The Parish Council (PC) have been in discussions with North Yorkshire Council (NYC) for some time regarding the installation of a temporary Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) in Staveley.
A VAS had been considered previously by the PC as it was thought it would be a help in countering the problem of traffic speeding through the village.
The installation of a VAS would run parallel with, and not replace, the Community Speed Watch initiative that many of you will have seen active through the village.
With the help of NYC Councillor Robert Windass, the PC obtained a grant from the NYC Locality budget and we have been able to install a VAS. It is now up and running opposite the Church facing traffic entering the village from the west.
The VAS must be “temporary”, which means that it is capable of being moved either in the same location to face the opposite direction or to another location. To that end, in agreement with NYC, we have two locations:
- on the lighting column opposite the church (30mph),
- on the lighting column next to the bus stop on Minskip Road (20mph).
The ability to rotate the sign therefore enables four different positions to be used. Initially each location will be used for three months of the year, but this can be changed as required.
The radar system in the VAS detects vehicles approaching up to 200 metres away and will flash alternately the appropriate speed limit and “Slow Down”, until the vehicle reduces its speed below the limit or passes the sign. The sign activates at 31mph or 21mph as appropriate.
As previously indicated, the VAS does not replace but supplements the Staveley Community Speed Watch activities, which will be continuing throughout the summer months. We are very keen to strengthen our Speed Watch volunteer team so if you are interested in making our village a safer place then please consider giving up a couple of hours a month to join us. The team can be contacted by:
- letting any of the volunteer team know or,
- calling John Thornton on 01423 340358 or Neil Horton on 07447 712109 or,
- email us at csw@staveleyandcopgrovepc.org.uk
