Wiltshire Council's Plan for Leap Gate
Leap Gate in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, runs through the heart of two densely-populated family estates which are served by two primary schools, Castle Mead and Paxcroft Mead.
The proposed plan for Leap Gate has changed several times since the Land at East Trowbridge Development Brief was adopted in September 2004.
As stated in Wiltshire Council's brief, traffic noise is to have as little impact as possible on the residents of both estates. Excerpt below.......
Noise 2.13 Potential noise sources adjoining the site are identified as being road traffic noise from the proposed distributor link road. The effects of this on both the new development and the existing neighbouring residential properties to the site should be mitigated, with particular care taken on the narrow corridor that forms the extension of Leap Gate as far as Green Lane.
Rather than reducing car-dependence and discouraging vehicle-use along Leap Gate, Wiltshire Council has done the exact opposite with the conditions they have created by setting speed limits that are too high. How can residents be encouraged to walk and cycle when the road is too busy and dangerous? Excerpt below.....
Planning Policy 3.1 The East Trowbridge development will have regard to the Government’s principles of sustainable development. These are set out in Planning Policy Guidance Notes 1 (General Policy & Principles), 3 (Housing) and 13 (Transport). In particular, this Brief requires the implementation of development which helps to reduce car dependence by facilitating greater walking, cycling and public transport use. It also requires the implementation of a high quality and well-designed scheme.
Traffic-calming measures have not been implemented, which has had a negative impact on speed along Leap Gate since its opening. Excerpt below.....
Planning Policy 3.3 9. The provision of traffic-calming measures within the development and locality as approved by the County Highways Authority;
Residents' quality of life has been greatly affected by the opening of the new stretch of Leap Gate (in the form of noise, pollution, volume of traffic, type of traffic, speed of vehicles, lack of sound-buffering). Excerpt below......
The Quality of Life & Sustainable Development Objectives: 4.1 An important factor in allocating the East Trowbridge site is its potential to achieve a sustainable community, providing a closely related mix of residential, employment, education and recreational uses.
How can residents and their children have any recreational use of the area if the road poses such a danger to them? Excerpt below....
The Quality of Life & Sustainable Development Objectives: 4:2 (i) Provide a mix of uses to create a sustainable community with its own distinctive and cohesive sense of place including residential, community, recreation and leisure facilities delivered in parallel with good access to nearby employment opportunities. The scheme will incorporate provision for community safety following the principles outlined in ‘Secured by Design’ published by Association of Chief Police Officers.
How has a safe and attractive residential community been provided for residents when they cannot even cross the road safely due to the volume and speed of traffic? They are forced to use their cars because they do not feel safe walking, cycling or using the paths along Leap Gate. Excerpt below.......
The Quality of Life & Sustainable Development Objectives: 4:2 (vi) A safe and attractive residential area with easy access and movement through the site to reduce the need to travel by car.
The Quality of Life & Sustainable Development Objectives: 4:2 (vii) Avoid negatively impacting upon the safety, privacy or attractiveness of existing neighbouring residential areas.
Residents' visitors are not parking on the street due to the speed and volume of traffic. There have been incidents of people nearly getting hit by speeding cars when trying to get in or out of their vehicles. This has had a detrimental effect on parking as visitors use residents' allocated spaces instead. Excerpt below......
Parking: 5.14 Provision for visitor parking on street will need to be an integral part of the urban design.
Rather than reducing car-dependence and discouraging vehicle-use along Leap Gate, Wiltshire Council, by not controlling vehicle speeds, has done the exact opposite with the conditions they have created by setting speed limits that are too high. Wiltshire Council has repeatedly been asked by residents to lower speed limits. How can they be encouraged to walk and cycle when the road is too busy and dangerous? Excerpt below.....
Movement 5.18 In accordance with national and local transport policy, emphasis will be placed on encouraging and developing sustainable methods of travel rather than relying on private car use. By controlling vehicles speeds, effective use can be made of shared surfaces for pedestrians and cyclists.
Leap Gate is considered a narrow corridor, and traffic-management measures should have been implemented to ensure road safety for residents. Wiltshire Council has failed to take any measures to control the speed or type of vehicles using Leap Gate. Excerpts below....
Movement 5.19 The District and County Councils will determine at the planning application stage, after appropriate public consultation, the design and/or traffic management measures for the road to ensure road safety and residential amenity in the development and the surrounding locality. Particular care will be required to ensure safety on the narrow corridor that forms the extension of Leap Gate as far as Green Lane.
Movement 5.19 Traffic calming measures should be adopted throughout the development and may take several forms. Traffic can be calmed through road narrowing, changes in surface materials and levels, but equally the shape and form of streets themselves will influence driver behaviour. Built form and natural features can be used to limit long views for drivers and therefore control vehicle speed. It is particularly important to integrate speed control features at the design phase rather than as an afterthought.
How can children walk safely to the planned play area, or school, when motorists are ignoring speed limits along Leap Gate and are running the red lights at the pedestrian crossing? Wiltshire Council has failed to address the issue of speeding vehicles by lowering speed limits. Excerpt below.....
Movement 5.27 The minimum standard for children’s use should be met at all times and in all circumstances. This type of open space should be within easy walking distance of homes and well integrated into the development.
Wiltshire Council's Road Traffic Act for Leap Gate, and side roads, states that no vehicles should exceed 30mph. Why, then, is this not being enforced? Excerpt below.....
WILTSHIRE COUNCIL
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
THE COUNTY OF WILTSHIRE (LEAP GATE, TROWBRIDGE)
(RESTRICTED ROADS) ORDER 2015
The Council of the County of Wiltshire in exercise of its powers under Sections 82 and 83 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) as amended and of all other enabling powers and after consultation with the Chief Officer of Police in accordance with Part III of Schedule 9 to the Act hereby makes the following
Order:-
1. No person shall drive any vehicle at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour on the length of road specified in the Schedule to this Order, which is a restricted road for the purposes of Section 81 of the Act.
Wiltshire Council's failure to adhere to their own Land at East Trowbridge Development Brief has had a major and negative impact on the lives of residents of Castle Mead and Paxcroft Mead estates.
The proposed plan for Leap Gate has changed several times since the Land at East Trowbridge Development Brief was adopted in September 2004.
As stated in Wiltshire Council's brief, traffic noise is to have as little impact as possible on the residents of both estates. Excerpt below.......
Noise 2.13 Potential noise sources adjoining the site are identified as being road traffic noise from the proposed distributor link road. The effects of this on both the new development and the existing neighbouring residential properties to the site should be mitigated, with particular care taken on the narrow corridor that forms the extension of Leap Gate as far as Green Lane.
Planning Policy 3.1 The East Trowbridge development will have regard to the Government’s principles of sustainable development. These are set out in Planning Policy Guidance Notes 1 (General Policy & Principles), 3 (Housing) and 13 (Transport). In particular, this Brief requires the implementation of development which helps to reduce car dependence by facilitating greater walking, cycling and public transport use. It also requires the implementation of a high quality and well-designed scheme.
Traffic-calming measures have not been implemented, which has had a negative impact on speed along Leap Gate since its opening. Excerpt below.....
Planning Policy 3.3 9. The provision of traffic-calming measures within the development and locality as approved by the County Highways Authority;
Residents' quality of life has been greatly affected by the opening of the new stretch of Leap Gate (in the form of noise, pollution, volume of traffic, type of traffic, speed of vehicles, lack of sound-buffering). Excerpt below......
The Quality of Life & Sustainable Development Objectives: 4.1 An important factor in allocating the East Trowbridge site is its potential to achieve a sustainable community, providing a closely related mix of residential, employment, education and recreational uses.
How can residents and their children have any recreational use of the area if the road poses such a danger to them? Excerpt below....
The Quality of Life & Sustainable Development Objectives: 4:2 (i) Provide a mix of uses to create a sustainable community with its own distinctive and cohesive sense of place including residential, community, recreation and leisure facilities delivered in parallel with good access to nearby employment opportunities. The scheme will incorporate provision for community safety following the principles outlined in ‘Secured by Design’ published by Association of Chief Police Officers.
How has a safe and attractive residential community been provided for residents when they cannot even cross the road safely due to the volume and speed of traffic? They are forced to use their cars because they do not feel safe walking, cycling or using the paths along Leap Gate. Excerpt below.......
The Quality of Life & Sustainable Development Objectives: 4:2 (vi) A safe and attractive residential area with easy access and movement through the site to reduce the need to travel by car.
The Quality of Life & Sustainable Development Objectives: 4:2 (vii) Avoid negatively impacting upon the safety, privacy or attractiveness of existing neighbouring residential areas.
Residents' visitors are not parking on the street due to the speed and volume of traffic. There have been incidents of people nearly getting hit by speeding cars when trying to get in or out of their vehicles. This has had a detrimental effect on parking as visitors use residents' allocated spaces instead. Excerpt below......
Parking: 5.14 Provision for visitor parking on street will need to be an integral part of the urban design.
Rather than reducing car-dependence and discouraging vehicle-use along Leap Gate, Wiltshire Council, by not controlling vehicle speeds, has done the exact opposite with the conditions they have created by setting speed limits that are too high. Wiltshire Council has repeatedly been asked by residents to lower speed limits. How can they be encouraged to walk and cycle when the road is too busy and dangerous? Excerpt below.....
Movement 5.18 In accordance with national and local transport policy, emphasis will be placed on encouraging and developing sustainable methods of travel rather than relying on private car use. By controlling vehicles speeds, effective use can be made of shared surfaces for pedestrians and cyclists.
Leap Gate is considered a narrow corridor, and traffic-management measures should have been implemented to ensure road safety for residents. Wiltshire Council has failed to take any measures to control the speed or type of vehicles using Leap Gate. Excerpts below....
Movement 5.19 The District and County Councils will determine at the planning application stage, after appropriate public consultation, the design and/or traffic management measures for the road to ensure road safety and residential amenity in the development and the surrounding locality. Particular care will be required to ensure safety on the narrow corridor that forms the extension of Leap Gate as far as Green Lane.
Movement 5.19 Traffic calming measures should be adopted throughout the development and may take several forms. Traffic can be calmed through road narrowing, changes in surface materials and levels, but equally the shape and form of streets themselves will influence driver behaviour. Built form and natural features can be used to limit long views for drivers and therefore control vehicle speed. It is particularly important to integrate speed control features at the design phase rather than as an afterthought.
How can children walk safely to the planned play area, or school, when motorists are ignoring speed limits along Leap Gate and are running the red lights at the pedestrian crossing? Wiltshire Council has failed to address the issue of speeding vehicles by lowering speed limits. Excerpt below.....
Movement 5.27 The minimum standard for children’s use should be met at all times and in all circumstances. This type of open space should be within easy walking distance of homes and well integrated into the development.
Wiltshire Council's Road Traffic Act for Leap Gate, and side roads, states that no vehicles should exceed 30mph. Why, then, is this not being enforced? Excerpt below.....
WILTSHIRE COUNCIL
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
THE COUNTY OF WILTSHIRE (LEAP GATE, TROWBRIDGE)
(RESTRICTED ROADS) ORDER 2015
The Council of the County of Wiltshire in exercise of its powers under Sections 82 and 83 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) as amended and of all other enabling powers and after consultation with the Chief Officer of Police in accordance with Part III of Schedule 9 to the Act hereby makes the following
Order:-
1. No person shall drive any vehicle at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour on the length of road specified in the Schedule to this Order, which is a restricted road for the purposes of Section 81 of the Act.
Wiltshire Council's failure to adhere to their own Land at East Trowbridge Development Brief has had a major and negative impact on the lives of residents of Castle Mead and Paxcroft Mead estates.
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