The Parish Council has discussed whether to try to reduce the speed limit in Yoxford on a couple of occasions. It hasn’t been progressed so far because Suffolk County Council’s guidelines on 20 mph speed limits effectively prevent them on all A and B roads and we know our County Councillor is opposed to 20 mph limits. Although more and more places are introducing 20 mph speed limits (The Welsh Assembly recently voted in favour), it will require a significant campaign to get a 20 mph limit here. Before embarking on such a campaign, we want to understand your views on the idea. This isn’t a formal consultation. We are just asking for your comments to get a sense of the support and to understand any issues you think may arise, so please do comment on this article to share your thoughts.
The speed limit through a residential / business area is about getting a balance between the time taken to pass for through traffic, the quality of the living environment for people who live and work in the area and the safety for both groups. The High Street and Little Street are narrow roads with narrow pavements and no pavement in places. The houses are close to the roadside. Right next to the roadside with no pavement in several places. There are many parked cars and space for only one direction of traffic at a time in many places. Passing trade for the shop, cafe and other businesses is parking and setting off regularly. There are many pedestrians and cyclists and a need to cross the road in many places. There have been accidents on these roads including some minor injuries to pedestrians. Crossing the road causes some anxiety for our less mobile neighbours, and the Primary School is on the High Street. All these factors mean a good case can be made for a 20 mph speed limit on The High Street and Little Street, but what do you think? 20 mph limits often include a group of roads, so a 20 mph limit in Yoxford could include Oakwood Park, Strictland Manor Hill (to just past Elmsley Way), Elmsley Way, Meadowlands Close and the Old High Road if there is support. What do you think?
The characteristics just described don’t apply so strongly to the A12 with the exception of the area of the A1120 junction, but the A12 is such a significant through route that a 20 mph limit there would be very difficult to justify, but what do you think? Although there is significant concern about speeding on the B1122 between the level crossing and the A12, it is going to be hard to justify a 20 mph limit along that road, but again what do you think?
Sarah Barrett
I think a 20 mph limit through Yoxford is a good idea, except for the A12 and B1122, for all the reasons you have given. I’m sure people would often exceed it, but it would act as a reminder that Yoxford isn’t a place you can speed through and I think that would tend to reduce the speed of traffic generally..
Barbara
People living on the High Street, Yoxford often cant even cross the road because of the speeding traffic. And thats near a primary school too. I believe it would be a great idea for a 20mph; but like on Leiston Road’s 30mph, not likely adhered to.
Anne Tyler
We agree that a 20 mph speed limit should be in place in Little Street and High Street. Especially because of narrow pavements, no pavements, Children’s park and the primary school.
Amanda Sutherell
I think a 20 mile speed limit through Yixfird an excellent idea
Laura Greenberg
I think that adopting a 20MPH limit in Little Street and through the High Street would be a good idea. Fast traffic can be dangerous for those managing small children or wheel chairs on our narrow pavements. Pedestrians accessing the school and businesses in the High Street would also benefit from the reduced speed.
Jonathan Onyett
I’ve moved to Yoxford in the last couple of years from Brighton which has a strict 20 mph policy throughout the City which works really well . In Brighton this policy has severely reduced pedestrian casualties. There is no doubt in my mind that there is significant speeding problem through Yoxford and it really is an accident waiting to happen unless the local parish council introduce a 20 mph speed limit very much sooner than later!!!
Geoff Prescott
Good idea. Particularly useful to slow some of the lorries down.
The timing is good too as car and white van traffic from the Sizewell build will increase use of the A1120 in the near future, so it would be good to work on this from now to have the speed reduction in place by then.
Same for the stretch of the B1122.
Rupert & Jane Hannen
We support a 20MPH speed limit on both the High Street and Little Street for the reasons mentioned by our Parish Council.
Susan Battle
Yes I agree with 20 ppl limit
Cars come way to fast through the street
Yes from the 30 mph sign( change to 20 ) just before cemetery right down to the A12
Hayley
We support a 20mph speed limit, the traffic here on Little Street easily approaches 40mph early morning and after 3.30pm. Recently there have been faster cars and motorcycles going past The Lane after 10pm that are probably approaching 50mph.
Sandie
Yes, good idea for 20mph limit for all the reasons already mentioned. Personally I’ve had a car knock a corner off my wall because he had to pull onto the pavement to avoid a vehicle speeding towards him.
Christine Freeman
Yes definitely 20 mph or enforcement cameras as hardly anyone driving through does 30 even farm traffic, and please stop parking on the paths as all to often I have to walk around a parked car onto the road with a toddler and a dog
Diane Humphrey
Definitely 100% support. I would also support a reduced speed limit to 30mph on the A12 up to Darsham Station. Cars rarely travel on the A12 through Yoxford at the correct speed limit.
Carol Rose
Yes, 20mph speed limit should be in place. There is no justification for anyone to have to drive faster. There are so many parked cars that visibility exiting driveways or crossing the road is very restricted and not without risk.
Simon Clarke
20 mph is plenty. I agree with the comments above. I think the need for this is urgent.
Gill + Fred
We wholeheartedly endorse the proposals, and agree with all the comments made by other residents. 40-50mph is the average speed through Yoxford – so dangerous and disrespectful; a 20 mph limit might bring it down to 30!
Gill + Fred
We wholeheartedly endorse the proposals, and agree with all the comments made by other residents. The average speed through Yoxford is 40-50mph – so dangerous and disrespectful; a 20mph limit might bring it down to 30!
Richard Solomo
I would support a 20mph limit for the high street in Yoxford and would be equally supportive of a 30mph limit for the A12 up to and from the Darsham station.
Ian Patterson
I am entirely in favour of a 20mph limit in the High Street and Little Street, for all the reasons adduced.
David Humphrey
I would support a 20 mph speed limit through Yoxford itself and also recommend a continuation of the 30mph speed limit on the A12 from the Satis House / Cockfield Hall boundary right up to Darsham Station.
Vehicles including many HGV,s are constantly speeding through this zone especially during the night.
Simon Bennett
The proposed limits on High Street and on the A12 are good. However, these need to be enforced to make a difference.
Deborah Thompson
I totally agree with the move towards a 20mph through Yoxford for all the reasons given in your clear argument.
Deborah Thompson
Following on from my previous comment agreeing with the need for a 20mph speed limit.. as this may well take time is there anything else we can do in the meantime to make people driving through that they need to be more aware that this is a residential area and more care should be taken when driving through.. ?
Lisa Harwood
I fully support this proposal for all the reasons already mentioned by my fellow residents. We live and park on the High Street and have had cars damaged several times (wing mirror ripped off and significant damages to body work) by hit and run traffic. Lorries speeding through the village may not even be aware that they have caused the damage. The current speed at which traffic passes through our village poses a real threat. It is vital that the speed limit is reduced to protect both property and residents, in particular the children who have to walk along/ cross the road to reach school bus stops, the Primary School and to visit their friends.
Helen Barrett
Agree that slower traffic would be better for many reasons, just not sure how to achieve it without making changes that don’t just apply to Yoxford.
Helen Barrett
Could the presence of Yoxman and the need for more accessible access (pathways, cycle routes) through the village be part of the argument?
Jill Ellis
I fully support the proposals but please also push the need for a 20 mile speed limit for the Old High Road too… it is used as a rat run and vehicles thunder up and down to and from the A12. There is a very narrow pedestrian pavement and there have been near misses in the past. My car was written off by a driver racing down to the A12 and I suspect it will be used even more frequently when the traffic increases. If the High Street and Little Street get the limit (which I hope they do) then I can imagine drivers will make up for lost time by speeding down the Old High Road to the A12. Sadly the Old High Road tends to be forgotten in the grand scheme of things…please push this too.
Poppy & Nick Foster-Dixon
We would strongly support 20mph limit through the village and on the High St and the Old High Rd (and other small residential roads) for all the reasons given above. Crossing the road and getting out of cars feels dangerous at 30mph. With the Sizewell C traffic incoming, it might help reduce the use of the village as a rat run.
Andrew Freese
I agree with this proposal but we need to be realistic. A 20mph limit is very unlikely to be approved on an A road notwithstanding the fact that a 20mph limit is in place near the Primary School in Stonham Aspal.
The issue is that the current 30 mph limit is ignored by a significant minority. These drivers will equally ignore a 20 mph limit. I suspect that a real effort to stop drivers exceeding the current limit is more likely to be supported by the Authorities and thus more likely to make the village safer. However, I know there is no enthusiasm, especially from our MP, to support Yoxford on this and that is the nub of the problem. Having suggested this I am sorry that I have no idea how it could be achieved.
I would also like to see more effort by the Highway Authority in discouraging HGV drivers using the A1120 as a shortcut to the A14.
I certainly believe it is worth fighting for a 20mph limit in Old High Road.
Cathy Pitt
I agree with this. I understand that in relation to the Darsham consultation it was stated that the police would not enforce speed limits under 30mph. I wonder whether traffic calming measures, particularly where the 30 zone starts at the Cemetery end of the Village, and also before the level crossing on the B1122, would be more effective – for example, speed camera, speed humps, sign flashing the speed being travelled at etc.
I agree that Old High Road could tolerate a lower speed limit as the combination of the sharp bend outside the Bowls club, the location of the junction from the A1120, the parked cars in that spot and the narrow road and pavement do pose a risk.
Is there an argument for making the High Street one way from the A12 to the junction with Old High Road (so one direction is A12 along the High Street and the other direction is Old High Road to A12) and or is that a recipe for disaster/too much of an inconvenience to residents?
John Carty
I would support a 20 mph limit through the village, personally I would like to see the A12 included to prevent speeding along Brook Street, we have had a few accidents here particularly at the corner by The Kings Head.
The problem is we cannot enforce the present speed limit let alone a reduction to 20 mph. Would proper speed cameras be a better deterrent, at least then drivers would be penalised for speeding. The present camera tops out at speeds above 40 mph and is usually mounted to monitor traffic exiting the village rather than monitoring traffic coming in to the village.
Karl Jastrzebski
We fully endorse this proposal as it’s become increasingly difficult to cross the road in the village at various points in the village. Enforcement is a crucial issue though.
Lawrence Paine
Lawrence Paine
20 mph limit would be a great idea. Let’s make the first step policing 30 mph by HGVs in particular & when that’s being adhered to then go for 20 mph.
Good luck enforcing the limits!
David & Lesley
We entirely agree with the 20 mph proposal for all the reasons mentioned by other villagers. We think it should cover the whole village where there is through traffic. However, the 30 mph speed limit is not enforced so is there really any hope that this will be either?
Mary-Jane Tyrrell
I’m definitely in support of this. It’s getting dangerous to even cross the road on Little Street and I’m very wary when trying to get out of the drive with the car. A 20 mph might at least bring the speed down to 30.
lynnwalford
20mph is a must. Whether Belle Coaches, the local white vans and tractors will adhere to it is another matter. have any other calming measures been consider or is cost a factor? Zebra crossing near Strickland Manor Hill?
George
Unfortunately 20 miles an hour creates more noise from vehicles and leads to aggressive drivers making poor decisions. This has been done in many places and the decision was made to reintroduce the 30 miles per hour after lots of complaints from the villagers.
I think the best thing would be to make quite surfacing mandatory and remove the street lighting, this has been proven to makes drivers take more care.
It would also be good to see some bird nest boxes and bat boxes disguised as speed cameras to help people passing through the village to see we care about our protected species 🙂
John-Paul Stonard
Thanks for this. I agree with the 20mph limit. Parked cars along the High Street form a ready-made chicane, which slows traffic from around the Coal Merchant to Horners; after that cars (but mostly vans and lorries), tend to speed up again, just when they are passing the school. Yesterday a white van drove passed the school at home time (3.15) at around 40 mph. There are naturally problems associated with the 20mph limit, but they are outweighed by the benefits, particularly when it comes to safety outside the school.
In addition I think it is essential that the no-parking restriction outside the school between 8am and 4pm be better enforced. The school has tried to do this, and been only partially successful. Cars are constantly parked either side of the road, either on the yellow restricted zone, or on the opposite side to avoid the restriction, but which only further aggravates the problem, as 40mph vans are obliged to swerve towards the school side. The idea would be pavement widening and a narrowing of the road at this point.