Following the recent 'near-miss' involving a Home Bargains HGV in Collingbourne Ducis, on Thursday evening (30 July) I met with residents who live alongside the A338 to talk about what more can be done to improve road safety through their villages. My thanks to all those who attended and took part in the meeting.
We can and must do more to stop HGV's using this route. It was not designed for this type of vehicle and, in my view, should be de-designated as a primary route. This is, however, not something that we can achieve overnight, and may require legislative changes to make possible. There are, thankfully, some things that we can focus on in the short to medium term and I would like to make my next steps clear.
- I would like Cllr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport, to visit the Collingbournes with me to meet residents and view the pinch points which are causing so much trouble. Ideally, this will be over August.
- I will also investigate:
- why speed cameras were removed in Wiltshire, and whether it would be possible to reintroduce them, and/or install average speed cameras along this section of the A338.
- whether it is possible to charge HGVs a toll for using the A338.
- if we can reinstate the double white lines along the route to prevent overtaking.
- if a continuous speed limit, throughout the villages, can replace the variable limits currently in place.
- what traffic calming measures can be installed.
- if we can move the speed limits to outside the villages.
- whether it is possible to install pavement barriers along the road, particularly at the choke points.
- the voluntary Code of Conduct for HGV drivers.
- with Philip Wilkinson (PCC) to see whether it is possible to threaten HGV firms who routinely break the speed limit with losing their licence.
- whether a weight limit can be implemented on Burbage Bridge to prevent larger vehicles from using this route.
- signage - is this clear enough and in the right places?
- HGV satnav regulations and whether it is possible to have certain routes removed from their databases.
- the TJ Morris Forum and whether this is useful and has any scope for improvement.
As I work through the points noted above, with both Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Police, I will post updates to reflect what I have been able to find out.
I will then, in the Autumn, revisit the Collingbournes to update and inform residents about what we have been able to find out and what we can do to improve the current situation.
