the officers have looked at these issues and I would not want to override them. I know the village as I say, and I have challenged every step of the officers arguments on the questions you raise. Turning to the school speed limit, this was investigated fully in the past two years and if you have not got details of this, the department can let you have them. Unfortunately due to a number of factors including the lack of built up frontage a reduction in the level of speed limit was not feasible nor would it have received a good level of driver compliance. However, we did provide two vehicle activated signs specific to the school which have increased the level of road safety benefit to the location. Our records show daily flows at Thurton of 12,620 vehicles when the current 40mph speed limit was implemented in 1998. Although I should add that the vehicle flow, whilst of pertinence to a speed limit is not one of the main component factors considered as a leading criteria in speed limit assessment. The main criteria relate to the level of frontage development adjacent to the road in question, road junctions and other causes of turning movements, observed vehicle speeds, personal injury accidents and road type/geometry. I know you won't agree with the comments in this email, but I am satisfied the points you raise have been given very thorough attention by officers and I have no reason to think Toft Monks has been treated unfairly or inconsistently compared with other villages on speed management". <strong><em>I will continue to press for speed restriction measures to be put in place and welcome comment from residents.</strong></em> <strong>Tony</strong> I continue to have difficulties convincing Planning and Transportation that there is a serious problem at Toft Monks, through the village on the A143 and past the school. I have written to Adrian Gunson Cabinet Member and invited him to join me in Toft Monks. I am publishing his response below:-

“Your comments regarding the side road speed limits are noted and understood. As detailed in my previous email this will be considered as part of the 09/10 Traffic Management Programme.

I note your request for me to go on a tour of Toft Monks and Glebelands School site, but I am fully aware of the issues in Toft Monks and have looked at them personally. I have to say that I am very impressed by the depth in which the officers have looked at these issues and I would not want to override them. I know the village as I say, and I have challenged every step of the officers arguments on the questions you raise.

Turning to the school speed limit, this was investigated fully in the past two years and if you have not got details of this, the department can let you have them. Unfortunately due to a number of factors including the lack of built up frontage a reduction in the level of speed limit was not feasible nor would it have received a good level of driver compliance. However, we did provide two vehicle activated signs specific to the school which have increased the level of road safety benefit to the location.

Our records show daily flows at Thurton of 12,620 vehicles when the current 40mph speed limit was implemented in 1998. Although I should add that the vehicle flow, whilst of pertinence to a speed limit is not one of the main component factors considered as a leading criteria in speed limit assessment. The main criteria relate to the level of frontage development adjacent to the road in question, road junctions and other causes of turning movements, observed vehicle speeds, personal injury accidents and road type/geometry.

I know you won’t agree with the comments in this email, but I am satisfied the points you raise have been given very thorough attention by officers and I have no reason to think Toft Monks has been treated unfairly or inconsistently compared with other villages on speed management”.

I will continue to press for speed restriction measures to be put in place and welcome comment from residents. Tony

]]> By: Alan Williams http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/toft-monks-and-speed-restrictions/#comment-94 Alan Williams Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:40:04 +0000 http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-94 The A143 continues to concern me. I work at Glebeland School and am still horrified that there is no intention to even consider reducing the speed limit through Toft Monks. We recently conducted a travel plan survey of parents - the common theme in the additional comments is the speed limit along the road. I will be pleased to share these comments with you Tony. Please keep up the pressure to reduce the limit outside school and through the village centre. The A143 continues to concern me. I work at Glebeland School and am still horrified that there is no intention to even consider reducing the speed limit through Toft Monks. We recently conducted a travel plan survey of parents – the common theme in the additional comments is the speed limit along the road. I will be pleased to share these comments with you Tony. Please keep up the pressure to reduce the limit outside school and through the village centre.

]]> By: lisa clarke http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/toft-monks-and-speed-restrictions/#comment-90 lisa clarke Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:38:34 +0000 http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-90 It is absolutely rediculous that the speed limit outside Glebeland School is set so high at 50mph. I was driving through Loddon only yesterday, and the limit through there has been reduced to 20mph, and that's not even near the school !! I sincerely hope to god that it is NOT going to take a fatality for the limit to be lowered outside Glebeland, I and many others have almost been in an accident at the school junction, it is scarey to think that one day someone will be hurt before anything is done. We need the backup and help from everyone who travels along the A143 to support this issue. Lisa Clarke It is absolutely rediculous that the speed limit outside Glebeland School is set so high at 50mph. I was driving through Loddon only yesterday, and the limit through there has been reduced to 20mph, and that’s not even near the school !!
I sincerely hope to god that it is NOT going to take a fatality for the limit to be lowered outside Glebeland, I and many others have almost been in an accident at the school junction, it is scarey to think that one day someone will be hurt before anything is done. We need the backup and help from everyone who travels along the A143 to support this issue.

Lisa Clarke

]]> By: paul sharman http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/toft-monks-and-speed-restrictions/#comment-89 paul sharman Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:49:39 +0000 http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-89 Although I don't live at Toft Monks or Hadiscoe, I do have 2 children who attend Glebeland School and therefore am concerned at the lack of a realistic speed limit in that area. Anywhere else I travel to at every village there is a 30 limit but not at Toft Monks, why? It is idiotic to tear through the village near the pub and past the school at 50. And as mentioned previously if the Yarmouth harbour gets going and the new pit gets the go ahead then the traffic is only going to get worse. Also another thing to consider is way back in about 1980 when the county council held a meeting to decide which of Aldeby, Wheatacre or Toft schools were going to stay open and which were to close, the councillors there assured all of us present that road safety would be a priority and on the same score Aldeby was not suitable as it was right on a dangerous bend!! I would suggest you dig up the minutes of that meeting Tony, it was at the Bugh St Peter village hall. <em>Thank you Paul, I will do as you suggest and see what was said then. One thing is certain and that is that there will be much more traffic and faster traffic now than there was in 1980. Getting hold of minutes nearly thirty years old might be difficult, but I'll try. I will also ask for traffic speed and number monitors to be put down, to see the current position. Yours, Tony</em> Although I don’t live at Toft Monks or Hadiscoe, I do have 2 children who attend Glebeland School and therefore am concerned at the lack of a realistic speed limit in that area.
Anywhere else I travel to at every village there is a 30 limit but not at Toft Monks, why? It is idiotic to tear through the village near the pub and past the school at 50.
And as mentioned previously if the Yarmouth harbour gets going and the new pit gets the go ahead then the traffic is only going to get worse.
Also another thing to consider is way back in about 1980 when the county council held a meeting to decide which of Aldeby, Wheatacre or Toft schools were going to stay open and which were to close, the councillors there assured all of us present that road safety would be a priority and on the same score Aldeby was not suitable as it was right on a dangerous bend!!
I would suggest you dig up the minutes of that meeting Tony, it was at the Bugh St Peter village hall.

Thank you Paul, I will do as you suggest and see what was said then. One thing is certain and that is that there will be much more traffic and faster traffic now than there was in 1980. Getting hold of minutes nearly thirty years old might be difficult, but I’ll try. I will also ask for traffic speed and number monitors to be put down, to see the current position.

Yours, Tony

]]> By: warren lee bond http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/toft-monks-and-speed-restrictions/#comment-88 warren lee bond Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:28:01 +0000 http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-88 Thank-you for raising the valid points about speed restrictions, which is a great concern,but as a parent with two children Lindas points about the pathways leading from Haddiscoe and Toft Monks to Glebeland primary school are DEATHTRAPS. We live one mile away from the school at Toftmonks and would dearly love to cycle or walk to school reguarly, but dare not because of the risk of serious accident or DEATH, because of the inadequate footpaths and the poor and infrequent maintenance alongside them. We do so very occasionally as a treat when this should be the norm.The government and council keep telling us to lead healthier lifestyles and to keep pollution down, so how about a little help here please, and I am sure several families would take the healthy and enviromentally friendly option of walking or cycling to school in safer circumstances. Warren Bond. Thank-you for raising the valid points about speed restrictions, which is a great concern,but as a parent with two children Lindas points about the pathways leading from Haddiscoe and Toft Monks to Glebeland primary school are DEATHTRAPS.
We live one mile away from the school at Toftmonks and would dearly love to cycle or walk to school reguarly, but dare not because of the risk of serious accident or DEATH, because of the inadequate footpaths and the poor and infrequent maintenance alongside them. We do so very occasionally as a treat when this should be the norm.The government and council keep telling us to lead healthier lifestyles and to keep pollution down, so how about a little help here please, and I am sure several families would take the healthy and enviromentally friendly option of walking or cycling to school in safer circumstances.

Warren Bond.

]]> By: tonytomkinson http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/toft-monks-and-speed-restrictions/#comment-87 tonytomkinson Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:42:02 +0000 http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-87 Thank you Linda, I would like to hear the views of some of the other Parish Councillors and more residents of the village as well. Perhaps the Landlord of the pub would like to comment. He has a lot to put up with. I think the by-pas is very unlikely in the forseeable future, if we do get one it would be well past my sell by date. But, something has to be done to enforce the speed restrictions when we get them! Tony Thank you Linda, I would like to hear the views of some of the other Parish Councillors and more residents of the village as well. Perhaps the Landlord of the pub would like to comment. He has a lot to put up with.
I think the by-pas is very unlikely in the forseeable future, if we do get one it would be well past my sell by date. But, something has to be done to enforce the speed restrictions when we get them!

Tony

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