I am pleased to see the Top Street road safety planning application has been rejected, particularly as I helped Top Street residents frame their objections to the scheme.
Oswestry and Border Counties Advertiser news article:
Shropshire Council throws out village road safety scheme
The Church Street / Top Street junction is dangerous with poor visibility and excessive speed coming into the village. HGVs and other through traffic use Top Street as a cut-through – such traffic is highly inappropriate for a residential street. The proposed scheme ultimately failed to address any of these concerns.
More details can be read on the application on Shropshire Council’s website: 18/03382/FUL | Construction of approximately 11m by 2m of raised kerb build-out to reduce road width
To me, it makes more sense to stop vehicles using the Church Street end altogether. This would ease problems with traffic cutting through Top Street and improve residential amenity. I am glad Shropshire Council has rejected this flawed application and supported the concerns of residents. Sound design is needed to address Top Street road safety issues and those of the wider area, not piecemeal flawed design.
It is also worth pointing out that installing a Vehicle Activated Speed (VAS) sign at the Church Street entrance to the village is urgently needed. Excessive speed of vehicles entering Whittington from Gobowen presents a very real danger to residents and motorists on Church Street or using the Top Street Entrance. Residents have complained to me about this and I will be heading out with my speed gun to assess the extent of the current problem and compare the date to previous speed measurements that I have taken. I have referred them to the parish council to initiate the request to Shropshire Council.