I share the view that traffic through Coton has increased in speed and number over recent years (see Coton Community News June-July 2010) and I’m grateful to those people who have already come forward to describe the hot spots they have identified in the village. Please let me know of any concerns you have on traffic in Coton, either through this website, or through the Parish clerk.
If you have suggestions of what we could do to improve road safety, please let me know. Granchester has recently installled electronic vehicle-activated signs (pictured). What do you think of these? Mirrors at blind corners? Speed humps? Chicanes? More obvious signage at the entrances to the village? A pedestrian crossing over Brook Lane? A pavement on the Recreation Ground side of Brook Lane? All thes have been suggested when I’ve asked people around the village.
Some options are summarised at http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/trafficmanagement/policy/speed_reduction_measures.htm.
On the other hand, if you feel there are no particular problems, please also give your view. It’s important that the Council hears from as many people as possible.
Sara Godward
As far as I can see Coton has 4 MAJOR traffice rporblems which should be resolved as a matter of some urgency.
1. Speed through the village is unacceptable.
2. Any problems on the A14/M11 result in the village becoming a ‘rat-run’. Any emergency vehicles that may need access to the village during these times would find accessability impossible. Residents are unable to enter or leave their properties. Danger to pedestrians on these occasions is even worse.
3. Madingly Road junction exceedingly dangerous and over the years has got worse with increased volume of traffic.
4. The corner of High St/Cambridge Road is a nightmare. The corner is taken at excessive speeds – there is very pooor visibility – drivers make no allowance for any vehicles that may be parked/stopped on the High Street eg schoool bus and local bus – drivers make no allowance for vehicles leaving driveways which are onn the High St.
Solutions:
YES to flashing speed signs – all other villages in the area have these.
YES to chicanes at either end of the village to slow vehicles.
YES to safer crossing by the recreation ground.
YES to perhaps a mini roundabout being put at High St/Cambridge Road junction.
YES to roundabout or traffice lights at Madingly Road Junction.
NO to any form of speed bumps in the village – we have huge, heavy farm vehicles continually travelling through and this would result in damage to the foundations of properties on either side of the road due to excessive vibration – plus the noise from vehicles continually speeding up and slowing down – One only has to consider the situation in Caldecote to see this just does not work!!
If you would like to further discuss any of these points then please do contact me.
Regards
Val Smethers 01954 – 212352
Does anyone know of a list of reports of traffic accidents in the village over the last, say, 5 years? It might be interesting to post here.
As a cyclist in Coton, I am appalled at the number of drivers who overtake cyclists dangerously. Most do drive sensibly but I have frequently been put in danger by idiot motorists overtaking me close to the High St/Cambridge Rd junction and on the blind corners near The Plough. I suspect most of the latter have no connection with Coton.
Saying that, I am also appalled at the dangerous cycling of many of the irresponsible cyclists in the local area and would support e.g. an increase in on the spot fines for those not sporting lights during times of darkness.
The poor road quality and pot holes on the sides of the Coton roads are another danger to cyclists who have to decide to pursue a seemingly erratic path to avoid these or to maintain a steady line well away from the curb.
I’m bothered about the High Street/Cambridge Road junction, too. For motorists as well as cyclists and slower pedestrians. Someone has proposed changing the road markings so that the priorities are alteredi.e. so that Cambridge Road would flow into the High Street and then Silverdale Ave rather than turn down towards the Plough. Do you think that would help? I think it’s worth thinking through, particularly because it’s a comparatively cheap solution, although I wonder about whether we’d have to slow traffic down on Cambridge Road and perhaps on the High Street at the same time.
It’s worth reporting specific potholes to https://forms.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/customer/servlet/ep.app?ut=X&type=259830. You can also report to http://www.fixmystreet.com/. which makes it public but I’m told that the Council will reply to you personally if you tell them directly rather than via Fixmystreet.