Update 2 December 2013:

Somerset Highways have informed me that their recent proposal to lower the speed limit on Oldford Hill, just to the north of the Bath Road/Gypsy Lane/Cuckoo Lane junction has been cancelled. This is really disappointing.

I assume this is due to the opposition to an increase in speed limit at Oldford, which was also proposed in the same Draft Speed Limit Order.   I am in touch with Somerset Highways and county councillors on this and will be helping residents campaign again for a speed limit reduction on Oldford Hill to make this part of Frome safer.

Please see here for future updates.

Original story in October:

In late August 2013, Somerset County Council announced proposals to reduce the speed limit to 30mph along the stretch of the B3090 Oldford Hill to the north of the junction with Cuckoo Lane/Gypsy Lane, Frome. But the proposed Order would have also removed the 30mph limit from a long stretch of road between Frome and the south of Oldford. See http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/30mph-speed-limit-extended-Oldford-Hill/story-19756797-detail/story.html#axzz2h8gLquQu

Earlier in October, Somerset County Council announced they are consulting again on a new improved Speed Limit Order for this area.

Schedule 1 of the new proposals is for an extension of the existing Frome 30 mph speed limit, from the northern edge of the Gypsy Lane/Cuckoo Lane/Bath Road junction, for 180m downhill towards Oldford.  I and the local residents who have contacted me, fully support that part of the changes. It is currently very difficult to cross the junction when faced with speeding traffic coming up the hill, and this should improve road safety and reduce the risk of road accidents at the junction.

However, Schedule 2 of the new proposals also proposes a 40 mph limit for the remaining 325m of road between Oldford Hill and Oldford village. This would remove the current national speed limit and a stretch of 30mph close to the village. As this would increase traffic speed near where people live, I cannot support this part of the order.  I would support a reduction to 30 across the whole road between Frome and Oldford, to join up these two areas, as that would avoid drivers feeling able to increase speed here but then forgetting to slow down again.

To view and respond to the new proposed Speed Limit Order, click on the Bath Road / Oldford Hill Order dated 03 October, here: http://www.somerset.gov.uk/irj/public/services/directory/service?rid=/guid/00334f3e-7a39-2c10-abb9-e57347b71e7b#.

The draft order states: ‘Any person wishing to object to the proposed Order may do so in writing,
specifying the grounds on which it is made, to Somerset County Council, Traffic
and Transport Development, PPC601a, County Hall, Taunton TA1 4DY and
received no later than 24th October 2013.’

So, to respond to Somerset’s roads and transport team on the proposals, please email roadsandtransportSD@somerset.gov.uk, or call 0845 345 9155, quoting the ‘Bath Road/Oldford Hill (Frome) 30mph and 40mph speed limit order 2013’.

I would like everyone to support Schedule 1, but object to Schedule 2 and ask for the speed limit to be 30mph along the whole route between Frome and Oldford. This is because traffic speed needs to be limited to 30mph here to ensure public safety, to stop drivers increasing speed and forgetting to slow down again, especially outside Frome Community College and the residential areas of Oldford and Frome. I also see no good reason to have multiple speed limit signs going 30-40-30 over such a short distance.

Please let me know what you think via cllr.boyden@mendip.gov.uk.

SCC’s revised speed limit proposals