Traffic calming measures and their cost will be investigated for Kington

It follows a request from a member of the public to consider traffic calming measures for Church Street and a proposal to support a 20mph limit through the town.

Kington Town Council considered the matters at a recent meeting.

A resident contacted the council to say the increase in speeding vehicles up Church Street hill is getting alarming, and it is only a matter of time before there is an accident.

The resident said maybe the introduction of speed bumps or speed reduction chicane’s just above Doctor’s Lane would help.

Town clerk Liz Kelso said the town council would need the support of the police to apply to Herefordshire Council and it would cost.

Councillor Bob Widdowson said about 10 years or so ago the council had a meeting with Herefordshire Council about speed limits and traffic calming and it was expensive.

But he said the council did an online survey and although there were not many responses, those who did respond were positive about a lower speed limit. 

He said community consultation would be essential and it would be part of the process Herefordshire Council would require.

Kington County Councillor Terry James said the Welsh experience with 20mph had not gone down well but Councillor Widdowson said a survey showed it had saved lives and Deputy Mayor Councillor Martin Woolford said it works in Pembridge, and Kington’s roads are similar.

Councillor Nicki Cornish said she thought the town council should pursue it as there is a lot of speeding in Kington.

“Traffic calming can only work with the re-engineering of the roads, speed bumps do not work because they create a lot of noise as traffic goes over them and they are not good for cars either. Chicaning the roads is the best but that is expensive,” said Councillor Widdowson.

Members agreed that the clerk should investigate with Herefordshire Council what is possible, how much it would cost and what the process would be.