A local resident has raised concerns over speed bumps in Stonebridge Drive – see Frome Times article from April – http://www.frometimes.co.uk/2010/04/28/issue-299-safety-concerns-in-stonebridge-drive/:  “The speed bumps were installed when the Stonebridge Drive development was built, and are designed to reduce the speed of traffic in the residential area and approach to the sports centre and college. However, Douglas Insall is questioning the effectiveness of the traffic reducing measures. “Unfortunately, they don’t work!” he said. “Vehicles speed through the central gaps and swerve violently at times to achieve this. The width of most vehicles can virtually straddle each bump with little or no reduction in speed. I have personally had two very near misses driving out of Rowan Court and turning left. Parked cars obscure vision and speeding cars using the gap cause a real threat, especially when the road is wet. …”

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said, “Speed reducing measures were installed when the Stonebridge Drive development was built. We are not aware of any safety issues regarding the speed cushions (bumps). We will monitor traffic movements along Stonebridge to ascertain the extent of any problems there.”

Since then, the county councillor for Frome North, Sam Phripp, and I have been in touch with Doug on this over the last year.  Sam has held a number of meetings and discussions with the highways officer at Somerset and Doug to pursue the issue.  Discussions are continuing as to how to solve this problem.

The county council has recently added more white lines around the humps and around corners to prevent parking and improve visibility, and to carry out another speed monitoring survey.

Ideas being discussed currently are the potential for a 20 mph speed limit, and replacing the little humps with smoother flat topped humps. 

Please let me know what you think via cllr.boyden@mendip.gov.uk. Would you support improvements to traffic calming, and/or a 20 mph zone along Stonebridge Drive?