WC proposal to increase Monkton Farleigh speed limit opposed by residents

8.12.00am GMT Wed 3rd Feb 2010

A survey of Monkton Farleigh residents on the suggested increase in speed limits on the A363 has revealed overwhelming opposition. Of 76 people who replied 71 were against the idea, 2 were in favour and three abstained. Here are the replies to the question, "Do you support WC proposals to increase the speed limit from 50 to 60mph?"

1. Traffic travels along the A363 now at 50mph+: the increase would mean they would probably do 60mph+. Pulling out, and in, of the Monkton Farleigh junction involves a large element of risk.

2. It is a dangerous junction turning into Monkton Farleigh from A363.

3. Supports.

4. i) Need speed reduction signs coming from Bath up to junction to Monkton Farleigh up from woods. ii) Need to reduce speed to 40mph at Farleigh Wick. iii) Need to reduce speed to 30mph road to Monkton Farleigh.

5. This reverts to the original speed limit. Why? Contractors would be better employed improving road surface and verges clear especially at Dry Arch.

6. This is the most idiotic idea I have ever heard. Despite the fact that there are several SLOW DOWN signs and a speed limit sign approaching the Monkton Farleigh junction mad drivers come tearing up the hill doing 70mph at times and pay no attention to the existing signs. It is a very dangerous corner.

7. Do not support.

8. The limit should be decreased to 40mph rather than increased. Turning in and out of the turning to Monkton Farleigh is already risky as there is limited vision in both directions. An increase in speed limit will lead to collisions and possible deaths. The A363 already has a lot of local traffic eg visits to the shop and PO in Monkton Farleigh from Farleigh Wick residents. A speed limit reduced to 40mph from Farleigh Wick to the BaNES boundary on the A363 would be infinitely safer.

9. This road is very dangerous - people go too fast and dangerous at junctions.

10. I am very concerned that the 50mph limit continues on the road turning off to Monkton Farleigh.

11. No comment.

12. There are plenty of accidents on A363 already, let's not encourage any more. We already find the Monkton Farleigh junction extremely hazardous and potentially lethal!

13. The A363 between BoA and the Batheaston bypass is an extremely dangerous stretch of road and any increase would only add to it - very difficult to turn out of Monkton Farleigh onto A363 especially for caravans and horses.

14. There are many children, teenagers catching buses to & from school on this piece of road and crossing the road!

15. There are already daily near-misses on the T-junction to Monkton Farleigh - indeed we are trying to get the limit reduced before someone is killed. The suggestion to increase the limit is a very dangerous one, especially given the similar problems at Cumberwell at the access to the Golf Club.

16. Any increase in speed on the A363 near the junction to Monkton Farleigh would be extremely dangerous. The junction is already dangerous from both directions. It is a cause of great concern to many villagers and to the parish council has written to the former WWDC and now WC many times to put this on record.

17. It is hard enough, at the moment, to join the A363 from the village, especially as the speed limit is 50mph on a narrow road which bends. It is used frequently, and quite rightly, by farm vehicles. Why can't we have prevention rather than cure?

18. Ridiculous suggestion by the council to increase the speed limit. A dangerous rd, drivers drive too fast. And affects junction to Monkton Farleigh further on. "Kill Speed" signs needed.

19. i) The junction of the A363 and the road to Monkton Farleigh is v dangerous and has seen far too many near misses. ii) Similarly the exit from the Fox and Hounds pub has seen far too many accidents over the years. iii) The A363 through Farleigh Wick is a school bus run and young children have to cross this road daily. It needs a 40mph limit.

20. This is a dangerous junction, it is almost blind to pull out of and it is in dire need of illumination. A 40 or even 30mph limit would be much safer.

21. I think speed limit going into Monkton Farleigh from A363 at Farleigh Wick should be reduced too.

22. I would like to see the limit from the Wiltshire boundary, right through Farleigh Wick to be 40mph.

23. Do not support.

24. Support.

25. It will be more hazardous to get out from the villa onto the A363 which is very dangerous at present with the speed limit at 50mph. (That is too fast).

26. Absolute waste of £5750 within a package of £670,000. Utterly ridiculous! At present a large number of cars ignore 50mph and do 60mph so increasing limit to 60mph would mean Farleigh Wick residents pulling out into traffic possible doing motorway speeds of 70mph! Reading council criteria we have important building here eg busy pub also possibly 15 houses in village. A higher speed limit is wrong way to go. I suggest 30mph!

27. The sight line on the A363 travelling towards Bradford on Avon is inadequate with the present speed limit, the curves each side of Dry Arch Bridge are tight for the width of the c'way and the running surface to the north of Dry Arch Bridge is in bad vertical alignment.

28. Should be cut to 40mph as at Bathford. Avon roads have more considerate speeds. We also have a 50mph between Farleigh Wick and Monkton Farleigh - the lane is barely able to let 2 cars pass so this needs change as well.

29. As regular users of the access to the A363 at the Monkton Farleigh junction we find it incomprehensible that the Wiltshire Council want to increase vehicle speed at a dangerous junction. ie sharp turn to enter or exit a residential area at the brow of a hill.

30. I cannot believe that safety is not a priority at this junction on the A363. Presumably we must have a death or serious injury before WC sees sense!

31. I can't believe the council would even contemplate changing the speed limit to 60mph. Have they tried to get out of the Monkton Farleigh junction? Most times you take your life in your hands - even with the present 50mph.

32. We have live (here) for 8 years. When we first moved in to our house and there were no white lines (double) and a speed limit of 50 there were accidents on a regular basis near the Monkton Farleigh turning. Please check accident records. I cannot see any benefit in increasing the speed limit this is a dangerous junction.

33. Given the poor sight lines at the junction of the road from Monkton Farleigh and the A363, I consider that a reduction to 40mph on this stretch would be more appropriate.

34. As a resident of Pinckney Green I use this road daily including the difficult turn out of the Monkton Farleigh road. The sightlines are short and it would be dangerous and highly undesirable to increase the speed on the A363.

35. Traffic already goes way over 50mph as it is. It's a dangerous junction already. Why increase it? It should be reduced, not increased, with markings on the road surface too.

36. Which idiot is suggesting this? The suggestion to increase the limit to 60mph is, to be quite frank, ludicrously insane. In fact the limit should be reduced to 30mph!! My children have to cross this road to get the bus. Incredible suggestion! Idiotic! Whoever gets the speed limit reduced gets my vote.

37. I would suggest lowering the limit. Visibility wise you have 2.5 seconds to get in or out of the junction before collision time. I have sat there and had my drivers window shattered by road debris from speeding cars. Also seen vehicles pass at 70 - 100mph. No doubt the highway people will await a couple of deaths before action.

38. No comment.

39. Not support.

40. This madness. The junction is already dangerous with traffic coming from Bath at over 50mph and we can't get out of the village safely. Do not do it!

41. This is sheer madness. I suggest the councillors visit this junction. Traffic already travels too fast up the hill. You only have to misjudge your timing by a second to have a car braking up your backside. I feel sorry for the elderly whose reactions aren't so quick. What about our junction widening?

42. Not support.

43. Cut the speed limit from 50 to 30 on the road from Pinckney Green to Broadstones.

44. I have had many near misses pulling out of the Farleigh junction. I feel the limit should be dropped coming up from Bath: drivers are not aware of the hidden junction. A warning flashing "slow down" sign should be erected on the approach to the junction from Bath, making drivers aware of the hazard ahead. All around the county you are trying to slow traffic down, yet where it really needs to be you are thinking of increasing it.

45. Do not support.

46. In my view the more serious problem is still the speed at which traffic generally approaches the MF junction from the Bathford direction. Yes there is a 50mph limit but frequently traffic appears from the partially blind approach at excessive speeds.

47. Do not support.

48. As with other residents of M. Farleigh we are totally against the 50mph limit imposed a few years ago on the lane leading to the village. A few months ago my wife sustained serious facial injuries due to a fall along that lane as she tripped on an overgrown pavement getting out of the way of a speeding car. The speed limit needs restricting to at least 40mph.

49. Do not support.

50. The junction from the road from Monkton Farleigh onto the A363 is already very hazardous. Any increase in speed will increase the danger at this junction.

51. The A363 up the hill from Bath requires a sign activated by traffic which states "Slow down, danger junction".

52. Do not support.

53. 30mph from Dry Arch controlled by speed camera.

54. A 60mph limit would be tantamount to a sentence of serious injury or death for some one.

55e. Any plans to increase the speed limit along the A363 between Farleigh Wick and the Monkton Farleigh junction should be abandoned IMMEDIATELY. Only YESTERDAY (30th Jan.) A TRAGIC ACCIDENT OCCURED IN THE 50 MILE AREA just past that junction. If anything, the speed limit should be reduced. That particular junction is extremely dangerous when turning onto the A363 as many vehicles already ignore the existing limit. Why encourage even greater speeds? Must we wait for more deaths before any sensible speed reduction decisions are taken?