You asked us to target vehicles mounting
pavement, large lorries and coaches using this route causing danger
to pedestrians in Benton Street in Hadleigh and this is what we
have done about it:-
Objective
To identify with the use of partner
agencies what the particular issues are with this street and any
action that can be taken.
Update
SCC highways have been made aware of
the concerns over large vehicles travelling along this street and a
response is awaited.
Police have posted surveys to all residents of Benton Street and
Raven Way in order to identify their concerns and establish
times of most incidents. Police will also carry out any enforcement
action as required.
Update from 19/12/2009. Having received over 80 responses to the
survey, the results have now been collated and posted out to
all residents. We have spread the geographic area wider
by including Cranworth Road as well. Highways have been
updated, and their presence at the next Neighbourhood
Panel meeting has been requested. Trading Standards have
also been spoken to and they will be involved with further
enforcement of heavy goods vehicles in the New Year. Further update
to follow shortly.
Update 18 January 2010. The Speed Camera partnership has been
spoken to with regards to the possibilities of using the van in
Benton Street, and on 5 January 2010 a request was made by PC 1455
for the partnership to do a site visit to see if the van could be
used.
The Benton Street Information Group (BSIG) have asked whether
we are going to endorse their request for better signage for the
weight restriction and the proposed 20mph zone. This is currently
with the County Council, and as of 18/01/2010 the County Council
have advised they will need to carry out a pedestrian survey now to
see what the health and safety issues are, and to see if the
reduction in speed limit is necessary. Result expected week
beginning 2 February 2010.
The BSIG requested enforcement data going back to 2003. The results
show that 28 parking tickets had been issued, 2 speeding tickets
and 0 weight restriction tickets.
The weather has hindered enforcement over the Christmas and New
Year period due to the snow and ice. These conditions are not ideal
for the hand held device to work. However, to date in 2010, 12
verbal cautions have been issued to vehicles that have driven in
excess of 30mph, but under the prosecution limit of 35mph. 4
Vehicles have been issued with endorseable tickets for speeding,
one vehicle has been reported for summons, as we could not stop the
car, and 3 lorries have been issued with £30 tickets for
contravening the weight restriction, one of which was a foreign
driver.
Over the coming weeks, letters will be delivered to all local
industrial firms asking for their cooperation in reducing the
amount of contraventions.
Further enforcement will be carried out and regular meetings
with the BSIG are planned.
Update 17 February 2010.
Since the last public meeting, 555minutes have
been spent on patrol in Benton Street targeting speeders and over
weight lorries. In this period, a further 2 speeding tickets have
been issued and 12 more drivers have been verbally cautioned for
their speed. Three vehicles have been issued with fixed penalty
notices for exceeding the 7.5 tonne weight limit, and a further 22
vehicles have been stopped but found to meet the weight limit. Two
parking tickets have been issued, a fixed penalty notice for mobile
phone use and one for driving with no seat belt.
The lorry management division of Suffolk County
Council Highways have confirmed that they will be carrying out
their own enforcement campaign with regards to over weight lorries
in March 2010. As part of this, they will be replacing 12 signs
throughout the weight restriction, including the exit of the A12.
All new signage will have a picture denoting the weight limit as
opposed to just words. We will be part of the enforcement campaign
when it starts.
We had been asked to clarify bus routes through
Benton Street. Buses fall outside of the weight restriction, and
the County Council have no control over the routes, so these will
not be changing.
The safetycam team are yet to carry out a site
visit, but this is still on the agenda for the coming
weeks.
The County Council have confirmed that they have
completed their pedestrian survey as part of the investigation into
a 20mph limit, but they failed to include lunchtime as a peak
period. They will be doing this shortly prior to making a decision
on changing the limit.
Outcome
Benton Street Response results.
- Benton Street Response
Your Opinion
Your views are important to
us. If you have any feedback or comments you would like to
share with us about this priority please click on the following
link -
babergheast.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk