Council response

Thank you for your petition sent on behalf of local residents concerning speeding vehicles in the Parsonage Road area of Withington and their subsequent request for the installation of traffic calming measures

Aside from the agreed budget allocation for road safety improvements, linked specifically to school crossing patrols locations in Manchester, we are sorry to inform you that we do not have at present, an active programme of works for new highway installations, including traffic calming measures. Whilst we are currently unable to commission such requests in the short to medium term, we will record your enquiry onto our database for consideration in any future programmes of work should funding be identified.

Acknowledging the feelings of the local community and their desire for change, Parsonage Road and the surrounding area could be recommended for inclusion in a Neighbourhood Speed Watch that would involve four to six local volunteers recording traffic speeds to demonstrate the problems within an area and build up an intelligence base. A neighbourhood speed watch is a means by which local communities join with the support of the Police and the Council's Neighbourhood Team to monitor speeds of vehicles using speed detection devices. It is a scheme that is run by volunteers (members of the public) They would receive full training from the Police and also they have a set of Golden Rules which must be adhered to for their safety They are given a radar, hi-visibility vests and signs with the wording 'Neighbourhood Speed Watch Area' so motorists know they are volunteers and are not going to be prosecuted.

If local residents are interested in running a Neighbourhood Speed Watch in this locality please contact Martin Saker in the South Neighbourhood Team on m.saker@manchester.gov.uk.