Local residents have been complaining to me of near misses and minor collisions caused by the poor design of the road humps along Stonebridge Drive. The 2 metre gaps between the five sets of humps, and parked cars, mean that vehicles (mainly driving west) can travel at speed between them, causing a risk to pedestrians and oncoming traffic turning out of side streets.  Speed surveys and line painting have been carried out, but the speed humps are still not working.

I want to help local residents in a campaign for Somerset Highways to do more to slow speeds and improve road safety here. Ideas put forward include narrowing the gaps between the humps, and a 20 mph zone. To support and get involved in a Stonebridge Traffic Action Group to campaign on this issue, please get in touch.

Please see here for more information.

Update 2nd December: Letter to residents of Stonebridge Drive (west) and side streets:

Stonebridge Drive Traffic Action Group – can you help?

Dear resident,

Local residents have been complaining to me and county councilor Sam Phripp about speeding traffic, near misses and minor collisions on Stonebridge Drive, caused by the poor design of the speed cushions, which replaced the previous ‘full width’ speeds humps about 10 years ago.

The wide 2 metre gap between each of the 5 pairs of humps, and parked cars, means that vehicles often speed through the middle, causing danger to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.

Local resident Douglas Insall has been tireless in his efforts to persuade Somerset Highways that something needs to be done to slow speeds and improve road safety here before there is a serious accident.  Somerset Highways undertook speed surveys, which saw over 1100 vehicles exceed 30 mph in a week, but have not agreed to do anything other than paint some white lines and see what happens.

So Doug needs your help. If you have any evidence of collisions or near misses, or can help in any way to help persuade Somerset Highways to improve road safety where you live, we need to hear from you!

I think it is obvious that the speed humps are not working, and agree with Doug that the humps need to be modified or replaced to stop people speeding through the middle. We also think that a 20 mph zone here would help make the area safer.

If elected to Town Council I will ask the Council to put the pressure on to find a way to resolve this problem.

To support and get involved in a Stonebridge Traffic Action Group to campaign to improve road safety in this area, please get in touch with me or Doug Insall, douglas80@hotmail.co.uk

Together, we can be wise before, and not after a sad event!

Best wishes,

Adam Boyden

Letter to residents of Stonebridge Drive east, Brunel Way, Beaconsfield Way and Forest Road area:

Local residents have been complaining to me and county councillor Sam Phripp about speeding traffic, near misses and minor collisions on the western part of Stonebridge Drive, caused by the poor design of the speed cushions. I and local residents think the speed humps need to be modified or replaced to stop speeding through the middle, and that a 20 mph zone there would help make the area safer.

Your area does not have traffic calming, except the raised table at the Forest Road/Stonebridge Drive junction, so I would like to know what you think about traffic speeds in your area. Do you need traffic calming here? Do you need a 20 mph zone here?

Please let me know if you have any issues or concerns, I am always happy to help.

Best wishes,

Adam Boyden

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