The Vale council is proposing the installation of speed cushions and plateaus, along with a tiny 20mph zone that covers just two junctions on Murch Road in Dinas Powys - and has ignored the requests of many residents for a protected crossing. The residential streets and shopping areas off Murch Road will continue to have a 30mph speed limit, which makes little sense to those of us outside of the councils Highways Department.

It seems unlikely that Cardiff Bus and the Ambulance service have had any input into the proposal. It's likely that parked cars on Murch Road will force the wheels of buses and ambulances over the speed cushions resulting in jolting and discomfort for those aboard. The Chairman of the London Ambulance Service, Sigurd Reinton , is quoted as saying, "Paramedics also find the bumpy ride makes it hard to look after patients in the back of ambulances and even make standing up to reach equipment difficult."

The Department for Transport's Manual for Streets makes more sensible suggestions to reduce speed and make crossings safer for all. The pavements along Murch Road are insufficiently wide (whilst the width of Murch Road exceeds Manual for Streets guidelines). By widening these pavements, the road would be narrowed, and DfT research has concluded that narrowing roads reduces traffic speeds. Narrower roads are also easier and safer for pedestrians to cross.

In Cardiff, zebra crossings are being installed to assist people to cross roads. The new zebra crossing scheme on Clive Road in Canton should be used as a reference to what should be built to help vulnerable pedestrians to cross Murch Road to the Castle Drive shops (with the Barry bound bus stop moved to the other side of Castle Drive).

A 20mph speed limit (without humps or bumps) on all residential streets in Dinas Powys would most likely gain a lot of support. Many of these streets are narrow with short sightlines, making 30mph excessive - but some people will always try to drive at the speed limit... Highways engineers have had too much control over the design of our streets for too long, with the needs of vulnerable citizens often overlooked - we need people (not car) focused street design.

Ian Perry

Via email