Ben Hamilton-Baillie, Europe’s leading advocate for ‘shared space’ wants more councils to reduce or limit road signage, controls and barriers in town centres and replace them with attractive road surfacing and layouts which mean that drivers, pedestrians and cyclists have to take a different approach. Without the signs to guide the road user, the natural reaction is to slow down, making the environment safer and road users more considerate as they try to gauge others’ responses.
These schemes have been very successful in Northern Europe where they have been in operation for decades, reducing road accidents and fatalities. It has also helped the community reclaim their town centres, as they become more appealing places, with reduced, slower traffic with better pedestrian and cycle facilities.
Frome Town Councillor and member of the ICE Bath Club Committee Pippa Goldfinger, said: “It was an extremely interesting and thought provoking session. We are obviously keen to make our roads and town centres as safe and inviting as possible, and we have been working on how that might be achieved. These concepts may be able to be applied in other areas and we can certainly learn from the lessons elsewhere.
“It may seem that it goes against the grain to remove signs, but it is clear that there are benefits and we shall be talking to our partners and neighbouring councils to see how the ideas could be deployed.”
Murray Grant, member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, which organised the seminar said: “The Institution of Civil Engineers chose Frome as the venue for this meeting, as the town is an obvious patient in need of - and appropriate for - treatment.
“The traffic versus pedestrian confrontation destroys the ambiance of the town centre in beautiful Frome. We trust that we have provided information that will help.”
ENDS
