Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report provides an overview of the proposed implementation of Speed Indicators Devices (SID’s) in the Heatons & Reddish Area.

The Area Committee is recommended to support the SID programme and for the Highway Ward Spokespersons for each ward to be authorised to submit four potential locations where they would like the SIDs to be installed.

Officer Contact: Adam Meadowcroft on 07800 618 430 or email: adam.meadowcroft@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the proposed implementation of Speed Indicators Devices (SIDs) in the Heatons & Reddish Area.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was proposed that two of the locations for Reddish North ward be Longford Road West and Station Road, with the third location to be determined after May.

·         It was queried whether the SIDs captured vehicle registration information where the driver was exceeding the speed limit.

·         In response it was reported that the SIDs display the speed that the vehicle was travelling. It was stated that where a driver was excessively exceeding the speed limit the SID would not display the speed captured as the service did not want to encourage speeding. The SID also provided data in relation to the number of vehicles using the road, the speed they were travelling and the time that the vehicle passed the device used to inform decisions around the area which could be used to improve the issue. 

·         It was queried why the devices were unable to capture the vehicle registration data where the driver was exceeding the speed limit.

·         In response it was stated that the purpose of the device was to encourage responsible driving and for individuals to slow down their speed, not for enforcement purposes as this was a police issue. 

·         It was queried whether the SID would provide proof of a speeding problem required to access additional funding.

·         In response it was confirmed that the difference between the Automated Traffic Counts and the SIDs was that the SIDs were able to detect more accurate and reliable data such as the type of vehicle and direction that it was travelling.

·         It was suggested that the turnaround be shortened to two weeks in order to maximise the use of the device.

·         Welcomed the flexibility of the devices.

·         It was requested that officers provide Members with information around where speed strips could be placed to assist and inform Members decisions around where the SIDs should be placed.

·         It was queried whether the data provided by the SIDs was linked to greater enforcement action from the police where a speeding issue in the area had been identified.

RESOLVED – That the Director of Place Management be authorised to determine the locations for the installation of mobile speed indicator devices within the Heatons North, Heatons South, Reddish North and Reddish South wards (four locations per ward) following consultation with the Highway Ward Spokespersons.