Issue - meetings

The Traffic Management Manager introduced this report to the Panel. He explained that the Traffic Signs and General Directions (TSRG) recommends ford signage adjacent the site on each approach and advises of advanced signing at appropriate locations in order for approaching vehicles to change direction in advance and avoid the hazard. 

He said that following the issue being raised at the May Scrutiny Panel by Councillor Pritchard a site meeting took place to discuss the locations of signing within his Ward.  Given the Coroners recommendation and TSRG advice it is not recommended to remove the ford signing adjacent each ford.  However given the rural nature and objection to sign clutter it is recommended that advanced signing is removed where a road is not deemed to be strategically important, a rat run or has significant volumes of traffic. 

Councillor Vic Pritchard addressed the Panel. He thanked the officer for his work on the matter since May, but asked for four further signs to be removed as the water levels were minimal and the local residents were so appalled by them.

The Panel approved the officer recommendation that, the identified advanced ford signage is removed as per the attached schedule.

Following the submission to the Panel from Councillor Vic Pritchard, Councillor Les Kew proposed that the Panel recommends to the Cabinet Member for Transport that four further ford warning signs be removed from the two fords at Stowey Bottom and near Stowey Mill and that measuring level staffs be installed. There are two signs for each approach hence a total of four signs for the two specified fords.

The recommendation was seconded by Councillor Gerry Curran.

The Panel voted by a majority in favour of Councillor Kew’s recommendation.