What this consultation is about
The A61 is one of the major roads into Chesterfield from Sheffield and Alfreton and over recent years has seen a significant increase in development, both commercial and residential.
This increase has led to a rise in vehicles using the road, and with new residential developments more pedestrians and cyclists are using the road
We now want to review the existing speed limits along the A61 from Chesterfield to Alfreton and to carry out a consultation with those who pass along the A61 and those that live next to it.
The existing speed limits have been reviewed in line with government guidance called the ‘setting of local speed limits’. Using this guidance means that there is a consistent approach to setting speed limits across the country.
The factors that have been used in the assessment of appropriate speed limits are:
- the function of the road - whether it is a strategic road, whether it carries through traffic or if it is mainly residential
- existing traffic speeds as well as its potential to reduce congestion and improve journey time reliability
- estimated collision and injury savings - whether there is a history of collisions, including frequency, severity, types and causes
- what the road looks like to the road users - considering the road geometry and engineering such as its width, sightlines, bends, junctions, accesses
- the composition of the road users (including existing and potential levels of road users) and its ability to increase walking and cycling levels - whether it is outside a school, in a residential area or village, in a shopping area
- the environment of the road - considering the level of roadside development and possible impacts on residents’ quality of life (for example, visual impact, noise, vibration, severance and air quality)
- costs - including engineering and other physical measures including signing, as well as future maintenance liabilities and the cost of enforcement - the speed limit appraisal tool provided by the Department for Transport enables highway authorities to wholly assess
If a speed limit is set unrealistically low for the particular road function and condition, it may be ineffective, and drivers may not comply with the speed limit.
Speed limit must also reflect its environment and be consistent with the advice in the criteria on which limit is suitable.
Drivers are likely to expect and respect lower limits where they can see there are potential hazards, for example outside schools, in residential areas or villages and in shopping streets.
If you would like to take part in the consultation and have your say about the proposed changes to the A61 please continue to the questionnaire and look at the drawings of the proposals attached to this page.
A61 speed limit review
Thank you to those who part on the consultation on proposals to change the speed limits along the A61 from Chesterfield through to Alfreton.
This consultation was necessary due to the request of residents and as a result of recent changes on some parts of the road.
From analysis of the results of the consultation that for most of the route, both residents and motorists were overall happy with the speed limits as they are, so this is the main recommendation.
Conclusion and proposals
As the consultation stated, speed limits are generally set using criteria developed by the government so that local authorities can create a consistent approach to setting their speed limits across the country. The proposals we have put forward meet many of these criteria, but we appreciate that as motorists, the A61 can be congested and delays do occur and therefore as stated earlier, the results are as expected with most of the consultees wanting the speed limits to stay the same along many sections of the A61.
Having analysed the consultation results for the various sections along the A61, and taking in the national guidance for the setting of local speed limits, we propose at this stage to make the following changes:
- Extend out the 30mph to include the start of the village in Higham and to cover the 90-degree bend. The fronting properties and collision history means that this qualifies to be 30mph.
- Reduce the speed limit around Watchorn Roundabout to 40mph from the National Speed Limit to 40mph. This meets criteria on road layout and collision history and will improve road safety at this busy interchange, particularly now that large housing and industrial developments are being constructed near the roundabout.
Next steps
The proposals as outlined will be formally advertised on street and in the Derbyshire Times in the next few months and should anyone have a valid objection regarding the proposals, they can put these in writing at that time. The proposals will be on our public notices to view.
Speed limits are always under review when roadside development and collisions happen and therefore the A61 corridor is no exception and will be reviewed as and when changes take place.
Questionnaire results
As a reminder, the first set of questions we asked was to do with how you were associated with the A61.
Question 2 then asked how many times you travelled along the A61 for various activities including, work, travel to school, visiting friend and family and access to town centre for shops amongst some the activities.
Question 3 then asked specific questions relating to the 5 speed limit options that were attached to the consultation. We asked if you:
- agreed with the proposals
- whether the proposed speed limit should actually be lower
- that the speed limit should stay the same
We received 361 responses to the online consultation, with an even split of residents and motorists, along with formal responses from 3 businesses.
Summary of responses
Wingerworth area
Option of reducing the speed limit from 50mph to 40mph on the A61 next to Wingerworth, from Birdholme to below the ‘Hanging Banks’ estate:
- 35% people agreed with the proposal
- 4% people wanted a lower speed limit than 40mph
- 61% people wanted the speed limit to stop the same
Therefore, the proposal is for the speed limit on this section to stop the same, at 50mph.
Tupton area
On the option of lowering the speed limit from 50mph to 30mph from a point 155m north of its roundabout junction with Nethermoor Road to a point approximately 180 metres south of Brassington Lane, Tupton:
- 32% people agreed with the proposal
- 3% people wanted a lower speed limit than 40mph
- 65% people wanted the speed limit to stop the same
Therefore, the proposal is for the speed limit on this section to stop the same, at 50mph.
Tupton to Clay Cross area
On the option of lowering the 50mph speed limit to 40mph between a point 138 metres south of Brassington Lane to a point 84m north of its roundabout junction with Farnsworth Drive (Six Halts Public House):
- 31% people agreed with the proposal
- 5% people wanted a lower speed limit than 40mph
- 64% people wanted the speed limit to stop the same
Therefore, the proposal is for the speed limit on this section to stop the same, at 50mph.
Approach to Clay Cross area
On the option of lowering the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph from a point 84m north of its roundabout junction with Farnsworth Drive (Six Halts Public House) to join up to the exiting 30mph speed limit outside CNC Motorcycles in Clay Cross:
- 42% people agreed with the proposal
- 7% people were undecided
- 51% people wanted the speed limit to stop the same
Therefore, the proposal is for the speed limit on this section to stop the same, at 40mph.
Through Clay Cross area
On the option of maintaining the existing 30mph speed limit through Clay Cross:
- 90% people agreed with the speed limit staying the same
- 4% people were undecided
- 6% people disagreed with the speed limit staying the same
Therefore, the proposal is for the speed limit on this section to stop the same, at 30mph.
Clay Cross to Stretton area
On the option of maintaining the existing 40mph speed limit from Clay Cross to Stretton:
- 83% people agreed with the speed limit staying the same
- 5% people were undecided
- 12 people disagreed with the speed limit staying the same
Therefore, the proposal is for the speed limit on this section to stop the same, at 40mph.
Stretton to Higham area
On the option of maintaining the existing 50mph speed limit from Stretton to Higham:
- 81% people agreed with the speed limit staying the same
- 5% people were undecided
- 14% people disagreed with the speed limit staying the same
Therefore, the proposal is for the speed limit on this section to stop the same, at 50mph.
Through Higham area
On the option of lowering the speed limit through Higham from 40mph to 30mph:
- 42% people agreed with the proposal
- 9% people were undecided
- 49% people disagreed with the proposal
Therefore, given the mixed results and the accident history in this area, the proposal is for the speed limit on this section to be reduced from 40mph to 30mph through Higham.
Shirland area
On the option of maintaining the existing 30mph speed limit through Shirland:
- 90% people agreed with the speed limit staying the same
- 6% people were undecided
- 4% people disagreed with the speed limit staying the same
Therefore, the proposal is for the speed limit on this section to stop the same, at 30mph.
Shirland to Alfreton area
On the option of lowering the speed limit from national speed limit to 50mph from Shirland through to Alfreton:
- 34% people agreed with the proposal
- 10% people were undecided
- 56% people disagreed with the proposal
Therefore, the proposal is for the speed limit on this section to stop the same, at the national speed limit.
Around the Watchorn Roundabout
On the option of lowering the speed limit around the Watchorn Roundabout from the National Speed Limit to 40mph:
- 51% people agreed with the proposal
- 12% people were undecided
- 37% people disagreed with the proposed
Therefore, given the results and the accident history in this area, the proposal is for the speed limit on this section to be reduced from the National Speed Limit to 40mph around the roundabout.