Highways Access Garstang

Mature vegetation, a steep bend, and buildings that had been developed prior to the establishment of modern safety regulations all combined to create a significant challenge in accessing this farm. The combination of these elements resulted in a situation where access from the farm was essentially blind to nearside traffic as vehicles attempted to enter the highway. This situation posed a considerable risk, as drivers were forced into playing a high-stakes game of chicken in order to merge onto the highway.

The obvious and most logical solution to this dangerous predicament was to relocate the access point to the bottom of the hill. This new location would not only be away from the blind corners that obscured visibility but would also enable vehicles to merge into traffic in a more controlled manner, significantly reducing the risk of accidents. However, despite the advantages of this solution, there remained a considerable hurdle to overcome. While visibility was indeed much improved at this new location, it still did not meet the exacting standards established by the local highways authority.

The primary reasons for this shortfall were the presence of mature hedges and trees that obstructed sightlines, coupled with the sharp bend in the road that further limited visibility. Additionally, there was a public right of way at the proposed access, which would require careful consideration and potential relocation to accommodate the new access point. After all, nothing disrupts a peaceful countryside ramble for hikers more than meetin a bale spear as they stroll along the footpath.

To address these issues, iRIS Sustainable Planning, a team of experienced transport consultants, was brought in to conduct a comprehensive highways access appraisal. Their expertise was crucial in navigating the complexities of the situation. As part of their assessment, they installed an Automated Traffic Count (ATC) system over a continuous 7-day period to gather valuable data regarding traffic patterns and vehicle speeds in the area. The results of this extensive data collection revealed that vehicle speeds were, in fact, low enough to significantly reduce the required visibility splay. This finding was pivotal, as it demonstrated that the new access point could be deemed acceptable by the highways authority, thus paving the way for a safer and more efficient means of accessing the farm while also addressing the concerns of both farmers and hikers alike.