Germain Street residents angry at 'traffic calming'

Nov 7 2011 By Camilla Goodman

Residents of Germain Sreet, Chesham and the uncompleted width restriction.

RESIDENTS are up in arms about a traffic calming scheme which they said has had the opposite effect and needs resolving before someone is killed.

Bucks County Council (BCC) installed the traffic calming scheme in Germain Street as part of Thomas Harding School's travel to school plan to enable the children to have a wider crossing point.

However, since the changes in August residents have told the Examiner how vehicles are going faster, large vehicles are overhanging the pavement and some are mounting the curbs resulting in several residents being hit, including one man who broke 20 bones in his hand.

Angry resident Richard Berry, of Germain Street, said: "This plan does not calm traffic. It makes things a darn sight worse. It's had the opposite effect, it's not working."

His wife Geraldine said: "I don't walk on that side of the road now, it's too dangerous. Every time you leave your house you're taking your life in your hands. There have been a number of near misses, but soon one of them won't be a near miss."

Disgusted Michelle Waldron-Cooper, of Germain Street, has been clipped by a van and her children Lily, seven, and Wren, five, have had near misses. She said: "Since the unfinished traffic calming has been installed - motorists have become more aggressive and very large vehicles are humping the very narrow pavements to pass. Wren's head was nearly knocked by a van driver's wing mirror. My husband moved it out of the way just in time. It would have killed her outright. My pledge is for pedestrian and residents safety."

Resident Stirling Macgurie said: "I want to know what Bucks County Council's reaction will be when the first fatality is reported?"

Residents want BCC to restrict vehicle size, weight and speed.

Transport for Buckinghamshire spokesman Laura Jo-Stocks said: "As part of these works we will be installing lining, reviewing the signage and installing three bollards at locations where vehicles have been recorded mounting the kerb.

"While we fully appreciate, from the comments received, that some do not feel that this scheme was the right one to install we were asked to complete this work through the Local Area Forum and undertook the work following a formal consultation in the area and a successful safety audit of the scheme was completed. Structures such as this should slow drivers down and provide a safer environment for all road users. Unfortunately in this situation it would appear that a few drivers are becoming more aggressive and are performing unsafe manoeuvres. Residents have requested that the police review the area, as they are the body that is able to prosecute such action, and certainly we are very supportive of this."