Over 100 residents packed Paulton Village Hall last Tuesday evening to express their views on the recent traffic calming measures in Paulton at a Parish Council meeting.
The Chairman, Les Wild, opened the meeting and handed over to Cllr Liz Hardman who explained that, immediately following the installation of the build-out near the hospital, she had arranged an emergency on-site meeting with B&NES Council's Highways Officers, along with Paulton Parish Councillors and fellow B&NES Councillor, John Bull, to demand that the build-out be removed. (The new structure is technically a 'build-out', as chicanes consist of build-outs on both sides of the road in a staggered arrangement).
Parish Councillors were told a Safety Audit would have to take place to assess whether the build-out should remain. The Head of B&NES Highways and Traffic, Kelvin Packer, did agree to attend a meeting of Parish and B&NES Councillors on Tuesday morning to answer the questions residents would be putting that evening, as Highways Officers would not be attending. Kelvin Packer promised there would be a full Safety Audit of the whole scheme, which would be brought forward and carried out this month. He assured residents that they would be informed as to how key decisions about the structure will be made.
The Chairman then opened up the meeting to residents and most comments were concerned with the build-out by the hospital. It was noted that health workers, midwives, staff, patients, ambulance crews, emergency and delivery drivers, commuters, many of whom were present, were all reporting an increasing risk of delays, difficulty of access and danger of collision.
The Chairman pointed out that this build-out had not been placed in the location required by Paulton Parish Council, but had been changed, without consultation by B&NES Highways. A proposal to remove the build-out was unanimously agreed by the audience. It was agreed that a full list of residents' grievances should be recorded and relayed to the Highways Department.
A great deal of frustration was expressed that the Highways Department, which was seen as having created the present chaos, was not represented at the meeting.
The other issues raised were whether a 20 mph limit was needed throughout the whole of Paulton and that there is no access for cyclists at the side of the build-outs, thus placing them at risk. There were complaints about the new signage obscuring drivers' vision, the need for more information from the Parish Council, and how much all the new measures cost. Cllr John Bull agreed to provide information on these costs.
Cllr Hardman reiterated that although B&NES Highways Officers had declined to attend this meeting, there will be an opportunity, when the whole traffic calming scheme has been assessed and a Safety Audit done, for residents to be informed about decisions and an opportunity to speak to Highways.