ROADS in Clifton are safer thanks to new traffic-calming measures which have been installed after 20 years of lobbying.
New speed humps, a reduced 20mph speed limit on every road in the centre of Clifton, and a 7.5 tonne weight limit are encouraging drivers to take more care through the village, which had a long-standing problem with speeding drivers.
Novel pencil-shaped bollards have been installed outside Clifton Primary School, and pupils at the school have designed speed warning posters which will be added to new gateway signs soon to be installed at entrances to the village.
Both the police and local volunteers will be carrying out speed checks.
The 7.5 tonne weight limit covers an area from the Leicester Road and A5 to the north and east; from Butler’s Leap to the west; and from The Kent to the south.
Any vehicle over that weight seen within the area can be photographed by members of the public and information sent to the police. Fines will be issued if the vehicle had no good reason for being in the area.
The scheme comes as part of the planning permissions for the Houlton estate and the third phase of the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT), and is intended to mitigate against additional traffic from the developments.
Rugby Borough Councillor Leigh Hunt, who led the project and who chaired the original parish Traffic Committee over 20 years ago, said it was a ‘huge relief’ to finally have the traffic-calming measures in place.
She said: “We have noticed the difference already. Most of the traffic has slowed down, and the odd one or two who go above the speed limit, it’s very obvious who they are.”
She said Clifton had seen increasing amounts of traffic over the past few years – but that it was exacerbated by the village being used as a shortcut.
“It’s been particularly bad because of the developments in the area – not least DIRFT and Houlton.
“So as soon as we found out that there was going to be development on the mast site, I started lobbying to make sure we were in the right place to get this traffic calming put in as one of the planning conditions.
“So the developers of Houlton and DIRFT have paid towards the cost of the traffic-calming for Clifton.”
She said she hoped people would get used to using different routes in the future.
“There have been people who seem to think they’ve still got carte blanche to go speeding through the village,” she added, “but hopefully once we get a few people get done for speeding, that will get the message across.”
Clifton Primary School head teacher Lisa Bernhard said: “Every child has a right to travel to school safely and I hope that these new traffic calming measures, which are intended to reduce the number of fast-moving vehicles through the village, will ensure that for many years to come.”
Coun Leigh Hunt and Clifton Primary School head teacher Lisa Bernhard are looking for a new lollipop person. 44.018.012.rug.jm1Warwickshire County Council is looking for someone to take over School Crossing Patrols at Clifton Primary. Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/schoolcrossingpatrols to apply.
