Local Issue
The Rural Gateway
The Rural Gateway – Latest Evidence
Should there be a petition against the rural gateway that does not mean that it is not working satisfactorily. Since the gateway was constructed, The Department of Transport have published a document indicating narrowing rural highways to one lane is an effective way of calming traffic speeds.
Speed measurements taken since it was constructed indicate that at the Whitchurch edge of Tavistock the mean speed of vehicles is no more than 27.5 mph in either direction. Most vehicles are travelling at less than 33 mph as they leave Tavistock and more importantly the rural gateway is helping keep speeds down to about 32 mph as they enter. This indicates good compliance with the 30mph limit and that the rural gateway is helping calm speed.
There are relatively few serious injury accidents along Whitchurch Road and so at present there is not a case for taking further major measures. DCC work in partnership with the police and look for clusters of serious injury accidents each year and if sufficient occurred through the gateway area then we would consider whether further measures were appropriate, however at present there is no evidence this is the case.
It is recognised that if there is an accident on the A386 traffic will use this road and it could become jammed. However this road is not signed as the official diversion in such incidents, but the A and B roads via Princetown. If the Whitchurch road jams when the A386 is closed it will probably not be just at the rural gateway, but also at other points along its length where cars park and create one way sections. Indeed the rural gateway reflects the give and take arrangement that drivers need to expect as they travel along the rest of Whitchurch Road which is usually full of parked cars which narrow it down to a single lane in many places
The Rural Gateway –The Facts Not Fiction
Political opportunism appears to be the highest priority by one political group as it did in 2001 and 2005. Yet again they will use any negative campaigning tool as a substitute for the lack of any positive policies and actions on their part to benefit the wider community.
As I did in 2005 when this was last raised, for the avoidance of doubt, and in the interests of all those concerned, I believe it to be important that I explain the process leading to the introduction and retention of the rural gateway.
The decision to install the Rural Gateway was taken by the West Devon Partnership Committee on the 13 December 1999. I was elected as the Tavistock Rural County Councillor in 2001; almost two years after the decision had been taken.
On the 13 December 1999 this Committee considered a report detailing the findings of an investigation into the concerns raised by local residents and road users, and by an OFSTED report of the Whitchurch Primary School, about the speed and volume of passing traffic along the C474 Whitchurch Road, Tavistock (Report ED/99/31/LSO refers). It was resolved that a Working Group should consider this matter further (Minute PC 29(b) refers.
The members of that Working Group were Councillors Roger Mathew, Roy Cook and Richard Phillips.
On the 13 December 1999, the findings of the Working Group were reported to Committee. It was resolved that:
- An “urban gateway” is formed at the northern end of Whitchurch Road.
- Work is carried out in the area of the Primary School to indicate to the motorists that they should travel at 20mph when flashing lights are operating.
- A “rural gateway” is formed at the southern end of Whitchurch Road.
- The above to be carried out as finances permit.
The overall scheme was completed in June 2000 and a post-opening safety audit was carried out shortly afterwards. At its meeting on 11 September 2000, this Committee resolved that:
- Remedial works are carried out in accordance with the post-opening safety audit.
- 30 mph speed limit be extended to include the rural gateway.
- A full monitoring report be considered a year after the above works have been completed (Minute PC (c) (I) (ii) (iii) refers).
A monitoring report was due to be presented to Committee at its last meeting but, unfortunately this was not possible as some of the Police data was not available owing to long term sickness of their Road Safety Officer.
A further safety audit was undertaken on 27 November 2001 which did not identify any failings with the scheme. It was, however, recommended that some reflective marker posts could be erected at the end of each passing bay in order to make the bays more easily identifiable by drivers at night.
During the canvassing period leading up to my election to the County Council in May 2001 I became very aware of peoples concerns as to the overall safety of the Rural Gateway. I used the period between my election and the next meeting of the West Devon Partnership Committee Meeting to be held on the 17 December 2001 to gather more information to make a case for the removal or changes to the Rural Gateway to ensure the safety of all road users.
The committee was made up of 4 County Councillors, 6 Borough Councillors (1 non voting) and 3 Parish/Town Councillors (non voting). The Borough Councillors therefore had a voting majority which could be used to influence the outcome as to the future of the rural gateway. In fact what happened is 3 Borough Councillors failed to turn up of the 2 that did 1 voted to accept the Officers recommendations that the report be noted, this was supported by 3 County Councillors. I together with 1 Borough Councillor did not accept the Officers recommendation, but sadly lost the vote.
Since that time several attempts have been made by certain people to raise the issue as to the future of the rural gateway this always appears around election time, excuse me for being rather cynical. The opportunity to determine the future of the Rural Gate was lost at the 17 December 2001, mainly as a result of the ineptitude of certain Borough Councillors some of whom are still around. They are the people to be challenged on the Rural Gateway.
Finally it is not within the gift of any current or prospective County Councillor to remove the Rural Gateway.
