Although the chicanes themselves have been installed correctly, and appear to be effective in slowing down speeding vehicles as intended, there are concerns that there are no clear roadside signs advising which approaching vehicle has priority over the other. This type of signage is provided at most other locations.
On each occasion that I’ve raised this matter with highways officers at county hall I’m told that the road markings in place are deemed sufficient to advise motorists whether or not they have priority over oncoming vehicles. Although there are Give Way markings on one side of each chicane I’ve suggested to officers that markings on road surfaces in rural villages like High Hesleden are not always visible and I’ve asked if signage specifically advising priority could be installed at each chicane. Each time I’m told that, while such signs could be installed, they must by law be illuminated and that the cost of connecting signage to the mains power supply is prohibitive.
I’ve persistently pointed out that chicanes have been installed elsewhere in the county where signage isn’t illuminated (the ones in East Street, Blackhall Colliery being a good local example) but on each occasion highways engineers insist that there is no budget available for illuminated signage. This is the latest response I’ve received from the service:
Hi Rob
We are not able to provide the signs without illumination. It is a mandatory requirement of the signing legislation. If we were to provide the signs without illumination they would be technically illegal and we would be placing DCC at risk and could be liable for any consequential incident.
With regard to other sites where the signs are not illuminated, if we are notified of the issue/location, I will pass the details on to Street Lighting and request that the illumination be provided. I have already done so for the other locations.
Providing signs would cost several thousand pounds for each location. Unfortunately we do not have a budget for this.
The obvious flaw in this response of course is that if there is no budget to provide illuminated signage at the chicanes in High Hesleden where will the money come from to install illuminated signage at other locations across the county where it has been installed incorrectly!
I have written again to the highways engineers to raise these points. As soon as I have a response I’ll consider the next steps in reaching a satisfactory resolution to this problem.
In the meantime, on a more positive note, the damaged roadside sign at the entrance the The Elms has been reported for repair. I’m advised that an order has been issued for a replacement sign and that this will be installed as soon as it is available.
I’ll update on the issues above as soon as I have additional information.