Action on Speeding in Sele

A positive update in the long running issue of vehicles travelling at excess speeds in the Sele area; a safety concern for many residents.

For some years there have been complaints to the SWNA of vehicles being driven too fast in the estate - particularly in Windsor Drive and Bentley Road. This has led to a tiresomely lengthy process of attempting to achieve some speed enforcement of the 20mph zones by the local police - but with minimal progress there, despite representations to the Police and Crime Commissioner. The pursuit in that respect still continues.

Nevertheless, a parallel pursuit to HCC Highways Dept. has at last led to some progress there. Some of you may recall the installation of Speed and Volume Monitors last year in Windsor Drive, Bentley Road and Calton Avenue. The surveys confirmed the problem, showing 85th per centile averages of around 27mph, 26mph and 23mph in the respective roads. Ironically, the Hertfordshire Speed Management Strategy does not direct interventions unless the excess speeds are very slightly above those figures but, with the sympathetic support from a member of the Highways Department and also the necessary generous budgetary support from our County Councillor, Rachel Carter, it has been confirmed that electronic Speed Indicator Devices will be installed in each of the 3 roads.

You may be familiar with these signs - there is one on Welwyn Road, eastbound into town, at the junction with Alexander Road - which display to drivers their approach speed. Some may argue that 'they do not work' - but 100% conformity is not to be expected; the objective being to raise awareness and thereby achieve a lowering of overall vehicle speeds. Monitoring of the devices can be carried out after a monitoring period and will demonstrate whether general average speeds have been reduced. If there is no improvement, further actions can be considered. The installations are expected some time after the start of the new budgetary year in April.