A686 Alston/Melmerby proposed reduction to 50MPH!

Gizmo

Gizmo

Forum Geek
I've just been reading in our local paper that Cumbria County Council Eden committee have voted to propose a blanket speed change on the complete section between Alston and Melmerby ie the Hartside road. According to the report the proposal was passed as they had not received many objections

The proposal still has to has to be published to allow the public to comment, I'm going to try and keep an eye out for it and post details here however I am working abroad so much I might miss it :(

Once it is published I'm certain that by passing the details of who to write to on car and motorbike forums we can make sure they receive a large number of objections to any reduction :D

if you want to email Cumbria county Council and ask for a copy of the publication notice of proposed speed limit change on A686 the email address is information@cumbriacc.gov.uk

pass it on.....
 
speed limit to hartside

I think the money that would be spent on new signage would better spent putting some tarmac on the road.
We were up on Sunday and the road surface is appalling, nearly ever corner has some sort of wear and tear, from cracked tarmac to 4 inch deep potholes. If you avoid the potholes you end up running wide onto the gravel.
Once again the belief that speed is causing accidents when actually its the road thats dropping to bits.

thanks for listening
 
Well I wrote to them...got passed from dept. to dept. and then the communication has passed in a black hole. I have now reminded them on two occasions that I am awaiting a response to me query. I have yet to receive a reply.

No wonder the country is in a bad state.
 
twpd said:
Well I wrote to them...got passed from dept. to dept. and then the communication has passed in a black hole. I have now reminded them on two occasions that I am awaiting a response to me query. I have yet to receive a reply.

No wonder the country is in a bad state.
Click to expand...

Keep a record Nige, if they fail to provide info prior to the notice and it gets passed the Local Government Ombudsman can be used as the systems did not work. I've been promised an email when it does get published but we'll see if it happens.

I think it needs a bigger campaign though, maybe the likes of MCN do need to get involved?
 
Wildo Mike. I am good at this sort of thing and will maintain the "paper" trail. As has been mentioned above, this sort of thing annoys me. They will spend money on an artificial limit whilst allowing the highway/s to fall to bits. Safety my a*se!
 
I think reducing the limit to 50mph might make it more dangerous with more accidents because impatient drivers will perform risky overtakes.

Recently I have found there are a lot of drivers who are driving on 60mph roads at near 45 to 50 and if they reduce the limit to 50mph those drivers will be trundling along at 35 to 45 with the usual tailbacks of frustrated drivers behind them.

The road between Harrogate and Ripon has had limits and traffic calming road markings put on some stretches of the road yet the sign at the start that shows the fatalities has not gone down much so maybe it has not had the required effect?
It has made made it worse instead of better to drive on as the overtaking opportunities have been reduced making it a 30mph traffic tailback.
 
Notice of proposed reduction is now published, so far I cant find an online version :( I'll try an get this on Monday then it'll need letters of objection and possibly an on line peition, has anyone got any experience of doing this?
 
I've written to the council about this on 5 occasions now. Aside from the initial query when they responded and said they would pass me onto the correct person, which they did, they have since ignored my approaches. This seems like a strange way of engaging in consultation :dunno:
 
if they dont get back to you it might actualy be one for ther local government ombudsman but i'd rather try and stop it first then complain :)
 
I had an email from the council today, notice is attached, I'm now trying to get an email address for letters of objection to be sent to....
 
I got an email response today. I think we need a co-ordinated approach after we've dissected the relevant document in some detail.
 
its easy enough to read the more interesting stuff is not there, the police are not in agreement with it! Yes, but co-ordinated is hard as we need a couple of things - a standard letter for locals and one for visitors , petition up at Hartside to get as many signatures on a weekend as possible, local business owners to write complaining about potential loss of revenue, facebook group, online petition but only 3 weeks to do it...
 
'Save our Sixties'

BIKE magazine have been running a 'Save our Sixties' campaign for some time now. They had details of what to do/how to do it in a recent issue. I am not at home to search it out but perhaps someone has one to hand to paste the routine into this thread?

-LaZ-

EDIT: A quick search and I found this page within MCN referring to the BIKE campaign. There is a template letter included (but it will require a bit of formatting to make it look better on paper ie separate paragraphs for different subject areas):

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/Bike/Best-of-Bike/

Perhaps we should have a separate 'Save our Sixties' sticky thread with the same details pasted from the above linked page, complete with the pre-formatted letter, nicely laid out, so that people can refer to it whenever it may be required? It is obvious that this type of thing is becoming more prevalent and we need to protest where we can...
 
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To use that letter you need the councils statement of why they propose the change, you cant use the letter undoctored as it might be different reasons, I've requested the A686 one and am amending the letter as there are other reasons as well, its a good start point though and i'll see what i can come up with :D
 
OK, I've altered the Bike letter and saved it as a microsoft word file, you will need to download it from and add your name/address and date copy the details of where to send and delete that paragraph sign at bottom then either email or send to the addresses included with it.

http://www.ducati-upnorth.com/speed/objection.doc

Let me know if you can suggest any changes please

I'll try and write one post that can contains all the documents and what to do and be copied and distributed to forums/bike clubs and magazines so we spread the message
 
Cumbria County Council have recently published a proposal to reduce the speed limit from 60 to 50 MPH on the A686 Penrith to Alston road. This road always ranks in the top ten of best biking or driving roads and is enjoyed by many bike riders and car drivers. Any reduction would have an impact on everyone using that road have little to no impact on accident stats as few, if any occur between 50 and 60, the most common cause is failure to negotiate the many bends not speed. Even Cumbria Police are not in favour of a reduction yet the reduction has been passed to comittee for approval and the only way to stop it going through is by objecting. Time is running out, letters of objection need to be returned before 19 July


To prevent this limit being decreased we need as many people to object to the proposal as possible, if you want to help please download the file here (right click/save) word format

http://www.ducati-upnorth.com/speed/objection.doc

Please amend the objection letter with your name/address and deleting relevant sections or altering wording as you see fit and then return either by email to kim.baxter@cumbriacc.gov.uk quote ref KB/4.4.804 in email before 19 July

or by post to Head of Legal Practice, The Nisi Prius Building, The Cours, English Street, Carlisle, CA3 8LZ

We need people to get involved if we are to stop this and if we don't its another great road ruined by councils who need to look at improving roads not taking the cheap/easy way of reducing speed thinking that is enough to prevent accidents, its not. Please spend a few minutes downloading the letter and returning it if you do feel you want to object

You might also want to share this message with other bike/car forums/magazines/websites, please copy this message, use the file links provided and hopefully we can get enough people involved that the council decide not to do it.


A facebook group has been created Stop the proposed reduction in speed limit - A686 Hartside | Facebook please join if you want to be kept updated or just show your support.



Full details of the proposed changes are available in the following pdf documents

Publication notice - http://www.ducati-upnorth.com/speed/Eden_Speed_Limit_Adv_web.pdf

Committee Meeting Minutes - http://www.ducati-upnorth.com/speed/committee.pdf

Police and local council response - http://www.ducati-upnorth.com/speed/a686_response.pdf

Thanks
 
Cumbria County Council have recently published a proposal to reduce the speed limit from 60 to 50 MPH on the A686 Penrith to Alston road. This road always ranks in the top ten of best biking or driving roads and is enjoyed by many bike riders and car drivers. Any reduction would have an impact on everyone using that road have little to no impact on accident stats as few, if any occur between 50 and 60, the most common cause is failure to negotiate the many bends not speed. Even Cumbria Police are not in favour of a reduction yet the reduction has been passed to comittee for approval and the only way to stop it going through is by objecting. Time is running out, letters of objection need to be returned before 19 July


To prevent this limit being decreased we need as many people to object to the proposal as possible, if you want to help please download the file here (right click/save) word format

http://www.ducati-upnorth.com/speed/objection.doc

Please amend the objection letter with your name/address and deleting relevant sections or altering wording as you see fit and then return either by email to kim.baxter@cumbriacc.gov.uk quote ref KB/4.4.804 in email before 19 July

or by post to Head of Legal Practice, The Nisi Prius Building, The Cours, English Street, Carlisle, CA3 8LZ

We need people to get involved if we are to stop this and if we don't its another great road ruined by councils who need to look at improving roads not taking the cheap/easy way of reducing speed thinking that is enough to prevent accidents, its not. Please spend a few minutes downloading the letter and returning it if you do feel you want to object

You might also want to share this message with other bike/car forums/magazines/websites, please copy this message, use the file links provided and hopefully we can get enough people involved that the council decide not to do it.


A facebook group has been created Stop the proposed reduction in speed limit - A686 Hartside | Facebook please join if you want to be kept updated or just show your support.



Full details of the proposed changes are available in the following pdf documents

Publication notice - http://www.ducati-upnorth.com/speed/Eden_Speed_Limit_Adv_web.pdf

Committee Meeting Minutes - http://www.ducati-upnorth.com/speed/committee.pdf

Police and local council response - http://www.ducati-upnorth.com/speed/a686_response.pdf

Thanks
 
Sent an email got this reply:

Thank you for your attached email dated 17 July 2010.

A copy of the same has been forwarded to Mr Keiron Tetchner, the Highways Officer who is dealing with this matter, in order that your comments may be brought to the attention of the Eden Local Committee when it meets to consider any representations which have been received.

Mr Tetchner will also write to you with the Committee's decision in due course.

I trust that this is in order.

Yours sincerely


Kim Baxter
Legal Executive
Resources Directorate
Legal Services Unit
Nisi Prius Building
The Courts
Carlisle
Cumbria CA3 8LZ
or, DX 63023 CARLISLE
Tel: 01228 227365
Fax: 01228 607347
Email: kim.baxter@cumbriacc.gov.uk



TEXT OF ORIGINAL EMAIL

Dear Sirs
I would like to formally lodge my objections to your proposals to impose a blanket speed limit of 50mph on the road between Melmerby and Alston.
It is presumed that your intention in proposing this limit is to reduce accidents .
In view of the present financial climate ,I consider that the cost of administration of this additional legislation to be 'poor value for money'.
The accident rate in the last few years does not warrant the additional cost of policing this extensive 50mph zone.
I feel that this has already been achieved to a greater extent by your selective use of 50mph limits and mobile speed cameras between Penrith and Melmerby.
This already deters motorcycles and car users from engaging in a 'round trip' from Teesside or Newcastle.
A 'blanket' speed limit will simply create lengthy tailbacks on a difficult section of road and increase boredom levels of drivers in these tailbacks.
You will therefore,by imposing this speed limit, be potentially increasing the likelihood of accidents
 
Well, our local paper arrived today with news that the council have decided not to go ahead with the proposed reduction in speed limit so it stays at 60!

32 letters of objection received, according to the officer dealing with it 25 of them from motorcycle groups using a standard letter, oops wonder where that came from :D :D

Thanks to everyone who took the time to help by sending those letters.
 
Its a bit weird, i rode it only a few weeks ago and it was 50 for good stretches of it, or at least i think it said 50, it was all a bit of a blurr!!
Top road! and its good to see there are folks out there who stand up against the lizard people!
 
Michael,
This is great news!! Well done for sorting out the protest. Was over from Penrith end 2 weeks ago with Ann on the monsters and there was a good deal of re surfacing going on up to Melmerby, and there has already been some repair closer to the summit, good news all round!
:D
 
This is a great result, and shows what can be achieved, although I think that a lot of local residents didn't want the limit either.

Eden district council is dominated by people who claim to be independent - but I have my doubts about that.:mad:

Rest assured as one of the locals I will be keeping my eyes peeled for any more attempts to reduce the speed limit on this and other popular routes in this area.
 
I think you should contact BIKE magazine with news of this success, especially as we made good and proper use of their available template.

It will show them that their own efforts to spread the word are not in vain. It may also get you a 'Star' letter award, who knows?

-LaZ-
 
It's a good result. Well done.

Just need to get rid of the local Safety Partnership camera van. Next campaign?
 
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