1 April 2019 | Flockton Bypass

16 April 201916 April 2019

Bypass Campaign Contacting Coach Companies

Kathryn Middleton, resident and campaigner for a Flockton Bypass, is continuing to contact companies who flout the vehicle access rules from the Grange Moor end of the village. The latest TRO (Traffic Regulation Order) in the form of the weight restriction sign for HGVs, is now enforcible by Police and only specific HGVs, such as emergency vehicles, service buses, and local farm vehicles, are permitted to enter the village from that direction.

Name: Mrs kathryn middleton

Sent: 15 April 2019 17:16
To: Info National Holidays

Enquiry:

Please could you tell your drivers to follow the diversion signs instead of travelling illegally through Flockton village on the A637 from Grange Moor roundabout. A new Transport Regulation Order from Kirklees Council has stopped all coaches over 7.5T from 12/4/19. The road is too narrow and is a serious accident waiting to happen. Thank you.

Subject: National Holidays
Date: 2019-04-15 18:42
From: National Customer Services <>

Good evening Mrs Middleton,

Thank you for your email in regards to our coach fleet.

I have confidentially passed your comments onto the Operational Manager to address with all drivers.

In closing, please be assured of my best intentions.

Kind Regards,

Hazel Hall
Customer Services Supervisor
National Holidays
www.nationalholidays.com
Tel: 01246 223939

10 April 201911 April 2019

Enforceability of 20 mph speed limits

Posted to the Flockton Bypass facebook group (10 April 2019) by David Rawling:

An extract from Section 12 of the link. The last paragraph tells us what the community already know, but needs the authorities to act upon:

The study has shown that the speed at which people drive is influenced more by the look and feel of the road, than whether a 20 mph or 30 mph limit is in place. It appears that some roads where 20 mph limits have been implemented are naturally ‘self-explaining roads’ where drivers ‘instinctively’ drive more slowly (because their length provides less opportunity to build-up speed, visibility may be limited, drivers do not feel that they have sufficient space to drive faster or feel that it is appropriate to do so, and because they serve local start/end destinations only). In other cases, the look and feel of the road naturally encourages higher speeds. In many cases the implementation of a 20 mph limit has simply formalised existing behaviour.

The challenge is how to change driver attitudes and behaviour in other locations. Evidence from this study (and others) shows that bigger speed reductions occur on faster roads, with higher volumes of traffic and providing a locally important strategic function.

Circular 01/2013 encourages authorities to consider introducing 20 mph limits on more major streets where foot and cycle movements are important, but also advises that where average speeds exceed 24 mph, the introduction of signage only is unlikely to lead to 20 mph compliance. This study supports this advice and confirms that on faster roads more needs to be done to achieve compliance and maximise the benefits. Even on these types of roads the actual reduction in speeds has been small, with lowering the speed limit using signs alone leading to a reduction in speed of about 1 mph. Without supporting measures to encourage compliance, there is a risk that non-compliance with the speed limit becomes the norm.

See the full report here.

Road Safety Fact Sheet (20 mph zones)

20 mph speed limits on roads: Report into the effectiveness of 20 miles per hour (mph) road speed limits.

10 April 201910 April 2019

New enforcement order for HGVs through Flockton village

Wednesday 10 April 2019

A couple of articles:

ExaminerLive:

Police have backed calls to restrict trucks, articulated lorries and other HGVs travelling through a traffic-clogged rural village on the outskirts of Huddersfield.

It has prompted Kirklees Council to re-draft a 48-year-old order banning vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes from travelling eastbound on the narrow A637 through Flockton.

Emergency services and local buses, as well as utility, farm and residents’ vehicles, are unaffected.

Police back calls to ban trucks and HGVs from Flockton village

Wakefield Express:

Heavy goods vehicles will soon have to steer clear of roads going through Flockton – or face action.

Weight restrictions have been in place on various roads through Flockton, Emley and Middlestown for almost 50 years in a bid to reduce the amount of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

Here's why heavy good vehicles are banned for this Yorkshire village