MINUTES OF MEETING- 8th OCTOBER 2021
Traffic Flows in and around Cold Ashby
A meeting took place between interested parties and the MP for Daventry, Chris Heaton-Harris, on Friday the 8th October at 3 p.m. in the Sports Pavilion, Stanford Road,
Cold Ashby, NN6 6EP
In Attendance
Chris Heaton-Harris MP
Rod Bailey Cold Ashby PC
James Docherty WNC Highways
Nick Henstock WNC Highways
Sally Duggleby Prologis
Kevin Parker WNC
Rachel Williams Cold Ashby PC
Richard Williams Cold Ashby PC
Alex Taylor Cold Ashby PC
Jonathan Harris WNC
Cecile Irving Swift WNC
Vanessa Furey National Highways
Simon Came National Highways
Andrew Jinks National Highways
Ruth Sleigh Cold Ashby PC
Neil Harpham Cold Ashby PC
Graham Jones Cold Ashby PC
Alan Peel Cold Ashby PC
Steve Roper Cold Ashby
Sarah Peck Office of Chris Heaton-Harris MP
Discussion
Richard Williams gave a power point presentation to explain and identify the current traffic problems in Cold Ashby, and their causes. He described the huge increase in traffic and the impact this is having on the village. He set out the action that has been taken by the PC and others, in recent years, and explained that the residents wish for the following:
An acknowledgement that there is an enormous problem with traffic in Cold Ashby
An agreement to carry out a traffic census/survey to determine where the traffic is going to and coming from.
An agreement to fund immediate short term traffic calming measures
A long term solution
Andrew Jinks said they need to fully understand the origins and destination of the traffic. Highways cannot influence drivers and cannot influence satnav technology. Highways are keen to look at the current road signage (in particular on the A14) to see what improvements can be made to that, and to encourage drivers to avoid the village. Regarding Catthorpe interchange, the layout built was considered to be the best design at the time, taking into account cost, environment, compulsory purchase issues etc. National Highways are also keen to assist in carrying out a traffic survey.
Nick Henstock said WNC would assist with a traffic survey and would work together with Highways on this. Based on the results of this survey, the best solutions can then be discussed. There were discussions about a possible local bypass. This would have to be ranked alongside other bypass requests and it must be noted that the time frame for this could be 10 years. It should also be noted that lower classification roads attract less funding than the more major routes. It was commented that the irony of this was noted and therefore what happened next would depend on any proposed solutions.
Sally Duggleby said they do ask their customers not to drive through Cold Ashby and if residents wish, they can contact Prologis to inform them of vehicles driving through the village and any particular incidents. Prologis did their own 24-hour survey of traffic recently, to help them to understand the problem. She said that from this survey, they identified that the majority of the large vehicles that are coming through Cold Ashby, do not end up at DIRFT but are going elsewhere.
Cecile Irving Swift said as a result of poor road design, Cold Ashby is now facing this huge problem with traffic, much greater than any other village in her responsibility area. She also suggested that the number of accidents should be recorded.
Jonathan Harris discussed the impact the service access at the service station has on this. He mentioned the police survey and suggested a pollution survey should also be done. The residents mentioned the very serious health implications of the increased pollution from the traffic in the village. Vanessa Furey has a link from Highways which she can send on to people. Residents can also comment via the Highways England website.
Action Points
National Highways will look at A14 signage, to see how this can be improved.
Prologis are very keen to help going forward.
WNC and National Highways will work together in the short term to carry out a traffic survey, including an emissions survey.
A follow up meeting will be held early in the New Year.
