A Safe Place To Cross Over - Council Response

I recently contacted the Council Road Safety Department asking how to apply for a feasibility study for a pedestrian crossing. I have received the following response from Steven Thulborn, Traffic Technician:

'I have been forwarded your request for a feasibility survey for apedestrian crossing on High Street, Over. We would normally undertakesuch survey if the site had a recognized personal injury accident siteto ensure the provision of a crossing met with County Council policy.As this is not the case we do not have the resource to carry out surveyson your behalf. We could arrange for a survey on your behalf but wouldexpect you to meet the costs of this. I have attached a copy of the Minor Traffic Management MeasuresNewsletter for your information.'


I responded to him as follows:


'Thank you for your email. To get more facts, we will organize an indicative survey. On which weekday and between what hours would you require this to be undertaken? Please let me know as soon as possible so arrangements can be made.'

I also conducted a one-hour pedestrian and traffic count this morning, and emailed the following information to the Council:

'Further to the email dated 15 May from Mr Thulborn, my earlier response regarding traffic count, and in order to provide more information, I have this morning recorded the following:

cyclists crossing High Street : 19

pedestrians crossing High Street : 119 (51 adults 68 children)

vehicles crossing junction of High Street/Fen End/Long Furlong, north/south or east/west : 376

These figures represent one hour's vehicle and pedestrian traffic, between 8.15 and 9.15 am. and only include those visible from my position. Photographs (faces obscured) are attached for clarification. As previously pointed out, this is a school route.

I trust this will be of interest and assistance to you and await your response.'

I will update this blog as information becomes available. In the meantime if anyone wants to volunteer to assist with the traffic count, if necessary, please contact me either as a blog comment or by email at JaneASLovett@aol.com. Thank you.

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Senior Citizens in Pub Lock-In?

The landlord of the pub where we meet once a month tells me that a member of the over-60s dining group has twice left without paying for their meal! He further believes that this month they did not pay for their dessert! His solution is that instead of paying individually, as we always have and as is our preference, I should collect the money and settle the bill. No! His alternative solution is that we pay individually but no-one be allowed to leave until everyone has paid and the meals and payments been verified. I don't think so! This left everyone with a rather nasty taste in their mouths.

Of course, this could not be down to the basic system of recording orders and payments that he uses or simple staff error!


Such allegations and suggestions are unacceptable, and either he employs a more accurate system, or this will become our 'Ex-venue'.

High Street Crossing - Council Contacted

To ascertain the correct procedure, I have sent the following email to Road Safety Department, Cambridgeshire County Council:

'I am leading a campaign for a pedestrian crossing at High Street, Over. The village is expanding. Traffic through the village is increasing. The village is divided by High Street. Crossing High Street involves risk, and the consensus is that people feel unsafe. This is a school route. Photos of the junction at High Street, Fen End and Long Furlong can be seen at http://mysteamvalve.blogspot.com/.
How do I request a feasibility study, please?'

The aims and targets for the Road Safety Department, as stated on the Cambridgeshire County Council website, are:

Safer Routes to School
Encourages walking and cycling on the school journey to reduce pollution, congestion, and obesity amongst young people.

The overall objective of the Council's road safety strategy is to achieve targets of no more than 360 deaths and serious injuries, 3000 slight casualties and 24 child deaths or serious injuries by the year 2010.

More pedestrians means more risk of accidents; a crossing would reduce this risk.

I will advise you of their response.

MOBILE POST OFFICE - START DATE CONFIRMED

As exclusively announced on the Andie Harper Show, Radio Cambridgeshire, I have just had confirmation that the mobile post office service will start in Over on 22 June 2009. It will be situated in the lay-by at The Green, Monday to Friday, 9.30 to 12.30. This is being provided by Hemingford Grey Post Office, which is supported by St James Church.

The contract is for a minimum of one year, but will continue for as long as financially viable. So it is up to us all to support this initiative - we must use it or we will lose it!

Thanks to everyone who has supported this campaign.

Safe Place To Cross Over - Update

These two photographs were taken from the same spot as the previous pictures.

Parked vehicles represent increased danger for pedestrians. If Mum had stood in front of the parked car, her view of the traffic from the right would have been obscured.

Let's not wait until an accident happens before we do something! Let's be proactive rather than reactive!

Comment Received from Kilian Bourke, County Councillor. (Original comment and response can be viewed by clicking on 'Comment' link at bottom of page). Thank you, Kilian!

Good luck with the campaign Jane. It seems that there is a clear need for a pedestrian crossing here, especially as it is a school route. I trust your local authority will listen to you and your fellow campaigners and act accordingly!Kilian Bourke, County Councillor for Romsey Ward Cambridge City

Safe Place To Cross Over

The speed limit through villages and residential areas is to be reduced to 20 mph. I support any measure which reduces injuries and death on the road. When road statistics are mentioned, it is invariably in relation to traffic speed and volume, obviously major issues on main roads and motorways. But nowadays no-one mentions that other potential hazard involved in road safety - the pedestrian!

Major pedestrian safety campaigns targeted young children as far back as 1961 when the Tufty Club was set up. This was a nationwide network of local groups; at its peak there were 24,500 registered Tufty Clubs. There was also the Green Cross Code (began in 1970). But these now only seem to exist on the internet.


The Highway Code Rules for Pedestrians 7A advises: First find a safe place to cross. Where there is a crossing nearby, use it. It is safer to cross using a subway, a footbridge, an island, a zebra, pelican, toucan or puffin crossing, or where there is a crossing point controlled by a police officer, a school crossing patrol or a traffic warden. Rule 20 says: 20) Where there are no controlled crossing points available it is advisable to cross where there is an island in the middle of the road.


Over is bisected by High Street; there is no crossing, subway, footbridge or island. Pedestrians need a safe place to cross High Street. Visibility from the kerb at Long Furlong (top picture 1) is restricted by the bend, and very often by parked vehicles. Yet this is the crossing point most used by children and parents returning from school. Going to and from school for many means negotiating the staggered junction in picture 2. This is also used by slower-moving, elderly pedestrians, crossing to get to the village's only shop.


Over has a good road safety record. But the amount of traffic on the roads is increasing. Not all drivers adhere to speed limits and the rules of the road. As the village grows, the number of pedestrians both young and old is on the increase. Pedestrians need a safe crossing which, with adequate advance signs, should reduce traffic speed through the village and help prevent accidents and retain our safety record.

A straw-poll taken of young mums so far shows 100% support for a crossing. Further views are being canvassed. You can add your comment by clicking on the 'Comment' link at the bottom of this page. Your comments can be made anonymously.

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