TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT poll

summary of comments and suggestions

Parking

Sun Corner (the junction of Windmill Street, High Street and Temple Street; so-named for the old pub) seems to be the main problem:

Between two commercial shops and on a junction, the traffic is busier than what we experienced in London.
Parking around the shop junction is v problematic / a nightmare / atrocious (LOTS of similar comments)
Situations of gridlock at the T-junction due to cars parking close to the junction.

This isn’t just inconvenient, it can be hazardous:

Inconsiderate parking for the shops, particularly on the corner of Windmill Street with cars often blocking visibility.
It’s a constant blind spot with inconsiderate parking and has prevented at least one ambulance making the turn in the last 6 months.

And the solutions?

Double yellow lines needed on Sun junction.
Yellow lines would at least prevent parking on the direct junction.
Double yellow lines and enforcement of illegal parking would be good.

Many people suggested double yellow lines; this was the most frequently suggested solution by far.

Alternatively:

Change giveaway priority at windmill high street junction, so stopping traffic at temple street side as impossible to see past parked cars outside. Mahesh’s shop.
Reprioritise the junction of Windmill St.

But what about enforcement?

Yellow lines, if allowed, could not be enforced and would probably be ignored.
If there is no enforcement then parking measures will be useless.
Ticket those parking on paths and the common.

Maybe something more drastic is needed:

Acquire a field to use as an edge of village car park.
Community car parking is essential the current parking in brill is ridiculous.
Traffic lights at Sun junction?

But the misery doesn’t stop at the Sun Junction:

I cannot even access my road, driveway or home because of the inconsiderate parking most days. It's gotten to the point where after 6 months of enduring this we are moving out as we cannot take it anymore.
Consider some parking preventative measures at the windmill site and the road leading down the hill in the summer this is often double parked, not only damaging the verge but also makes driving dangerous as young children and dogs visiting the windmill run out of the parked cars.
Double yellow lines needed on Windmill Street, approaching the village.
Safety issue when cars park on the road outside GP.
Ensure adequate on-site parking provision is in place before any public money is spent on the George 5th field play area.

So, a village-wide solution?

Introduce residents parking permits.
Maybe implement a resident parking scheme to limit households to one car per household and increase the permit cost incrementally according to the size of vehicle.
Introduce resident parking zones.

For some, the solution already exists:

I have witnessed selfish behaviour of residents who have driveways but don't make use of them because it's 'easier' to leave their car on the road, thus denying limited spaces for those of us who have no alternative.

But nothing is ever straight-forward and some respondents held alternative views:

Parked cars act as their own traffic calming measure.
Any reduction in parking would impact residents who live on the main roads where there is no off street parking and it could also impact their house prices.
Provide consideration to residents who have no choice but to park on the road.

There is no doubt that inconsiderate parking can have a negative impact on quality of life in Brill:

It's a major flaw of this otherwise great village and honestly something we do not see changing, hence our change in home.
The people who park inconsiderately get extremely rude when you ask them to please move the car or please do not obstruct the driveway. It's disgusting behaviour.

Speeding

A problem both in and out of the village, particularly Thame Road - but not exclusively so:

Temple Street is getting worse as far as the cars exceeding the speed limit.
Speeding an issue up Tram Hill/Temple Street.
Speeds into (and out of) the village past the windmill are also often high.
Drivers come up the road from Oakley into the village so fast ignoring the speed limit.

And it’s not just in the village:

On the way out of Brill via Tram Hill and onto Ludgershall road the cars travel at incredible speed past the crossroads; two blind corners beyond and a busy brewery. We would love to see a 30 mile an hour speed limit down here.

Some blamed specific groups of road users:

It is especially concerning that on a daily basis vehicles are speeding through the village at school drop off times.
I would also like to point out that, especially in nice weather, motorbikes going at a dangerous rate of speed, through the village.
It is impossible to see up [Windmill] street due to sunshine or cars parked and cyclists come so fast there that it is hard to pull back if one is zooming by.
It’s not just cars, it’s lorries, delivery vans, and motorbikes.
Speed signs for cyclists - they take no notice of other signs and go too fast through the village.

Many people called for a 20mph zone; this was by far the most popular answer to speeding.

20 mph on Temple St and Windmill St.
The speed limit should be 20mph throughout the village [including] road outside GP.
20mph speed limit in village.
For years we have been asking for 20mph speed limits.
20 MPH speed limit maximum.

And something very obvious (I hadn’t noticed this!):

Move the 30mph (20mph) speed limit sign to far below the windmill, not outside the pub as there are many people, children, dogs, livestock alongside the road and crossing the footpaths where the limit is 60mph.

Physical traffic calming measures were also mentioned:

We need sleeping policeman on Oakley road.
Speed bumps put through village.
Could we have "pinch points" at entrances to village. Could this be a way to calm traffic entering and leaving?
Crossing between fire station and alley.
We would also like a zebra crossing in the village or a crossing, near the fire station.
Cattle grids at bottom and top of Tramhill and the road by the windmill to allow grazing across whole of common and traffic calming on these two routes into / out of the village.

Some people were justifiably concerned about compliance:

People who ignore existing speed limit signs will ignore new ones too.
My opinion is that nothing will stop this behaviour other than some type of police presence which, I assume would be difficult based on their limited resources.
Not sure the speed sign works, it’s more a target!

And there’s always alternative views to consider:

I would not like to see sleeping policemen or chicanes installed as I think they are dangerous.
Parked cars mean that a slow speed is necessary anyway on the through roads.

Maybe the school could help?

Ask the school to help educate the parents that getting to school on time is not worth killing a child with their speed.
Suggest the school does a please drive slowly campaign with signs created by the children as they do in many villages.

Inconsiderate parking made people cross - but speeding frightens many:

I really do believe that it is a matter of time before someone gets seriously inured.
We must implement safety measures and 20mph before there is a disaster.
I have witnessed way too many close calls and fear that someone will get hurt or worse if something isn’t done.

Electric vehicle charging points

There were very few comments on EV charging points and these were mixed:

I think electric charging points are a global strategy and we don’t want to be found wanting.
EV charging points would attract more traffic to the village because these would show on sat navs (CM)
Providing public charging points will only increase traffic coming to Brill.

Other comments and suggestions

Encourage Police to check for drunk / drug drivers around the village occasionally.
Introduce a ‘Not suitable for HGVs’ zone so that lorries etc don't cause so many issues on Temple Street for residents.
Repair pavements, many so uneven that pedestrians choose to walk in the road!
And could we have a reminder that pavements are for people, not parking

Once again, thank you everyone for your interest in this topic - and for so many insightful and useful comments.

Brill Parish Council, January 2022