Traffic Calming History

We thought it might be a good idea that we highlight the history of the activities of the removal of the speed cushions in Covingham.

• May 2003, Glenn Smith canvassing during the local elections became very aware that the traffic calming in Covingham was not acceptable to the residents. He vowed to represent them on the council and do his best to follow their wishes.
• May 2003, Cllr Glenn Smith was elected and within first week of office had meetings with the transport officers to discuss the matter.
• May 2003 onwards, Cllr Glenn Smith receives numerous phone calls and letters opposed to the humps requesting their removal.
• June 2003, Cllr Glenn Smith arranged for a public meeting, which is called for early September.
• August 2003, Public consultation letters go out to 2000 homes in Covingham and Coleview inviting views and to attend public meeting.
• August 2003, Transport Public meeting in Civic Offices shows strong views from Covingham residents.
• 4th September 2003, Covingham Traffic Calming meeting again shows only the minority actually like the humps. Attended by over 100 people, all bar a few request the humps be removed, agreeing they want safer roads, but not like this.
• September 2003, Full Council, Cllr Glenn Smith puts a motion to request the humps be removed. Passed to cabinet pending a report owing to finatial implications of request.
• December 2003, Cabinet modify slightly the motion and pass it back for Full Council.
• Janurary 2004, Cllr Glenn Smith again speaks on the modified motion to Full Council. A recorded vote takes place where all Conservatives vote in favour of their removal in line with residents wishes and Labour and Lib Dems vote against the desires of the residents they represent.
• April 2004, Report generated from the results of the consultation as request by Cllr Glenn Smith  in motion in Janurary comes to cabinet. All Conservative cabinet members vote for and the Labour Leader against. Again Cllr Glenn Smith speaks in favour of listening to residents and is pleased the cabinet choose to do so, although is upset that Labour are happy to continue to ignore residents.
• Early May 2004, the Labour and Liberal Democrate members of the Scrutiny group choose to delay the additional measures that the residents wanted by passing the report back to the cabinet, stating the Traffic Calming Task Group report should have been presented first.
• 9th May 2004, Cllr Glenn Smith appears on BBC West's Politics Show discussing with local residents about the speed humps
• May 19th, Cabinet accepted the Traffic Calming Task Group report and evaluate if the original decision for the additional measures is correct or needs amending, but chose to send the report back to scrutiny with a message stating they believed their original dicision was still valid.
• May 21st, the speed cushions on Covingham Drive were moved.
• July 2004, Additional measures are approved by Scrutiny now that the Conservative group has full control of the Council, with Cllr Dale Heenan helping to vote this through.
• August 2004, Additional measures start to be installed.

Future

• Awaiting the additional measures to be completed.