Speed Limit: Bognor Regis - West Sussex County Council

development two new relief roads are being built at North Bersted and
Felpham.
1.2 As part of the detailed design of the roads and junctions associated with this
development consideration has also been given to speed limits on the
existing roads. Although not part of initial considerations, a 40 mph limit on
A29 Shripney Road has now been identified as being beneficial.
2. Proposals
2.1 The existing and proposed speed limits are as shown in Appendix A.
2.2 The proposal for a 40mph limit on A29 Shripney Road is assessed as falling
outside of the current County Council Speed Limit Policy and therefore
Cabinet Member approval is required to enable progress to public
advertisement of the proposal. If approved, and subsequently advertised,
the Western Arun CLC would consider any objections in making the decision.
Implementation would be undertaken by the developer.
3 Discussion
3.1 There are a number of factors which indicate that promoting a 40mph limit,
and therefore departing from policy in this instance, would be the appropriate
solution. These are set out below.
3.2 The criteria for setting speed limits above 30mph, within the current WSCC
Speed Limit policy, incorporates two principal factors; traffic speed and
character of the route.
3.3 Additional guidance is also given in the policy on minimum length of speed
limit (600m recommended, 400m exceptional). In this location the lengths
of existing 50mph limits would be separated into two sections by the new
roundabout, in lengths of 420m and 250m respectively. The existing limits
both to the north (Shripney village) and south (Rowan Way and Shripney
Road commercial and retail areas) are 40mph, and are proposed to remain
as such. Therefore to reduce the number of speed limit changes and to give
appropriate messages to drivers approaching built-up areas and junctions, a
40mph limit is proposed.
3.4 With regard to traffic speed, the road layout and traffic volume will change
considerably from the current layout once the relief road is fully open. it is
not therefore possible to gain any meaningful measure of traffic speeds until
the new roads are fully operational.
3.5 For a 40mph limit the route should have some frontage development and/or
frequent bends, junction or accesses with regular use indicating a degree of
potential conflict along the route. Although initial frontage development
could be considered to fall short of this requirement it is acknowledged that
outline planning permission has already been granted for more development
adjacent to this section of road, which will lead to increased levels of
development here in the near future.