REPORT ON TRAFFIC CONGESTION RESPONSE FORMS

 

    INTRODUCION

 A letter was sent out to residents in Kimberley, Nottingham, asking for their opinion on what were the most common causes of several persistent traffic issues. There were two particular questions that needed to be considered. Firstly: what do the residents feel are the biggest traffic issues in the area, and secondly what improvements residents think need to be made in order to ease congestion. Many issues were raised by residents in their responses to the letter, with the most common ones regarding parking and speeding. 

 

 MAIN POINTS RAISED ON CAUSES OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION

 Many residents are concerned with Parking on Hardy Street as the cars take up a lot of the pavement and also narrow the road meaning visibility is reduced. There are fears that this will result in an accident as cars are forced to drive on the wrong side of the road in order to get full visibility.

 

  • Parked cars also reduce visibility for pedestrians when crossing the road. This is of particular concern to parents as there is a school nearby.

 

  • There is also the issue of pedestrians being forced to walk on the road as cars are parked on the pavements. Many cars also drive onto the pavement to avoid oncoming cars when the road is narrowed by parked cars. Residents also fear that this will eventually cause an accident, with some residents having already had near misses.

 

  • Parking is particularly problematic during school drop-off and pick-up times as a number of parents simply park on the road rather than using the Golden Guinea Car Park.

 

  • Many residents living on Hardy Street have also raised the issue of their driveways being blocked in the morning and afternoon when parents are dropping off and picking up their children. Parked cars along Hardy Street also limit visibility for them when coming out of their driveways, making it particularly dangerous.

 

  • Many residents mentioned speeding as a particular issue. Cars speeding up the hill on Hardy Street are particularly dangerous due to reduced visibility caused by the parked cars.  

 

A few residents also mentioned the problem of drivers using Maws Lane, Holly Road and High Spannia as a cut-through. There was also mention of the fact that traffic is particularly bad during the weekend due to the development of the retail park, and the problem caused by heavy lorries on Cliff Boulevard. Although these points were mentioned by a few residents, the most prevalent issues are those mentioned above with many residents feeling that most of them will soon cause accidents if not resolved.

SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS

 

  • Residents feel that parents should be encouraged to park in the Golden Guinea Car Park rather than parking on the road-side, and up on the pavement. This would reduce congestion as the road would not be narrowed as much. It would also increase visibility for drivers and pedestrians alike, and mean that the pavements would be free from cars making it safer for pedestrians.

 

  • The introduction of double yellow lines on Hardy Street, either on both sides or on side, would discourage drivers from parking there and also mean that parents wouldn’t simply ignore the advice to park in the Golden Guinea Car Park as there would be no other option. This would also mean that residents wouldn’t have their driveways blocked by parked cars.

 

  • Many residents also feel that Hollywell School should provide further parking for parents. Quite a few mentioned the green area around the school that could be converted to provide extra parking. There was also mention of  the Silver Birch trees which they feel are too large and dangerous and should be removed, freeing up more space.

 

  • A number of residents also feel that Hardy Street needs bollards to discourage people from driving on, or parking on, the pavement.

 

  • One-way system on Hardy Street (and Maws lane, as suggested by some). However one resident does point out that this could prove problematic as it is a bus route.

 

  • 20mph speed zone and flashing lights on Hardy Street to reduce speeding. Some have also suggested heavy penalty fines if speed limit is broken.

 

CONCLUSION

 

 

All respondents feel that improvements need to be made soon, although appreciate that most of the changes will be difficult to implement and will take some time. Almost all residents mentioned the increase in congestion during school starting and finishing times as parents park on the road when dropping off or picking up their children. They do feel that this may be the simplest problem to solve as parents just need to be further encouraged to use the Golden Guinea Car Park, as this will help ease congestion making it easier for them and for the residents in the area. The introduction of a 20mph speed zone was also an issue that most residents felt needed to be dealt with sooner rather than later, especially with a school nearby. On the whole, residents seem to be of the opinion that safer and more considerate driving could help to solve some of the problems even before any major physical changes to the area.