Slow response to speed appeal in Eccleshill (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Slow response to speed appeal in Eccleshill

7:00am Monday 14th May 2012 in Bradford By Hannah Postles, T&A Reporter

Campaigners who were forced to make their own signs to stop drivers travelling too fast in a 30mph zone have finally achieved their aim of getting proper flashing ones – 15 months after the speed limit was lowered.

Councillors and residents in Eccleshill, Bradford, say five signs which flash when motorists are speeding have only now been installed in Harrogate Road, despite the speed limit changing from 40mph to 30mph at the end of February last year.

Councillor Geoff Reid (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) said: “It’s frustrating it’s taken so long. Over the past year I’ve been getting fed up of leading processions of cars down the road with people itching to get past because they thought the speed limit was 40mph. The new signs are excellent and they’re definitely making a difference, but we didn’t expect to have to wait 15 months.”

Last April, the Telegraph & Argus reported how residents and councillors made their own signs to raise awareness of the change in speed limit, which was reduced after a number of accidents on the road.

But Bradford Council said it could only legally put up temporary signs warning residents of the 30mph speed limit to replace the old 40mph signs.

Coun Reid said: “It was very confusing. They couldn’t put up signs because the default speed limit is 30mph, but a lot of people who travelled down the road from outside the area didn’t know the speed limit had changed. It had been 40mph for a long time.

“With support from the police and local groups, we have been pressing for electronic signs ever since. I don’t know why it’s taken so long, whether it’s to do with money or bureaucracy – but we’re pleased action has finally been taken.”

A Council spokesman said its contractors installed poles for the vehicle activated signs, as well as four new traffic islands, after the speed limit changed from 40mph to 30mph to “minimise the risk of serious accidents during the works”.

Explaining why it took 15 months, he said: “The Council’s Street Scene installed electrical circuitry within the poles. Some of the poles needed power supplies provided by Yorkshire Electricity while others were connected to nearby lighting columns and one is solar powered because there is no electrical supply close by. When all of the connections were made the sign manufacturer installed the five vehicular activated signs. Each part of this process had to be completed before the next stage could start.”