Speed limit on the A610
Low railway bridge on the A610 and over-height lorries
Too many drivers ignore the warning signs
BASA has been supporting Councillor Juliette Blake in trying to get DCC to assist lorry drivers in not getting trapped in the narrow approach to the low bridge on the A610. The photo lower down on this page illustrates the problem facing drivers who have either ignored or misunderstood the warning signs.
You can read the emails between David Orton, of DCC Environmental Services, and Freda Raphael here.
So why not just demolish this bridge?
Several reasons ...
Firstly, it is part of the industrial heritage of Bullbridge and Sawmills. This bridge carried the Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line, opened on 1st February 1875, and closed under the Beeching Axe (Dr Beeching was a government minister) at Christmas 1968. The Pye Bridge Line linked the Midland Main Line with the Erewash Valley Line.
The industrial heritage of Bullbridge and Sawmills centres around transport history.
Secondly, just to the west of this bridge is a second bridge, carrying the main line railway between Derby and Sheffield. A vehicle striking the main line bridge would close the line until inspectors could test its safety. The old bridge acts as a safety buffer.
Thirdly, this low bridge does help to deter heavy vehiclript">es from using the A610 through Sawmills. Residents' lives are already blighted by the noise, vibrations, pollution and hazard from heavy traffic on the A610. Residents want to see streets and roads made safer, not busier.
Let's reclaim our streets!
Oct 29: BASA letter to 'offending' speeders
Hello All
Attached is the final draft of the letter sent to those firms identified by BASA members as speeding thro' our area.
So far letters have been sent to:
Longcliffe; J C Balls; Leedale; AVBC; Veolia.
I can't find the local address for Tarmac, if anyone has it please send on to me.
Please forward the names of any other "offenders" and I will ensure they too receive a letter.
NB. Rob Lockwood is happy to have his name used in the letter as an example and has recently sacked a driver for his attitude to speeding.
Gill
General policy statement: Speeding on the A610
BASA aims to make the A610 a safer road by campaigning for:
- An Extension of 30mph speed limit
The speed limit on the A610 through Sawmills was reduced from 40mph to 30mph earlier this year. While this was welcome, many residents wanted to see this extended along Ladygrove to the east and towards Ambergate to the west. We sent a letter setting out our reasons for this request (attached). Councillor Juliette Blake is actively campaigning for the extension. Copies of David Orton's response and Juliette's reply can be seen here. The residents of the Moorlands Estate are also actively campaigning for the speed limit reduction. - Residents training as speed camera operatives
Residents can operate speed cameras in 30mph areas. Several BASA members are awaiting training. Presently they will be able to operate in Sawmills. A extension of the reduced speed limit means that we will be able to operate on the Ladygrove and Riversdale/New Road stretches. - Collection of information on speeding motorists
We are asking residents to collect information. ie. Registration numbers, times of day, days of week, names of offending firms etc, to increase the effectiveness of our discussions with the police and the council. It will also help us to know the most useful times to ask for the speed camera. Please send any information to us if you wish or, if you prefer, report incidents to the police and ask for a crime number. - Contact with Lorry Firms
We are writing to those firms, whose drivers speed through our district. We are asking them to show consideration and are holding up, as an example of Good Practice, Mr Rob Lockwood of Lockwoods Haulage. He has directed all his drivers to keep to 30mph through Ladygrove, which as made a significant difference to the safety and noise pollution.
