Winchcombe Town Council

Highways Consultation

Introduction

In November 2022 Winchcombe Town Council undertook a public consultation to identify common highways concerns and potential actions.
114 local residents from 61 unique postcodes gave 405 responses (forms) to the categories, HGVs, parking, signposting, speeding and other / future actions. They were asked to identify locations of concern and the time of day at which they occur, describe the concern and why it was a problem and to rate the impact, priority and urgency.

Key findings

  • Almost half of the responses were related to the B4632 & 13% to junctions within town
  • People were more concerned about speeding at night than any other time of the day
  • The highest impacting issues related to HGVs and speeding whilst the highest priority/urgency related to HGVs and congestion
  • Suggestions that residents would like considered are:
    • Lowering the speed limit within Winchcombe
    • Introducing a weight limit for HGVs
    • Improved speed signage on entry points to the town
    • Additional parking restrictions backed up by enforcement
    • More sustainable transport options including improved bus service, electric car charging points & cycle parking
    • Pedeestrianised areas
Congestion

54 residents raised 68 concerns

  • Issues raised
    • On street parking (38 people raised 45 concerns)
    • HGVs (17 people raised 17 concerns)
    • School traffic/drop-off/pick-up (7 people raised 8 concerns)
    • Narrow roads (9 people raised 9 concerns)
    • Volume of traffic e.g. event days (5 people raised 5concerns)
  • Impact, priority and urgency
    • Impact score 8 out of 10 (SD = 1.8), not rated = 10%
    • Priority score 71%
    • Urgency score 66%
Speeding

68 residents raised 79 concerns

  • Issues raised
    • Hazard to safe road crossing (20 people raised 21 concerns)
    • Potential for collision (19 people raised 19 concerns)
    • Safety where lack of pavement (9 people raised 10 concerns)
    • Noise (7 people raised 7 concerns)
  • Impact, priority and urgency
    • Impact score 10 out of 10 (SD = 1.6), not rated = 10%
    • Priority score 60%
    • Urgency score 61%
Parking

65 residents raised 85 concerns

  • Issues raised
    • Lack of enforcement (11 people raised 14 concerns)
    • Lack of restrictions (21 people raised 23 concerns)
    • Underuse or lack of car parks (13 people raised13 concerns)
    • School pick-up/drop-off (4 people raised 4 concerns)
  • Impact, priority and urgency
    • Impact score 8 out of 10 (SD = 1.6), not rated = 9%
    • Priority score 60%
    • Urgency score 60%
HGVs

63 residents raised 67 concerns

  • Issues raised
    • Congestion (30 people raised 30 concerns)
    • Damage to buildings (16 people raised 17 concerns) or risk to parked cars (8 people raised 8 concerns)
    • Vibrations/noise/pollution (11 people raised 11 concerns)
    • Driving on pavements (6 people raised 6 concerns) and risk to pedestrians (7 people raised 7 concerns)
    • Size of vehicles (28 people raised 29 concerns) & narrow roads (22 people raised 22 concerns)
  • Impact, priority and urgency
    • Impact score 10 out of 10 (SD = 1.5), not rated = 7%
    • Priority score 79%
    • Urgency score 78%
Signposting

37 residents raised 41concerns

  • Issues raised
    • Signs missing or not obvious (24 people raised 25 concerns), specifically car parking signs not clear (12 people raised 12 concerns)
    • No signs indicating narrow roads, slow down or unsuitability for HGV (18 people raised 19 concerns)
  • Impact, priority and urgency
    • Impact score 8 out of 10 (SD = 1.8), not rated = 24%
    • Priority score 46%
    • Urgency score 44%
Other / Future Ideas

52 residents raised 35 concerns and suggested 27 ideas

  • Issues raised
    • Poor road surface/condition (15 people raised 17 concerns)
    • Parking concerns (3 people raised additional concerns) referencing the need for more car park spaces
    • Congestion concerns (2 people raised additional concerns)
  • Suggestions made
    • Sustainable transport - improve reliability, regularity and connectivity of bus service (9 people raised this), electric car charging (8 people) and cycle parking (4 people)
    • Introduce a one way system (8 people) or pedestrianised areas (8 people)
  • Impact, priority and urgency
    • Impact score 10 out of 10 (SD = 1.7), not rated = 34%
    • Priority score 44%
    • Urgency score 45%
Suggestions for Action
  • Identify potential actions from the concerns raised and ideas suggested
  • Publish a key findings and proposed actions summary and circulate within the community to include:
    • what has been actioned already ‘you said, your councils have done...’
    • ask for feedback on proposed actions and order of priority (or have we missed anything as we shape our council plan)
  • Review membership of the working group to include stakeholder representation & people with capacity to drive on actions and consider changing name to be a “task force” (sounds more action oriented) rather than a working group
  • To download a .pdf copy of this report, please click here

Listed below are measures taken by Winchcombe Town Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council and Gloucestershire County Council, in response to issuse raised and suggestions made:

Parking
  • In response to the consultation, Winchcombe Town Council and Gloucestershire County Council have worked together to identify where improvements can be made with a TRO (Traffic Regulations Order) to be implemented around the town - hopeful implementation October / November 2024. This is highlighted on the Winchcombe Town Council website (on the home page) and the Gloucestershire County Council website.

Speeding
  • 20 is plenty campaign
    In response to the consultation Winchcombe Town Council has very recently joined many other local parish/town councils in campaigning to Gloucestershire County Council and our MP to adopt a county wide approach to reducing speed limits in rural areas, to include Winchcombe, through pledging to support and implement ‘20 is plenty’.
  • Speed awareness cameras
    The two Vehicle Activated Signs on Broadway Road and Greet Road entrances to Winchcombe have ceased to be operational. Councillors have discussed suitable replacements for these, which would be solar alternatives, preferably covering the four main roads into town. These solar signs must be sited in permanent fixed locations and would cost circa £20,000. Therefore, Winchcombe Town Council will be going out to public consultation as the costs would need to be covered by CiL (Community Infrastructure Levy) funds, which the council cannot spend without having consulted with residents. It is hoped that this consultation will take place over the winter 2024.
  • Speeding Enforcement
    Enforcement of speeding restrictions is the responsibility of the County Council.

Congestion
  • On street parking was suggested as a possible remedy. Please refer to Parking section above.

Other / future suggestion
  • Electric Vehicle Charging points were suggested by participants. EVCPs are to be installed on Abbey Terrace and in car parks. Dates to be confirmed by Gloucestershire County Council.
    Abbey Terrace installation in progress.

Signposting
  • Signs directing to car parks need improvement. Winchcombe Town Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council have planned a scheme of car par directional signage for the town. It is hoped that these will be installed Winter 2024