Decision details

This is part of a package of measures developed in the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) designed to improve air quality in Temple Cloud which is currently above permitted national guidelines. The VASs are being placed to alert drivers of larger vehicles about another large vehicle approaching from the opposite direction and therefore hopefully to smooth the flow of traffic through the village, reducing the start stop action and hence reducing heavy acceleration within the problem area, especially from heavy goods vehicles. Improving air quality is a statutory requirement on the Council to bring NOx levels down below specified maximums. There is a particular problem in parts of Temple Cloud with NO2 levels.

Approve capital expenditure of £16.7k to provide and install height activated signs

The AQAP for Temple Cloud went through a comprehensive public engagement and consultation exercise, involving a large online survey and public consultation events (before the pandemic struck). As mentioned above this is part of a package of measures being worked through to improve air quality in the village. Other options considered were speed reduction signs but these were rejected as a speed survey showed there wasn’t a particular speeding problem in the village. Observations have shown that stop starting by large vehicles is an issue and tree cutting (to widen out the road) plus the vehicle height activated signs are considered the best way forward after consultation with Highways colleagues.