What has happened already in Broadstone?

    A major scheme was completed at Dunyeats Road in 2019 to improve safety and enhance sustainable travel connectivity.

    • The existing footway on the north side of Dunyeats road has been widened and resurfaced to provide a new shared pedestrian and cycle route. 
    • Three new pedestrian crossings have been installed near to the junctions of Station Approach, Tudor Road and Water Tower Road.
    • Giving priority to pedestrians and cyclists, improvements to the junctions with Tudor Road, Lower Golf Links Road, Upper Golf Links Road and Water Tower Road have also been made. Pedestrian accesses to Broadstone Middle School have been enlarged and the access road to Broadstone Cemetery has also been upgraded.


    Why does the 20mph zone need to be extended?

    Traffic speed surveys have been carried out on several roads within the proposed 20mph zone in November 2020. These surveys indicated that on most of the roads the average speed of vehicles was 24mph or below; although a number of drivers were exceeding this figure. These results mean that the 20mph zone could be reasonably achieved in these roads with the use of appropriate road signs and road markings alone, without the need to introduce physical traffic-calming features such as speed cushions, raised tables or chicanes. We would encourage all residents to comply with the 20mph limit, if introduced, so that they reduce the risk of serious injury to children and other vulnerable road users.

    Average vehicle speeds on Dunyeats Road were 26mph, which means that further physical measures would be required to slow down vehicles. We are therefore considering introducing an additional zebra crossing near to the entrance to the car park next to the bowling club/scout hall/Broadstone Park.

    What is the data from the traffic surveys?

    Traffic speed surveys were carried out in Dunyeats Road (East), Dunyeats Road (West), Ridgeway, Lower Blandford Road and York Road on 03/11/2020 and 04/11/2020 (before Lockdown). 

    The table below shows, average speeds and the 85th percentile speed (the speed at or below which 85% of vehicles are travelling). These are the most commonly used measures of actual traffic speed. 

    Site

    85th percentile speed

    Average/Mean speed

    Average vehicle count (per day)

    Dunyeats Road (East))

    31mph

    24mph

    11,762

    Dunyeats Road (West)

    33mph

    26mph

    11,210

    Ridgeway

    29mph

    23mph

    1,844

    Lower Blandford Road (near Charborough Road) 

    38mph

    28mph

    15,742

    York Road

    31mph

    25mph

    3,519


    Looking at the speed surveys for Ridgeway there are about 850 vehicles a day travelling northbound, of which 11% exceeded 30mph and 3 vehicles exceeded 40mph. 

    Given the amount of traffic, there is a desire to make the streets safer for those living, walking, scooting, cycling and going to school in the area. The schools are concerned about children’s safety on Dunyeats Road, and has had several parents contact them with concerns and reporting ‘near miss’ incidents. 

    There is no minimum speed threshold for considering a 20mph zone. Implementation of a 20mph zone is based on the factors shown in the ‘What is the process for considering 20mph zones?’ FAQ

    By reducing the speed limit to 20mph this should bring dramatic improvements to safety - recognising that the area includes two schools in the area, with two others a short distance away. Any reduction in speed will help to reduce the impact of any potential accidents given that the lower the speed the less damage caused in collisions and lower speed ensures more time to react.

    We will also be working with the school to encourage pupils to walk, scoot or cycle to school to reduce the amount of cars in the area.

    From the consultation we would like to find out what people living and working in and travelling through the area agree or disagree with our proposals and how they could affect them, if implemented.

    What is the process for considering 20mph zones?

    All 20mph zones are considered in response to requests from local residents, councillors, schools. The Council follows a standardised appraisal procedure using a set of criteria in order to determine a priority ranking. The factors considered are: 

    • History of road collisions, including frequency, severity, user types and causes; 

    • Road geometry and engineering required to reduce speeds (width, sight lines, bends, junctions, accesses and safety barriers etc.); 

    • Road function (strategic, through traffic, local access etc.); 

    • Composition of typical road users (including existing and potential levels of vulnerable road users); 

    • Existing average traffic speeds; 

    • Road environment, including level of road-side development and possible impacts on residents (e.g. severance, noise, or air quality)

     

    The following factors are also assessed: 

    • Potential Collision and casualty savings; 

    • Conditions and facilities for vulnerable road users; 

    • Impacts on walking and cycling and other modal shift aspirations; 

    • Congestion and journey time reliability;

    • Environmental, community and quality of life impact, such as emissions, severance of Local communities, visual impact, noise and vibration; 

    • Costs, including of engineering and other physical measures including signing, maintenance and cost of enforcement.

    Which roads would be affected?

    Dunyeats Road (part)

    Grange Road

    Heysham Road

    Kirkway

    Laurel Drive

    Laurel Gardens

    Lower Blandford Road (part) 

    The Broadway

    Lower Golf Links Road (part)

    Macaulay Road

    Ridgeway

    Selby Close

    Story Lane

    Tudor Road (south)

    Upper Golf Links Road (part)

    Westheath Road

    York Road (part)

    What would Option A mean?

    Option A - entry / exit restrictions 

    This involves:

    No Entry for motor vehicles to Tudor Road (south) from Dunyeats Road

    No Exit for motor vehicles from Ridgeway to Dunyeats Road


    • This option is hoped to reduce the number of vehicles using these roads as a shortcut and may ease flows from side roads (Tudor Road and Ridgeway) linking to Dunyeats Road. 
    • Motor vehicles wishing to travel north/north east from Ridgeway would need to exit the area via Lower Blandford Road and then travel north through Broadstone Roundabout.
    • Cycles would be able to enter and exit both roads.
    • Motor vehicle access would be maintained to all properties.
    • A safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists and the mobility impaired; fewer cars, less noise and pollution; and a safer, more community feel to the area.
    • Speeds of motor vehicles on Ridgeway could marginally increase as a result of it becoming a one way road.
    • May create minor delays when attempting to exit Ridgeway (south west) onto Lower Blandford Road when turning right towards Broadstone Roundabout.
    • It is unlikely that this option would have a significantly negative impact on journey times for motor vehicles. It should, to varying degrees, reduce journey times for walking/cycling/mobility scooters by creating a safer, more attractive environment with improved facilities.

    What would Option B mean?

    Option B - low traffic neighbourhood

    To create a low traffic neighbourhood, prioritising walking and cycling and reducing motor vehicles travelling from Dunyeats Road to Lower Blandford Road, the following changes would be implemented (as shown in the map below):

    • On Ridgeway: through motor traffic would be prevented from travelling beyond a point at the northern corner of the junction with Westheath Road.
    • On Macauley Road: through motor traffic would be prevented from travelling beyond a point approximately half-way between the junctions of Kirkway and Tudor Road (south).

    • Tudor Road south and the northern section of Ridgeway would become a cul-de-sac. Motor vehicles would enter and exit by the junctions with Dunyeats Road.
    • Motor vehicle access from Lower Blandford Road would be limited to the Macaulay Road and Ridgeway junctions. 
    • Exiting the area by motor vehicle would only possible from the Ridgeway/Lower Blandford Road junction. 
    • The closure applies to motorised traffic only, so people would still be able to walk, scoot and cycle through. 
    • Motor vehicle access to properties and businesses would be maintained.  
    • This option would not include the full pedestrianisation of streets. 
    • Around five on-street parking spaces would be removed at the Ridgeway/Westheath Road junction.
    • A safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists and the mobility impaired; fewer cars, less noise and pollution; and a safer, more community feel to the area. There could be minor delays when attempting to exit Ridgeway onto Lower Blandford Road when turning right towards Broadstone Roundabout.
    • It should, to varying degrees, reduce journey times for walking/cycling/mobility scooters by creating a safer, more attractive environment with improved facilities. 
    • It is unlikely that this option would have a significantly negative impact on journey times for motor vehicles. 

    What is a low traffic neighbourhood?

    A low traffic neighbourhood is a group of residential streets, bordered by main roads (used by buses, lorries and non-local traffic travel), where through motor vehicle traffic is discouraged or prevented from using the streets through the use of modal filters (measures located at a single point in a road that allow the passage of some forms of transport but not others). This creates a safer space for those who live in and use the area; for people to walk, scoot or cycle through the area and to and from local schools. Roads are not closed to motor vehicles and each resident can still drive onto their street and deliveries made, but it is more difficult, or impossible, to drive straight through from one main road to the next.

    How would any changes be paid for?

    This scheme would use Department for Transport funding allocated as a Local Transport Plan Grant to implement schemes that align with the council’s Local Transport Plan and the council’s objectives and priorities, including those set out in the Core Strategy and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP).

    How can I have my say?

    Your views are important to us and we want to hear from those who live in, work in or visit the area. 

    Please complete our survey by 22 February 2021.

    What happens next?

    A full report on the findings and outcomes of this engagement will be presented to the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability to make a decision on which, if any, of the options to proceed with and commence the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process.

    A TRO is a legal order which allows the BCP Council to regulate the speed, movement and parking of vehicles and to regulate pedestrian movement, all of which are enforceable by law. The process involves formal consultation. Site notices would be displayed to show the proposed changes and formal support or objections would be invited from anyone who has a view on the scheme. This would run for three weeks. The formal responses would then be considered by the Portfolio Holder in consultation with Ward Councillors and Transportation Officers.

    If any changes are agreed, these are provisionally planned for the beginning of September 2021, so that they are in place for the start of the 2021/22 school year.

    All schemes delivered by BCP Council are actively monitored following their installation, with any appropriate additional action taken after a formalised review process.