Mr. Robert Key, M.P.
House of Commons,
London.
SW1 0AA

5 January 2005

Shaftesbury Road

Thank you for your letter of 21 December 2004, together with enclosures from the WCC Director of Environmental Services and the Divisional Commander 'A' at Salisbury Police headquarters. May I also thank you again for your personal interest in this matter and to say that the residents of Shaftesbury Road appreciate your involvement. Straightaway, I have to say that the residents to whom I have spoken are not at all pleased with the responses of the two officers. "We have heard it all before" they cry and "the situation gets worse every day" and "no one seems to take any notice ".

Let me first comment on the reply from the Director of Environmental Services. He says "some minor footway defects and some drainage matters" will be dealt with shortly. Certainly the Highways Partnership did spend a long time recently clearing a drain but the following day heavy rain fell and, once again, we saw excess water on the road, people getting heavily splashed and windows of adjacent property covered with spray. It appears to us No Improvement so far.

To interpret our footpaths problems as he does is not at all helpful. Indeed, it seems that they will never be resurfaced properly whilst holes are not deeper than 20mm. Blind people are trying to walk on these pavements, so are elderly, frail men and women having to negotiate their steps. Mothers with proms and young children are frightened by the state of the pavements. Could the 20mm criteria be changed? Are the above factors taken into consideration? If not, why not? Surely they are very important. Who sets the 20mm limit?

It appears to us that Environmental Services will only consider resurfacing a road when skid resistance is not effective. Surely other criteria must be taken on board when the environment is considered. No account is taken of excessive noise (or how to reduce noise levels) arising from motorised vehicles, especially large empty types, passing over bumps and troughs on Shaftesbury Road. Some residents are forced to sleep and live at the rear of their property. No account appears to be taken of vibration to houses, in some cases causing internal furnishings such as ornaments to fall. One resident is extremely concerned about cracks in the walls of her property caused by vibration and is considering legal action.

Whilst the volume of traffic must be accepted, the above complaints would be partially resolved with resurfacing of the severely damaged areas. This holding measure would give immediate effect to environmental improvement. Would you please ask the Director if this could be done this year.

In view of Mr. Batten's reply in respect of vehicle speed and Interactive Signs we would be grateful if you would ask fop the following information:

• The capital cost of an Interactive Sign and its installation.
• The estimated cost of maintenance of such a sign.
• The basis for the installation of an Interactive Sign on the Southampton Road out of Salisbury, e.g, the number of speed-related accidents over the past 3 years and whether the SERIOUS ones were vehicles on vehicles and/or vehicles on pedestrians.

It is interesting to note the two statements at the bottom of the letter from the Police.
They are:

"Keeping Wiltshire Safe" and "Investor in People"

The residents say "Well let's see the quotes put into action before a fatal accident occurs or have we to wait for such an accident before Interactive Signs or Speed Cameras are introduced?"

It seems to us that the Police fail to realize the true situation about road speed because of:

• The limited dates and times of surveys, e.g. How many were carried out between 5am and 7am and between 8pm and 11pm on weekdays or any time on Sundays?
• The officers conducting the survey are themselves "warning beacons" due to their fluorescent clothing and accompanying vehicles.
• Would it be possible for an appropriate number of officers in an unmarked car, and they themselves in civilian clothes, to carry out a survey over a reasonable period? Perhaps Special Constables or Community Police Officers could assist.

We would , of course, welcome a visit anytime by the Chief Superintendent or Acting Inspector Williams. I guarantee that, as long as one or the other is in civilian clothes, he will revise his belief that the 85th percentile is 32.2mph on Shaftesbury Road.

I understand that the cost of a civilian road death is approximately £1.2million. In the hazardous circumstances experienced day and night by Shaftesbury Road residents, it is clear that Interactive Signs or Speed Cameras would be a preventative measure and, ergo, cost effective. Such implementation would relieve the worries and concerns of residents.

I trust that the foregoing information and queries give you the ammunition to keep this issue of Shaftesbury Road alive in the offices of both the County Council and the Wiltshire Constabulary.

I look forward therefore to hearing from you in due course. In the meantime, may I on behalf of your constituents and others in the Shaftesbury Road area wish you a very happy and successful 2005.