Road Safety Working Group

Following concerns about road safety and speeding which were expressed at the 2017 AGM, the board established a Road Safety Working Group with ten volunteer members and a board director as chairman. The Group first met on 3 October 2017 and defined its objectives to consider road safety issues and investigate feasible solutions.

Between October 2017 and April 2018, traffic flow and speed check surveys were carried out at five different locations, between the hours of 8am and 6pm, during the working week in school term times. The surveys were conducted on 15 separate days and some were repeated to ensure the data collected was robust. The total number of vehicles surveyed was 2,901 and results indicated:

  • 13% of traffic use the Estate as a ‘rat-run’.
  • 50% of all traffic using The Ridings exceed the 20 mph limit.
  • 52% of all traffic using Myrtle Grove exceed the 20 mph limit.
  • 65% of all traffic using Michel Grove exceed the 20 mph limit.
  • 70% of all traffic using Angmering Lane exceed the 20 mph speed limit.
  • 20-30% of all traffic using other roads on the Estate exceed 25 mph.
  • The worst ‘offenders’ are residents and other car drivers.
  • There is no evidence that driving schools regularly use the roads.
  • There is evidence that there are a small number of dog walkers and cyclists who use the Estate roads as ‘tourists’.

The Group produced two newsletters about its work which were delivered to all addresses on the estate. The newsletters are available below.

WRA Road Safety Newsletter Issue 1  (pdf)
WRA Road Safety Newsletter Issue 2  (pdf)

The Group’s findings and conclusions were presented by the Group’s chairman to the 2018 AGM with a handout on data and statistics which is available below.

Road Safety Working Group Data and Statistics 2018  (pdf)

After the 2018 AGM, the board carefully studied the Group’s findings and considered options for various traffic calming measures, focusing on speed humps or speed tables. It was decided to put forward proposals for the installation of two speed tables in Angmering Lane. Accordingly, the board placed two special resolutions on the agenda for the 2019 AGM in order to secure residents’ support for these measures. When put to the vote, both resolutions were overwhelmingly rejected.

Consequently, the board has not progressed any further proposals for the installation of speed humps or speed tables on estate roads.