Following the Autumn safety reviews carried out on the by-way / cycleway byways [HILP21, HILP22 and SEMI9A], Wiltshire Council intends to impose an experimental traffic restriction order [ETRO] on the track preventing use by motorised traffic, other than for access. This will be by signage rather than any physical restrictions. It will last for 18 months during which time usage will be monitored. The note outlining this is set out below. The full safety report (dated October 2023) is here.
Good Morning,
I am writing to provide an update following a review of the byways HILP21, HILP22 and SEMI9A which form part of the active travel route between Hilperton and Melksham. The following sets out the steps taken so far and what will happen next.
Audits
Three independent road safety audits have been undertaken on the Hilperton to Semington cycle route. The most recent being a Stage 4 audit, which is undertaken 12 months after implementation and includes a review of collision data as well as site visits by the audit team. Please find a copy of the audit report attached to this email.
As requested, the audit team were provided with the comments received from residents, users of the route and councillors who have previously raised safety concerns. The auditors have not raised any concern regarding the surfacing used on the byway or the mixed-use aspect of the route. The audit notes a collision occurred on the byway between Whaddon Lane and the A361 in August 2023, resulting in serious injury. The review finds that the scheme construction was not a contributory factor to this collision.
Active Travel England inspectors undertook an audit of the whole route, including the byway section, and outlined their findings in a report to Wiltshire Council. This inspection of the route did not raise any concerns about the mixed-use status of the byway or the surfacing used.
Data collection
The data collected in 2023 has highlighted that there has been an increase in vehicle use, however this number is low and these vehicles may have been using the byways for specific access purposes. Pedestrian and cycle numbers also decreased during the 2023 count, however this can largely be attributed to inclement weather on the day of the count.
Reports from byway users received by Wiltshire Council indicate that there is regular use by local 4×4 drivers, with some incidences of poor driver behaviour having been reported to the police.
What happens next?
As a result of the shown increase in vehicle use, Wiltshire Council proposes the introduction of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to prohibit motor vehicles from using these routes unless for access to adjacent land/premises. This will be a sign only restriction as any physical barrier would be detrimental to equestrians, cyclists and mobility impaired users.
What is an ETRO?
An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) is similar to a Permanent Traffic Regulation Order – it is a legal document which imposes traffic and parking restrictions.
An ETRO can stay in force for up to a maximum of 18 months while the effects are monitored and assessed. Feedback is encouraged throughout the process, however, formal comments in relation to the order must be received in the first six months of it coming into operation. ETROs are used to determine if a scheme is effective and allow flexibility for changes. If changes to an ETRO are made, six months are allowed for public comment from the date those changes came into operation.
A decision on whether the changes introduced as part of the ETRO will be removed or made permanent must be made within 18 months of an order coming into operation. The decision to make a scheme permanent will follow our formal decision making process and be subject to Cabinet Member decision.
Actions for Wiltshire Council.
Wiltshire Council will take steps to introduce the required signage and promote the ETRO to prohibit motor vehicle use (except for access). It is expected that this change will take place in the Spring. In the meantime, we will be undertaking additional, longer term data collection to gather further information on usage. This data will inform the decision as to whether the ETRO has been effective and whether it should be made permanent or removed.
Actions for the wider community
We encourage formal comment on the ETRO during the initial 6-month consultation period. Details on how to do this will be provided in the local press, the Wiltshire Council website and advertised on site notices. Once the ETRO is in place, Parish Councils may wish to promote this to local residents to ensure that all residents are aware of both the restriction and the impact on users of the route should it be flouted.
In addition, once the ETRO is in place, any unlawful use of the route by motor vehicles can be reported. This can be done through the Wiltshire Police online portal or in the first instance, a more local approach may be considered if the drivers are identified as local residents.
Principal Engineer Manager
Wiltshire Council
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The Parish Council will be discussing this at its February meeting; meanwhile, all villagers are requested to continue to report any vehicle use of the track to the Parish Council, and any dangerous use of it to the police.
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