At the request of residents I asked for a speed survey to be carried out on St. Helens Lane, the Highways Engineer’s comments and the result of the survey are below and attached:
"Dear Cllr Anderson,
The speed survey data was recently returned to me for St. Helens Lane. I summarise the results of these surveys in the table attached, alongside historic data for comparative purposes.
Where local authorities introduce 20mph speed restrictions, they must show that the mean speed of traffic is at or below 24mph. This is set by the Association of Chief Police Officers and is so that the speed limit can be shown to be ‘self-enforcing’. Where mean speeds are below 24mph, local authorities are not bound to act and where the mean speed is above that figure, we must consider measures to reduce it accordingly.
As can be seen from the figures above, the speeds through the narrow section of St. Helens Lane are adequate and fall within the 24mph mean speed remit. The level of traffic travelling at 30mph is low. This was generally expected, the narrow and darker nature of the road at this point aligns to lower speeds. It is appreciated that your constituents may note vehicles having to slow to pass one another, but this is not necessarily due to speed but more to road positioning on a narrow section of carriageway. The above speeds, coupled with the absence of traffic collisions here preclude the authority from any work in this section at this time. I also note a slight fall in the mean speed and proportion of faster traffic since 2015.
With respect to the wider section of St. Helens Lane, it can be seen that the mean speed still sits slightly above the desired point. Whilst there has been a very commendable fall in the mean speed of traffic and particularly the proportion of traffic travelling at or above 30mph over the last 20 years, we need to act upon this. The scheme itself is designed within the parameters of national guidance, but on the section from Long Causeway to the point where it narrows, there is an absence of 20mph repeater signs, with the presence of the traffic calming features deemed to be the ‘feature’ that we must introduce. As a first intervention, I will arrange for additional 20mph repeater signs to be introduced on this section, to reinforce the fact to drivers that this section of road is within the 20mph zone. One of my technicians will pick this work up, but we have an abundance of 20mph repeaters in stock and with these being mounted on lighting columns, I expect quick turnaround on this work."