9:40am Friday 30th April 2010
By Charley Morgan
OLD Town residents have accused Swindon Council of wasting £62,000 of public money when it ignored the findings of a public consultation on traffic calming in the area.
They have also accused the council of being “inept” by not applying for a grant to double the funding available to them for the scheme.
A residents’ action group was set up in protest after the proposed 20mph zone for the area was changed to an 18-month experimental limit on unconnected roads.
Under a Freedom of Information Act request, the group found that only £62k of the £120k budget for the scheme had been spent, of which £45k was on a public consultation and drawing up the plans.
It also revealed that only £17,000 was spent on improving the roads.
Parent David Marlow, of Goddard Avenue, said the consultation found that 78 per cent of residents wanted a full 20mph zone set up in the area.
But the experimental 20mph limit on roads such as Goddard Avenue and Quarry Road are not clearly sign-posted and have confused motorists, he claimed.
Mr Marlow, who walks his two children to Lethbridge Primary School, said: “There are now two speeds on the road – one for drivers and one for residents and that means there is a really good chance of an accident happening.
“We really are cheesed off because nothing has changed, people still drive too fast down our road.
“There hasn’t been any thoughtful approach to this and the council has wasted £62,000. They spent half the money on a consultation to prove they shouldn’t do it.”
He said the original plans they were shown for the scheme included more crossings, signs pointing out Lethbridge and Commonweal schools and cycle routes. Mr Marlow added: “I think they have been inept – £120k was on the table for the taking, meaning there would have been £240k to make all the improvements.”
The claims follow revelations in the Advertiser on Wednesday that the council ignored some of Wiltshire Police’s reservations over the new 20mph limit in 15 streets.
Council spokesman Richard Freeman said: “The criticism of the council over this issue is unfair and unreasonable. We have carried out a significant consultation exercise and have had to take into account a wide variety of views from local residents and organisations.
“For instance, some people want traffic calming measures installed, whereas others don’t. Some want more signing, others think that too many signs would not be in keeping with what is a conservation area. It’s also important that we listen to the views of the police, which is why we didn’t include Springfield Road, Westlecott Road and part of Mill Lane in the scheme.
“The police have since indicated to us that they support the experimental scheme we have put in, which will now be monitored for its effectiveness.
“We’re also working hard with consultant partners Halcrow to find ways to meet the police concerns on the three roads we haven’t yet included, so we can deliver the 20mph zone in the area which we all want to see.
“At the end of the trial we will be in a better position to evaluate views and suggest improvements if necessary.”
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