To consider a request from Councillor Pat Sandle and Leysdown Parish Council to review safety measures for the Sheppey bridge – notably a reduction in speed limit and speed cameras.

Tabled Papers added 10 September 2014.

In Councillor Pat Sandle’s absence, Councillor Ken Pugh read out a statement from Councillor Sandle which was tabled.  The Chairman also brought Members’ attention to the tabled paper from Mr Darren Prescott.  Both papers had previously been emailed to members of the Board.

The East Kent Highways Manager advised that a meeting was planned between the Highways Agency and Kent County Council (KCC) Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport regarding safety issues on the Sheppey Bridge.

A Parish Councillor representative outlined the financial costs of accidents from the Department of Transport 2011 figures and considered the costs for improvements to the Bridge were minor in comparison.  He suggested that average speed cameras should be put in place, that a limit of 50mph would not increase journey times significantly, and that instant fines should be implemented on foreign vehicles and they be reported to customs.  He considered the wind speed monitoring to be inaccurate.

Councillor Mike Whiting proposed that the Joint Transportation Board urges the KCC Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, when he met with the Department of Transport, to request a 50mph limit on the Bridge, to be enforced by average speed cameras.  This was seconded by KCC Councillor Adrian Crowther.

Members made the following comments:  do not agree with the proposal; the road was designed not to be dangerous, drivers made it dangerous; even 40mph was too fast in poor conditions; majority of drivers were sensible, some aggressive driving took place when speed limits were implemented; measures needed to be appropriate; work needed to be done behind the scenes, consultation was required with KCC Highways and the Police to get an informed picture; would like to see full report and options back to future meeting; need to find best way to resolve the problem; there was work going on behind the scenes on this; public wanted this to be resolved; need to keep pressure up to do something; support motion; advisory matrix signs were needed; blind summit on bridge was a problem; this was important for KCC to back; speed was a contributory factor to the problems, not sole cause; Bridge experiences unique micro-climate; surprised that there was not an official report following the serious multi-vehicle crash last year; support 50mph, but would like input from experts; support average speed cameras; incredible that there are no emergency telephones on the Bridge; conditions can change quickly on the Bridge, it was not solely dangerous driving that caused the crash; there should be a feasibility study for lighting on the Bridge; speed was the problem; and drivers drove too fast for the conditions.

KCC Councillor Roger Truelove proposed an amendment that the Board, on receiving serious public concerns on safety issues of the Bridge, resolves to have an item on the agenda at the next meeting with authoritative reports from appropriate agencies to look at the options, including speed limits.  This was seconded by KCC Councillor Harrison.

Members made the following comments to the amendment:  it would be beneficial to receive information on the Bridge from experts before a decision was made; the proposed amendment would delay any solution; it was frustrating that professionals were not doing anything; the substantive proposal would ensure that issues were looked into so that a solution could be found; the problem was for experts to decide, happy to not make a decision at this meeting; and do not support delay that amendment would cause.

On being put to the vote the amendment was lost.

On being put to the vote the substantive proposal was agreed.

Recommended:

That the KCC Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport requests a 50mph limit on the Bridge, to be enforced by average speed cameras, when he met with the Department of Transport.