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Petition to reduce the speed limit on a single track rural lane Hackford Road / Hardingham Road from 60 mph to 30 mph to safeguard residents and road users.

Why reduce the speed limit and install measures e.g. gateways, pinch points to facilitate
reduction in speed to safeguard residents and road users?

Hackford / Hardingham Road is a single track rural road, which is now supporting repeated
commercial use by lorries, farm and agricultural traffic, sat nav alternatives to the main
routes and increased leisure activities such as horse riding and cycling. Being a single track
rural lane, it is not wide enough for two vehicles to pass and vehicles in theory would need
to slow down, stop or move onto the grass verges to allow vehicles to pass. There are
limited passing places along the road to allow for traffic to pass safely. On many occasions,
oncoming traffic does not slow down and drivers are forced to swerve onto the grass
verges. When walking or riding a horse along the road, many drivers do not slow down
when passing pedestrians, riders or cyclists. Delivery drivers and maintenance workers
have also commented on the speed of traffic when working on Hackford / Hardingham
Road.

With the above in mind, it is our opinion that not just road users but also Norfolk Council
has a duty of care to safeguard residents and road users and the attached petition has been
signed by residents or visitors in support of the reduction of speed.
The volume of traffic is set to increase due to new construction of family homes in Hingham
and the expansion of the grain store on Hackford Road. The grain storage facility has
received consent to double its storage capacity and therefore it is likely that this will also
lead to the increased frequency of 20 tonne grain lorries using the Hackford / Hardingham
Road. Some residents complain about excessive vibrations causing damage in their homes
when heavy vehicles pass their properties. Noteworthy is also that Anglian Water supplies
water for Hackford / Hardingham Road residents through lead and/or asbestos pipes
running alongside and under the single track road.

The residents living on Hackford / Hardingham Road would like to feel they are living in a
village community which is respected by motorists. Currently, the 60mph speed limit
(national speed limit for single track roads) allows motorists to use the road at speeds
unsuitable for a single track rural road. Many drivers do not observe road conditions and
reduce their speed accordingly, rather they are of the opinion it is their right to travel at 60
mph.

The current sentiment is that Hackford / Hardingham Road is a “quick cut though” to
Hingham Village or the Watton Road (B1108) making the local residents vulnerable and at
risk when walking along the road, cutting the grass on the verges or leaving their driveways.
Residents have also complained about the loss of pets, mainly cats being hit by speeding
motorists. If Watton Road (B1108) closes for an accident or repairs (the latest occurrence
being on 1 April 2019) all traffic is directed via Hackford / Hardingham Road, creating a
continuous stream of traffic and making the residents more at risk to speeding vehicles.
The single track road is 15ft (4.6 metres) wide and there are no pavements or street lighting
so if you are leaving home on foot, bicycle or horse straight onto the road with a 60mph
limit, it is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs.

Peak commuter times are from 6.00 am to 8.30 am and 4:30 pm to 6.30 pm. Agricultural
traffic including 20 tonne lorries (grain, sugar beets etc.) use Hackford / Hardingham
throughout the year on both weekdays and weekends. During the summer months, the
farm traffic and 20 tonne lorries can start early in the morning and can run late into the
evening.

Due to the farmland surrounding inhabited by deer and other wildlife, it would also be
useful measure to have additional signage erected to alert drivers to deer / seasonal frog
crossing areas.

Ensuring road user safety long term should be a top priority for us all.

Signatures supporting this petition:
https://norfolkcc.cmis.uk.com/norfolkcc/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=MWnyIa50edo%3d&portalid=0

Map of Hackford / Hardingham Road outlining deer / seasonal frog crossing areas;
suggested placement of gateways or pinch points and speed restriction signs:
https://norfolkcc.cmis.uk.com/norfolkcc/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=tr2OwjNPip4%3d&portalid=0

Letter of Support from Hardingham Parish Council:
https://norfolkcc.cmis.uk.com/norfolkcc/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=UvM8veB5Y_4%3d&portalid=0

Letter of Support from Hackford / Deopham Parish Council:
https://norfolkcc.cmis.uk.com/norfolkcc/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=VHLEc-rKux8%3d&portalid=0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not Specified
Wednesday, 8 May 2019
Thursday, 9 May 2019
Lutz Hilgenberg
This petition currently has 52 signatures in total.
Petition Signatories
electronic signatures
1
 Page 1 of 1, items 0 to 0 of 0.
Paper Petition - 52 signatures
This petition has been reviewed and the following response has been offered:

Factors considered in relation to the petition–

Norfolk’s Speed Management Strategy is strictly adhered to when determining speed limits to provide consistency across the county. Hackford Road does not meet the criteria for a 30mph Speed Limit namely a continuous development on both sides of the road for a minimum distance of 450 metres.

The use of ‘pinch points’, we assume you are referring to a priority system are no longer a preferred method of traffic calming. All forms of traffic calming are very expensive and such works are nowadays restricted for the highest priority sites on A & B county network where the maximum benefit can be achieved. With any proposed traffic safety scheme one of the major factors when prioritising is the number of personal injury accidents recorded by the police over a 3-year period. Having checked the records for this road I’m pleased to say no incidents have been recorded.

The existing verges are reasonably wide & flat. Whilst not ideal they are regarded as a facility for pedestrians to use as a refuge from passing traffic.

There were warning signs in place to forewarn of horse riders.

The recommendation agreed upon was regretfully a refusal of your petition for the above reasons. We will however look to erect two pedestrian in carriageway signs and will check/ replace any missing horse rider signs to raise awareness of these more vulnerable highway users.

DateUserDescriptionStatus
1
 Page 1 of 1, items 1 to 8 of 8.
24/06/2019 09:23 Mark Welsh Response ApprovedResponse Published
21/06/2019 10:04 ES Team  Response Awaiting Approval
16/05/2019 16:09(System Event)Petition Closed (responder emailed requesting response)Response Pending
16/05/2019 16:09(System Event)Petition Closed (responder emailed requesting response)Response Pending
16/05/2019 15:43 Mark Welsh Approver Allocated: Mark Welsh Response Pending
16/05/2019 15:43 Mark Welsh Responder Allocated: Sue Mace Awaiting Approver Allocation
16/05/2019 15:43 Mark Welsh Petition ApprovedAwaiting Responder Allocation
08/05/2019 15:48 Mark Welsh Petition Submitted: Petition to reduce the speed limit on a single track rural lane Hackford Road / Hardingham Road from 60 mph to 30 mph to safeguard residents and road users.Pending Approval

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