A Guide to Traffic Calming

Who is responsible for introducing traffic calming measures?

The county council, as Highway Authority, but both Gloucester City and Cheltenham Borough Councils have powers to promote calming schemes.

What is Traffic Calming?
It is a means of controlling the speed of vehicles by physical alterations to the highway or by traffic management measures.

How do I make my concerns known?
By letter to the appropriate Stakeholder Manager, based within our Customer and Highway Services Team at Gloucestershire Highways. The County is currently split between 10 Stakeholders each being responsible for a section of the County.

What action will be taken by the Council?
The justification for traffic calming will be assessed, taking into account many different factors, ie accident history, speed and volume of traffic, pedestrian and cycling activity, land use and proximity of schools and priority assessed accordingly.

How will I know the results of the assessment?
You will be informed by the Stakeholder Manager.

What if my request is rejected?
There may be other measures which can assist in easing a particular problem, mainly by signs or road markings. These will be examined and you will be advised accordingly.

If a scheme is justified, what will happen?
Consideration will need to be given to the type of calming which is appropriate together with a coarse estimate of what it will cost.

What is the relevance of cost?
There are only two budget sources - Revenue, from which low cost (about £5,000) schemes are funded and Capital, from which more expensive schemes are funded.

Is private funding allowed?
Yes - provided that the assessment shows that there is a justification for calming measures. The funding could be a contribution or the whole cost of the scheme.

How is it decided which schemes are progressed?
The more expensive schemes (ie Capital Schemes) will be included as Local Safety Schemes in the County Council's Annual submission for financial approvals from the Government. For low cost (Revenue) Schemes and Annual Programme is compiled based, where necessary, on a Priority Assessment procedure.

What procedure has to be followed if a scheme is justified?
Consultations will be necessary with a wide range of bodies, eg local Councils, Police, Emergency Services, Bus Companies etc, both on the problem and the possible solution.

How long may we have to wait?
It is difficult to be precise but generally speaking Revenue Schemes can be achieved in a shorter timescale than Capital Schemes.

Will residents have an opportunity to comment?
Before a scheme is implemented the County Council's Policy is for there to be consultation with persons who may be directly affected - the comments received could well significantly affect the design of the scheme.

Who can help?
If you have identified a problem which you feel could benefit from traffic calming...

First contact your Parish Council, Residents' Association or similar, who may well have already made representations about the problem.

If they haven't, then contact your Stakeholder Manager at Gloucestershire Highways.