Shortly before the last Hertfordshire County Council Meeting (27th March, 2018) Nick Hollinghurst, the Liberal Democat County Councillor for Tring met some of the to discuss their petition to the County Council for a 20mph Zone and other safety improvements in Northchurch.The Group pointed out a section in the existing policy where, with a small change to the wording, a useful increase in flexibility could be brought in to enable 20mph Zones to be considered for A and B roads in rural areas.
Subsequent talks with HCC highway officers confirmed that the need for the 20mph Zone to include the A4251 meant that the Northchurch proposals would not be covered by current county policy and so officers could not recommend it as things stood. However they would not oppose any proposal to change current policy so that rural areas could be covered by the admission of exceptional circumstances just as urban areas already were.
Nick Hollinghurst then seized the opportunity presented by the presentation of the petition to table a motion to the Council requesting a review of the existing Speed Management Strategy with a view to making that policy change.
The following motion to the Council was then proposed by Cllr Nick Hollinghurst – with the Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst seconding – which read as follows.
The motion had the support of the Executive Member, Cllr Ralph Sangster and the Local Member, Cllr Terry Douris and after a short debate was passed without dissent with all-party support.
Following the Council Meeting, Cllr Nick Hollinghurst had further discussions about a variety of highway issues which included the Northchurch situation. He gained the impression that there were a number of other situations in Hertfordshire where such a relaxation of the Speed Management Strategy would also prove useful.
Cllr Hollinghurst said, “It is clear we have the good will of the highways officers in this and I am optimistic that the review will provide a policy framework within which the Northchurch 20mph Zone could be agreed. I also understand the the Local Member has already authorised further traffic studies out of his Highways Locality Budget. This is all most welcome. However I must warn the local people that everything connected with highways happens very slowly indeed. This is especially so at a time when central government is sucking more and more funding out of local councils.”