Written 30/04/10

The County Council are about to begin the formal consultation on speed limit changes on the B1049.

The proposed changes are:

• Cottenham to Histon - 50mph
• Histon/Impington (Village Green to Football Club) - 30mph
• Football Club to A14 - 40mph

With no change proposed from the Village Green out to the Cottenham edge of Histon

On 01/05/10 at 8:55pm someone anonymously wrote: Why no change from village green out to the edge of histon towards cottenham? this is ridiculous, it should be reduced on this stretch as this is the main area for speeding problems and accidents at 40mph! there are more residents along that stretch of road than any other along the B1049. From the football club to the lights it is not really possible to get above 30mph anyway because of all the lights, then people put the pedal to the floor after the lights as this is their green light to go faster. 30mph for the section from the lights towards cottenham as well please!

On 02/05/10 at 11:21am someone anonymously wrote: I cannot comprehend why pedestrians, cyclists and residents in this village are not entitled to the same lower speed limits enjoyed in most other built up areas in the UK. Little surprise that so many parents in this village drive their kids to school when they have to cross a road where the combined closing speed of the traffic is 80mph. How can they possibly feel safe. Lower speeds along the entire length of the village please - anything less would be wrong headed at best, and fatal at worst.

On 02/05/10 at 12:31pm David Jenkins wrote: According to current criteria there's no justification to reducing the speed limt north of the green. However it has been agreed to revisit this once the new cycle lane has been put into place later this year.

On 06/05/10 at 11:49am someone anonymously wrote: David Jenkins - I can only assume form your comment that you don't live on this road, that you don't have children who stand bewildered with indecision about when it is safe to cross, and that you have not witnessed any of the accidents and tragic fatalities of the last few years. I would argue that the council has a duty of care to the residents of this village that far exceeds your odd imperative that the speed of cars should be the overriding priority over the safety of our children. Another fatality is inevitable - why wait to 'later in the year' to make a difference when you could make one now! It is election day - and my vote will go to someone decisive who will make changes - is that you?

On 07/05/10 at 5:26pm Mike wrote: It would be interesting to know what the 'justification' is please. Does someone need to die? As I see it the road north of the green is no wider than the rest, has the same narrow pavements, has driveways and turnings, pedestrians, cyclists, children crossing at the end of Orchard Road. I live in the middle stretch and there have been 6 traffic accidents in 20 years outside our house all resulting in the destruction of property, but fortunately no serious injuries. Also a speed limit change at the lights is not going to be noticeable when driving South.

On 08/05/10 at 11:10am someone anonymously wrote: Mike is absolutely correct, so many more accidents on this stretch of road from the green to the Histon boundary towards Cottenham (thankfully no fatalities), 6 that we actually know of, there are probably more. 4 of the accidents he mentions have actually been in the last 4 years.

On 09/05/10 at 1:12pm David Jenkins wrote: I don't want to be seen as an apologist for the County Council but according to its rather rigid rules the part of the B1049 north of the green today doesn't qualify for a speed limit of 30mph. I have pointed out to it that when the cycle way goes in that will change the geometry of the road and it has agreed to reconsider it then. It may be necessary then to find funding for and put in additional 'hard' speed reduction measures. I fully support anything which will reduce traffic speeds through Histon.

On 26/07/10 at 9:45pm Smith wrote: I find it amazing that this stretch of road is not already reduced to a 30 limit. As a resident in Orchard Road I can tell you it is sometimes a 'lottery' trying to get out onto the B1049 at many parts of the day, mainly as our road joins it on a bend. There are many parents and children crossing this road, both ways, for schools and this stretch does need some traffic calming or reduction of the speed limit as it is, ironically, either crawling or fast. As a regular user of this road I would agree that the section between the Green and the A14 does tend to work, mainly due to the traffice lights and crossings but the Green to Cottenham Road is a race track most days. Though this is not the right place, but I think it is worth a mention, Orchard Road is often used as a rat run during the 8 to 9am period on school days. As soon as the B1049 traffic starts to slow to a crawl, some drivers turn off from the B1049 and race down our road, then along Mill Lane to get back on the B1049 and get ahead by a couple of cars (if they are lucky) in the queue. It is nearly three time the distance so you can imagine the speeds they have to reach trying to 'get ahead'. This rat run always has many children going to school so, I guess, it is only a matter of time. Then maybe a speed bump when it is too late?

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