Page 56 - br-nov-2020

November 2020 November 2020

Speeding on Rye Hill

The Council had a long discussion about the issue
of vehicles speeding in both directions on Rye Hill.
Our County Councillor, Peter Wharf, mentioned that
there was an exercise being carried out by the
County Council to define what the county-wide
criteria should be for the introduction of 20 mph
limits.
We looked at the statistics gleaned from our annual
traffic survey on Rye Hill which has been carried out
in the month of May each year since 2014. These
show that volumes of traffic have barely risen in that
time, but there has been a slow increase in speed
since 2015, perhaps coinciding with the closure of
the old school and the consequent reduction in
cars parking on the hill. The average mean speed is
now around 31 to 32 mph. Whilst 60 % of vehicles do
exceed the 30mph speed limit, only 20% go faster than 35mph, and just 1% go
over 45mph.
We agreed to wait for the 20mph criteria to be published before addressing
whether we would recommend reducing the speed limit. We decided to
resuscitate the purchase of a Speed Indicator Device (SID), which had been put
on hold at the beginning of lockdown, with a view to using it both on Rye Hill and
elsewhere. When the SID is available, we would ask for the indicator presently
working on Rye Hill near the old school to be removed.
Ian Ventham

CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION

When COVID 19 struck, and we were all forced into lockdown, we found ourselves
in a very strange and confusing world. It was for many a very difficult time. Some
people faced isolation, and badly needed the comfort of a sympathetic ear to
talk to. Others needed help with shopping or with collecting prescriptions. Many
struggled to juggle jobs with child care. We all had to get used to coping in a
much-changed world.
Thankfully, there were many fellow residents who stepped up to help neighbours,
or who altered how their businesses were run or spotted where help was needed,
and provided it.
With suggestions from all sections of our community, these are the people and, in

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