Speed Limit Meeting Report

Open Meeting on Speed Limits in Penallt - 1st August 2020 - Notes

Nineteen Penallt residents heard our two MCC Councillors, Richard John and Jayne McKenna, hold a meeting at Pelham Hall to discuss the proposal to introduce 20mph (blue) and 30mph (red) speed limits to Penallt (see map for the extent of each).

They began by emphasising that nothing was yet set in stone and that residents’ wishes would be taken to MCC Highways in early September for a final decision by MCC in November. Subsequent work has to be completed within this financial year, before March 2023 in practice.

They noted that Welsh Government were imposing a blanket 20mph speed limit in all towns and cities by September 2023 but that this did not apply to rural villages without regular street lighting.

The proposal being discussed comes as part of the Wye Valley Villages project which has provided ring-fenced funding for installing speed limit signage in project villages, Penallt being one of them.

The meeting was then open to discussion and many issues were raised and responded to.

Q. Why the short sections at 30mph before the 20mph zone starts? Isn’t this odd?

A. Experience shows there needs to be a lead in section to moderate the drop from national speed limit to 20mph. it would be too abrupt otherwise.

Q. Isn’t the centre of the village a 30mph zone anyway (because of the lighting)?

A. No, the lighting is not regular enough so the national speed limit applies. The exceptions to this are Green Pastures and Pentwyn Park which have “normal” street lighting.

Q. Some local villages are now spoiled with the clutter of signage. The fear is that Penallt would be similarly spoiled.

A. The aim is to minimise clutter. But with the absence of other indications of speed restrictions (e.g. street lighting), small repeater signs would be needed at regular intervals

Q. Aren’t other methods of controlling speeds preferable, e.g. by building in chicanes?

A. This is a decision for Highways. We tend to be moving away from such methods these days. Speed bumps are no longer used and rumble strips are not popular with nearby residents. Speed Indicator Devices are expensive and are more appropriate on through roads anyway.

Q. The proposal is far too restrictive in that many of the “20mph roads” are in residence-free areas – it is overkill. It would be hard to keep drivers below 20mph if they see no reason for it. Wouldn’t a blanket 30mph limit be better?

A. The 20mph proposal is not sacrosanct and, if 30mph is what the residents want instead, we would quite happily propose it to Highways.

There was considerable discussion on the safety of some road junctions in the village. In particular, at the two ends of the “Pelham Hall road” where it meets the main road into the village near White House Farm and by the Baptist Chapel, and also the Croes Faen crossroads at the top of Lone Lane.

The lack of clear markings and signage by the Baptist Chapel means that some drivers mistake where priority lies. Visibility is an issue at the White House Farm junction, especially as many drivers are travelling too quickly down the main road there. And speeding across the crossroads at Croes Faen was also noted as a hazard. Visibility is a safety issue which can often be addressed by cutting back vegetation.

Whilst there is no funding to address these items under the current speed limit project, our Councillors recognised the junction safety issues and will seek separate funding to address them.

The Councillors then asked for shows of hands regarding possible options. The proposed plan received no support at all whilst the blanket 30mph proposal received very significant support.

Further discussion showed support for something like the map on the right (details are provisional) where, as before, all roads in red indicate 30mph zones.

This would need the provision of only four 30mph signs (plus the derestricted signs in the opposite direction) and associated smaller repeater signs.

The meeting ended with a request that any more feedback from residents (especially those who couldn’t attend) be emailed to Richard John at RichardJohn@monmouthshire.gov.uk before the end of August.

[See also Penallt Gateway — Penallt Village Website for further background and details of the gateways agreed]

Stuart Geddes, David May, Nikki Scarr (Penallt TUCC Community Councillors)