Village Meeting Wednesday about Speeding Traffic

Speeding Traffic (Rat Run & Short Cut) at Chester Road, Penyffordd. (Tell interested parties)

Meeting Wednesday 2^nd May 2007 at 4.00pm (This Wednesday)

Present : Highways, Beat Manager, ArriveAlive, Councillors and Concerned.

The following comments and proposals sent to interested parties

The Issue

Traffic will not obey Penyffordd Chester Rd 30 mph speed limit by a long mark.

Over 70% of through traffic ignore the speed limit.

Well over 50 % of traffic have no business in Penyffordd except using it as a short cut.

I intend to survey traffic using Penyffordd as a short cut

This is unattractive in terms of Environment and Safety. We have a Penyffordd By-Pass, it should be used by non Penyffordd traffic.

This turns the village into a hostile environment at certain times of the day

We have a by-pass motorists prefer driving through the village as it is shorter and more direct.

Traffic Noise appears to be doubled by the speeding vehicles.

Warren Farm A55 junction when completed will greatly increase traffic through Chester Road, Penyffordd.

Traffic speeds through the village from 06.00 am to 22.00 pm daily.

The Reasons

Penyffordd has mainly long straight roads plus gradients that have had little Speed Policing over the years. The motorists know this. They abuse our Village Environment.

Traffic Behaviour.

Short Cut traffic enter the village at Wrexham Rd and Corwen Road and exit village through Chester Road to Broughton avoiding the by-pass.

At Chester Road near the garage cars accelerate to 40-60 mph at Penymynydd Rd junction. They reach the open speed limit doing 60 mph and more.

The majority of traffic exceeds 30 mph unless stopping at The Post Office.

In the reverse direction, Broughton to Corwen Road / The Vounog traffic descends into the village at speed only being halted by occasional congestion at the Post Office or the bend by the garage.

The Solution

Make it highly unattractive for passing traffic to use the village.

Possible Methods of Traffic Calming.

1. Make stretch of road from the Garage to The Institute 20 mph Compulsory. The Government encourage this near schools. Cheshire and Wrexham Councils have Compulsory 20 mph. zones.
2. Make outside The Post Office a Long Single Lane. The other lane for parking.

Cefn Mawr have a good example of a long single lane.

3. Construct a raised 100 mm plateau zebra crossing at The Post Office.
4. The introduction of 100mm plateau's from The Garage to the Open Speed limit up the hill to Broughton. May I quote “Without the option of using vertical shifts, the most effective speed reducing measures are removed from the traffic calming armory, lessening the potential for achieving slower traffic and reduced accidents.”

(Vertical shifts STOP 80 mph motor cyclists and the 60 mph Rat Run FULL STOP.)

Secondary Quote. The most effective traffic calming measures for reducing vehicle speeds involve vertical shifts in the carriageway such as road humps, plateau and cushions. These measures are very dependent upon spacing for their effectiveness. At a spacing of 40-60m, 85 percentile speeds of less than 30kph may be achieved. Please visit Blacon Avenue, Blacon for proof.

LINK http://www.its.leeds.ac.uk/projects/primavera/p_calming.html

5. 7.5 Ton Weight Limit for village except for access.
6. A radical approach. Introduce a One Way System. Motorists to access by-pass to enter village only.

The by-pass entry being useful for villagers but useless for the short cutters. Have No Entry signs for Wrexham Rd, Corwen Rd and Chester Rd. Villagers can go out but the Rat Run cannot enter the village by these roads.

7. Arrivealive at Terrace Lane regularly. In the Terrace Lane (1^st right out of village) position Traffic cannot accelerate out of the middle of the village because they cannot be certain that the radar van is not present.

The perfect position is inside The Institute for morning traffic as traffic from Broughton cannot see van to warn the Rat Run coming the other way.

8. Noise reducing Surfaces.
9. The extension of the 30 mph limit to Mrs Hibbert’s house (last house on the left. Rat Run Traffic reaches 40 – 70 mph here.

The Benefits of Traffic Calming to the village of Penyffordd.

1. A large reduction in traffic noise and volume.
2. A safer environment, a reduction in possible accidents
3. Penyffordd remains a village instead of a rat run and short cut.
4. Children can use bicycles to go to school, horses are safer in the village
5. Pensioners are safer, Reduced noise levels. No racing motorcycles at 90 mph
6. You’re house price.
7. Less Air Pollution, children will be safer.

We should be A Village not a short cut route for outside traffic. We have a By- Pass.

Colin Hughes, 1 Penymynydd Rd, Penyffordd. Mobile 07734052779 email:tresmegistes@gmail.com

I have an online diary (Blog) which discusses the speeding traffic at http://penyffordd-district.blogspot.com/ I hope to include video footage (Youtube) and sound recording of the speeding traffic which will be regularly communicated to Flintshire County Council,

Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom,P M , AM, Councillors and the Local Newspapers until this matter is fully resolved.

You may not agree with what I have put down as suggestions, this does not matter. Protest in your own way. It is however in all our long term interests to stop this speeding traffic. Below are the people that require you’re protest. Please put pen to paper, email or telephone. For those with computers email links for those below are hot on my blog.

It doesn’t matter if you complain after Wednesday as this matter will not be fully resolved then.

Make regular monthly complaints about the traffic if it is an issue with you. The council have a duty for our environmental well being, to protect us from this daily abuse.

Here http://www.flintshire.gov.uk/webcont/newrealweb.nsf/vwa_docref/DEVS5VNMTT

CONTACTS

Colin Bithell, CC 5 Allerton Close. Penyffordd, Near Chester CH4 0NJ 01244 550935

David Williams CC, Cae Derw, Wrexham Rd, Penyffordd email: dwillderw@yahoo.co.uk

Penyffordd Community Council, Mr G N I Jones, 4 Howards Close, Penyffordd,

CH4 0GG. Tel / Fax 01244 547440.

Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom (form email) http://www.north-wales.police.uk/en/blogs/viewblog.asp?UID=1&CID=7

PC Ian Millington (form email) http://www.north-wales.police.uk/nwp/cbm/en/results.asp?id=f51

Carl Sargeant A M National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1NA email Carl.Sargeant@wales.gov.uk (please note there is a by-election on 3/May/2007)

Flintshire: Hugh Jones, Arrive Alive Safer Roads Officer, Transportation Planning & Environment, County Hall, Mold, Flintshire. CH7 6NF
E-mail: hugh.g.jones@flintshire.gov.uk

Mark Tami MP http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/mark_tami/alyn_and_deeside
or tamim@parliament.uk

I got the one I had here wrong. It is of course Airbus Ltd.

A Poem to send to loved ones when someone goes to the Wild Blue Yonder

Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Canon Henry Scott-Holland, 1847-1918, Canon of St Paul's Cathedral

They bankroll Wales ,Scotland and Northern Ireland

Happy St George Day.

Why traffic uses Penyffordd as a Rat Run and Short Cut

1. Historically Penyffordd has been used by North of Britain as the gateway to Mid Wales. If you speak to people from up North that's Warrington to the top of Scotland they know where Penyffordd is if they have visited Mid Wales.
2. Geographically Penyfford Chester Road is the most efficient way to get to Aerospace, Raytheon, Chester and the North of England for motorists coming from the South.
3. Penyffordd has been un-policed with regards to speed. Lots of motorists think the village is a straight drive through at speed.
This has been repeated elsewhere but deserves repeating.

Carl Sargeant in Penyffordd Campaigning

sa
I am not naturally a Labour person. One must however go for who you consider will be best for the village and oneself. I have emailed, Carl and met him very briefly this morning on his campaign with Cindy and the campaign team. He is very personable. His appearances in The Chronicle are numerous which suggests a high work rate. He is very keen on local matters.
He presses the correct buttons for keeping our Post Office, independent monitoring of Castle Cement and my personal issue, Penyffordd being used as a Rat Run and Short Cut.
Other Information here.

Traffic Calming Links

http://www.sustainability.murdoch.edu.au/casestudies/Case_Studies_Asia/tcalming/tcalming.htm

http://www.capt.org.uk/pdfs/play1.pdf pdf reader required

http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/

My Penyffordd Traffic Protest starts..........

Young Blackbird 3 days out of the nest.

Its wing looks a little out of place but its just re arranging its wings.
Its a hard world, a sparrow hawk patrols our garden. The local cat is also after him.

Young Robins

Safe in the shed.
UPDATE. Out of the shed now in garden under growth.

Traffic Watch Update

Most drivers continue to take the mickey out of the village.
This evening a motorcyclist doing 80 mph plus up Chester Road.
Most drivers passing through Penyffordd speeding.

My solution for Chester Road
1. Three raised long bumps as in Blacon Avenue, Blacon
Starting at 30 speed limit, one at Post Office, one after mini roundabout
2. A mini roundabout at Penymymydd Rd Junction
3. A compulsory 20 mph speed limit from Garage to just past Penymynydd Rd Junction.
4. Weight Restriction 7.5 ton except for access.

The aim is to make Penyffordd highly unattractive to through traffic.

The traffic can only be calmed by physical means or a permanent cameras.
The Arrivalive van at Terrace Lane Junction would get a lot as they start accelerating
at the Post office and reach 60 mph before leaving the speed limit of 30 mph.

The road noise is very irratating.
I start my personal protest this week, it stops when the traffic behaves.

Castle Cement stop valeting.

Castle Cement Website Quote
"but the kiln will operate to the very highest levels of environmental control and performance."



Lisa rang Castle Cement Last Friday (13th) after reading in The Chronicle about valeting cars affected by their recent massive fall outs.
Richard Davidson of Castle rang Tuesday.
Very nice but the valeting has ran out, they are not doing any more free ones
He could recommend the valeters though.
Pictured our dark blue car after the recent download.

Smile

Only in the jar for 10 mins Klaus.

Thought for the Day

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber barons cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

C S Lewis

To Chester Football Club

My don't we get around. We have free tickets courtesy of Gary to watch Chester FC play Shrewesbury. Result 0 - 0. Not a bad result for Chester. The football was dire...........

To the Penyffordd British Legion

A Cancer Research Charity Evening. We are part of a group from the Wine Circle. Themed 60's evening. Quiz, raffle and disco. A good evening made even better by the smoking ban in Wales.
Not a good grounding for getting up at 5.45 am the following morning. Lessons on Jive dancing care of Maureen.

A 20 mph Speed Limit

An article in The Chronicle today about Chief Constable Brunstrom discussing a 20 mph near schools. This article is based on this.
The Chief Constable's Blog is amusing and well worth a read.
I particularly liked the Daily Mirror reporter who had come from Oldham
to find out details of Mr Brunstrom's wife leaving him.
No such luck! she says.

If you want to know what's happening in Iraq

Click here

If you dont want to know what's happening in Iraq
try the BBC

The Mad Chaffinch

For the past two Springs we have been subjected to the bizarre behaviour
of our friend above. If I said that he has flew at the patio window a 1000 times
I would be underestimating. Anyway here is the answer.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chaffinches and many other birds are territorial and when they establish territories in the
spring they become aggressive and chase off intruders. Unfortunately, they don't distinguish between their own reflection in a window (or car mirror) and try to chase that off. The solution to the problem is to eliminate the reflection. Misting the outside of the window with a very weak detergent or soda solution will eliminate the reflection but will also impair visibility for you. Awnings, eave extensions, and window screens will eliminate all reflection and stop the collision problem. Hanging ornaments may also help. But they will stop when nesting begins. Roger Lederer at www.ornithology.com

The Walk Easter Sunday

From Llangollen to World's End
Half way up The Panorama.
Time taken 6 hours with pitstops and a few
protests from the gang.
No ropes or clampons needed
Can be undertaken by most people.
Two climbs will needed to be done in stages.
Hat tip to Gary for a great route.



The lane from Llangollen to World's End. I do not recommend
route by car on a Bank Holiday. It is a single lane in quite a few places.
Have you ever tried telling 10 car drivers they all have to
reverse or we will be here till midnight?









Lisa and Dolly rest. After a 100 foot climb.





Final climb to the top of The Panorama






All single file. Expedition Leader Gary out in front
followed by Helen and Justine, Lisa and Dolly and me
at the back.




Downward off The Panorama to the road.






A Catepillar found on the path. Outwardly there seems little
life up here on The Panorama except for sheep and a few buzzards.






Justine.








Blue route outward bound, red route back.



The sycamore tree is swallowing up the public footpath sign.



Passing Dinas Bran on the right.

Castle Cement in the News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/6541015.stm

The BBC says
"At last week's meeting of Penyffordd Community Council, chairman Colin Bithell, who lives near the plant, called for the site to be closed."

It was of course Edwina Davies who said this.

Our Tidy Up Man Mervyn

England , My England

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/04/england_my_engl.html

Traffic Watch

Motorcyclist coming from Millstone up Chester Road Time 20.40 pm
Speed past Penymynydd Rd 70 - 90 mph.
Speed estimated at top of hill over 100 mph
A physical traffic calming measure does not allow this to happen

Copy Mark Tami, Cindy Hinds

Penyffordd Public Service Announcement.

Spotted this morning at 9.00 am at Serenity Lane next to A55. A traffic policemen I would say checking tax discs.
The position is perfect for tax discs as the car is hidden till the last moment.
Its the second of April, the 1st being a Sunday which is a no buy tax disc day.
Will the policemen book you for being 2 days late?

Our experience is yes. Is this pressure from Mr Brunstrom or The Treasury?

This sort of low down trick is not called for if you want the public on your side.
Policing is only possible with the majority of the public's consent.
Well in a democracy it is...........................

copy Mark Tami MP.

Penyffordd

Penyffordd Hospital Meadowsleigh

A sad sight. Meadowsleigh in the early morning light awaits its destruction in silence.
Is progress being served by closing down such places?

To Conway

Since we are passing, we visit our current favourite chip shop. Past favourites have been Deganwy and Enoch's. This one is just next to the hole in the wall that goes to the harbour near the smallest house.
Good fresh cod, good chips, excellent service.

So! you eat low fat foods

You pat yourself on the back thinking
they are good for your health.
Time to think again.
Dr Grant NASA scientist. Click here.
or Here.
Heart disease, Prostate issues, also pregnancy issues, Acne, Ovarian cancer.
The EU and DEFRA are trying to stop sale of whole milk.
Ironically health benefits may be in reverse of what passes
for health education that is currently pushed out to the masses.

In your milk, Hormones, growth factors (about 20 different types in US milk).
Pus cells, antibiotics, recombinant bovine somatropin.

http://www.realmilk.com/

While you're thinking about health, 2 school girls in New Zealand did an
experiment on Ribena which boasts 4 times as much Vitamin C
as orange. The result? No vitamin C present.
The company who own Ribena arent too happy....................
GSK caught with their collective pants down....CLICK HERE.
When you're in a hole you need to stop digging.
Do we see corporate arrogance here?

An Unusual Annual Ritual

Click here.

Have they moved Oulton Park?

I don't think they have but the amount of motorbikes using the
by-pass this Sunday afternoon heard from the centre of
the village seems very large.

The Robin

The robin's have made a nest in the shed on a gas bottle. Mum is sitting on the eggs. Mum's the little orange bit in the middle.