Pinch Point

Concerns about the increasing volume and speed of traffic in the village are perhaps the most common problem residents raise with me in my monthly surgeries. Maybe it’s along Tavells Lane, or Hythe Road, or Long Lane. But as I am writing this at the end of January I am hopeful that the problems in Main Road through the centre of the village are going to be resolved.

Main Road has been a concern for a long time. Over the years there has been a lot of speeding and several accidents. Residents have campaigned for something to be done. Then a couple of years ago some pinch points were installed to produce traffic calming. Alas they were not successful, and rather than calm the traffic they seemed to encourage drivers to play a game of “dare” to see who could get through first. Now after many questionnaires, consultations and exhibitions those pinch points are being replaced with chicanes.

Pinch Point

Only time will tell how effective these changes will be. The professional engineers tell us that all changes like this take a long time to settle down. There’s always a danger that if any traffic calming measure are too effective motorists will only find an alternative route and perhaps move the problem to somewhere else. Still, all it takes is for heavy goods vehicles to keep out and for everyone else to stick to the 30mph speed limit and all will be well.

That shouldn’t be too much to hope for, should it?

Graham Walmsley