Proposed Cycle Track Dan Bank

[Miss Marple]

Sorry, but there are far more dangerous sections of road in Marple than Dan Bank, there are roads in the district that have had fatalities on them which, in my opinion need addressing first. However if speeding traffic is an issue why don't you ask the traffic police to take action or campaign for a speed camera.

Where in Marple is worst than Dan Bank and for what reason  

[Miss Marple]

Hi Tony I take it you travel to and from work at congested times   I am speaking about the other 22 hours of the day and night !!!  Hey by the way the pot holes have been filled in !!  Now you know why I am Miss Marple  

[tonyjones]

Whilst I have every sympathy for Miss Marple's case for making Dan Bank safer, for all road users, I do not think that any form of traffic calming should be installed. I have travelled up and down Dan Bank for the past thirty five years and seen very few accidents. The VAST majority of drivers using Dan Bank do so responsibly. It is the irresponsible ones who drive without due care that are involved in accidents. The rest of us just get frustrated at the queues into and out of Marple and would hate to see things made worse.

To improve the safety of children crossing the road a crossing with lights could be installed. The children can then press the button just for fun, and wander across the road some yards (or metres) away from the proper crossing to 'look cool'.

Victor M's admission that he weaves in and out of the traffic only confirms my opinion of cyclists.  The provision of cycle track, which would probably be part of an widened pavement would put the pedestrians at risk from inconsiderate cyclists.

In any case, the pot holes have a traffic calming effect !

[Miss Marple]

WELL !!! this is what's so ironic.   As a regular user of Dan Bank you must have noticed the speeding signs that I campained tirelessly for last year ? Well the council only allowed them to be in situ for two weeks because the cameras are on a rotating rota throughout the borough.  When I questioned the council about the removal of the cameras which had calmed the traffic  their  explanation was that they will only have fixed signs when there has been a death.  I would like to say watch this space but I truly hope not!!   I have campained for 3 years about the traffic and went to court for a cyclist who was thrown off his bike by a speeding car.  I have had traffic police at my home and have been offered a hand held speed camera to monitor the traffic for them.  I have had several injured motorists and pedestrians in my home awaiting the police or ambulance.  I have even been part of a rescue of a child from a car which had been sent spinning in the road due to a car speeding down Dan Bank.  I have also sent a detailed list of accidents reported and none reported to the council, police and councillors.  I remain mystified at the councils lack of responsibility to local people by continuing to allow traffic to speed through our village.  I was informed on Thursday by the chap from the council that they do not have the money for slow down signs on Dan Bank?  As part of their several million pound budjet for the renovation of Dan Bank you would have thought that some monies could be set aside for traffic calming, to ensure the safety of pedestrians, school children and cyclists ?  

[Victor M]

Sorry, but there are far more dangerous sections of road in Marple than Dan Bank, there are roads in the district that have had fatalities on them which, in my opinion need addressing first. However if speeding traffic is an issue why don't you ask the traffic police to take action or campaign for a speed camera.

[Miss Marple]

You appear to miss the point  I am not opposed to a cycle track what I am opposed to is the speed of traffic up and down Dan Bank.  As I stated in my post, calm the traffic, re synchronise the traffic lights for walkers,cyclists and school children and then embark on a safe cycle track.  I do not believe for one min that as a regular experienced cyclist, that you would actively encourage school children to cycle with the current amount and speed of traffic up/down Dan Bank.  As I have already said I live at the top of Dan Bank and see regular serious accidents which a cycle track will not stop.  Cars mount the pavement on a regular basis and have taken  chunks out of Dan Bank Farm walls not to mention the walls and fences of my neighbours homes.  May I suggest to anyone in favour of the cycle track without traffic calming measures  to reserve their judgement until they have researched the amount of damage to walls , pavements, gardens,fences and street lighting along Dan Bank.  I am a regular walker but avoid Dan Bank at all costs due to the amount of  accidents, a lot which go unreported.  Maybe I have more insight into the danger of Dan Bank due to living so close but I feel that it is every residents responsibility to make an informed decision based on knowledge before supporting such a dangerous proposal  

[Victor M]

Sorry Miss Marple but I totally disagree, I regularly cycle up and down Dan Bank and a cycle lane would be very beneficial, not just to cyclists but also to motorists who are often held up by myself as I slowly cycle up Dan Bank. When I travel down Dan Bank in the mornings the traffic is always at a standstill causing me to have to weave in and out to get past.
The reason why I cycle to and from Marple is because it is quicker than by bus or car and also cheaper as well as keeping me a little trimmer. Well done SMBC at last we are seeing some improvements in cycling infrastructure East of the A6.

[Miss Marple]

I can not think of a more ludicrous idea than to put a cycle track up Dan Bank.  The flow of traffic has increased in speed since the introduction of the new traffic lights outside Seventeen Windows.  I contacted SMBC on Thursday to conplain that it was taking me at least ten minutes to get a break in traffic to allow me to get off my drive.  I explained that I live at the top of Dan Bank and for a couple of weeks I had noticed that the flow and speed of traffic coming in to Marple had increased.  I was informed that that was due to the council having to alter the synchronisation of the traffic lights at Seventeen windows because they had received complaints about traffic having to que.  The chap explained that my problem was now due to their success at altering the flow of traffic through Marple which had now resulted in the faster flowing traffic past my house.  I raised the issue of two schools in the vicinity and how I now often  see children from Marple Hall dodging the traffic to get across to the bus stop due to no break in traffic.  My concerns re the safety of the children and the increased fast flow in traffic did not appear to concern the chap from the council.  He was although eager to inform me that the council was now in negotiations with the farmer of Dan Bank Farm on acquiring a couple of meters of his land for a cycle track ?   Now call me a Luddite but WHO!!! in their right mind would encourage cyclists to cycle on what now like a mini motorway.  Oh I forgot to mention that over the past twelve months I have notified the council of twelve serious incidents which were a direct result of traffic speeding up / down Dan Bank.  They included to mention just a few, the Hill Top  bus shelter being demolished by a speeding car that had lost control only 15 Min's before the incident children had been at the bus stop waiting for the school bus. Two other incidents included on both occasions, cars speeding up Dan Bank loosing control and ending up on the opposite side of the road one on its roof.  a cyclist was knocked of his bike outside my house , a man walking his dog was nearly knocked down when a car mounted the pavement at the top of Dan Bank.  And to add insult to injury last night after my conversation with the chap from SMBC on the Thursday warning him of the danger of the speeding traffic. Yet another car lost control, smashing down the pedestrian crossing (where the school children cross) and also knocking over a street light .  The police told me that he must have been travelling at some speed to cause as much damage as he did.  So SMBC you think a cycle track is needed?  Think again! because what is really needed is the stopping of fast flowing traffic, the introduction of traffic calming and then! and only then start thinking about a cycle track .HELLO SMBC IS THERE ANYBODY THERE !!!!