Council Policy to Address Speeding

Shropshire Council’s Vehicle Activated Signs Policy and its Rural Speed Limit Policy were approved at yesterday’s full Council meeting (21 January 2010).

These policies form part of the council’s Speed Management Strategy for Shropshire and aim to address peoples’ concerns about drivers speeding in their local area.

The Vehicle Activated Signs Policy, consulted on and piloted in September 2009, sets out criteria for where the signs should be placed and how the placement of new signs should be funded.

This policy will work in conjunction with the council’s Rural Speed Limit Policy, which was consulted on in December 2009. This sets out criteria for recommending speed limit changes on rural roads and also how they would be funded across the county.

Further consideration of the Urban Speed Limit Policy is in progress in light of some comments received during consultation. Also, the Government is currently reviewing guidance on 20 mph limits in urban areas. This will be reported back to Cabinet at a future meeting.

These approved policies follow the previously approved Village Speed Limit Policy, which has worked to reduce traffic speeds in the county’s villages since it was introduced in 2007.

Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, said: “I know that speeding is a major concern for local residents across the county. These new policies will hopefully work to reduce speeds where needed and make the roads safer for all users.”

Rock and Fountain

I have been reading a story in the Shrewsbury Chronicle about the Rock and fountain pub in Shrewsbury which the police want the Licensing committee to review the premises license.

I think that the pub should stay open and I will be sending a letter of support to the council.  My reason for this is a simple one, with  a lot of pubs closing down in Shrewsbury and with the Rock and fountain being successful and employing staff so the last thing we want is to raise the unemployment in our Town and as someone at work said, closing the pub is not going to remove the trouble makers, just force them into another pub so nothing will really be solved.