| 5.3 Highways
The villages have developed
around roads, often at important junctions, marked perhaps
by a green, like Tockington where markets were held, or an
important group of buildings, like the church and pub in Olveston.
All these roads, tracks and footpaths were used for the daily
business of getting around the villages and to the farms where
the majority of people worked. Some were also routes to other
places, like that to the Aust Ferry through Tockington and
Olveston, and that to Thornbury, the local market town.
All roads were unpaved and
changed over the centuries according to their use. The main
roads were the first to be widened and, with the village roads,
surfaced, adopted by the local authority and maintained at
public expense. Others were used only locally and remained
narrow, whilst some fell out of use by vehicles, remaining
only as footpaths - like that from Tockington over Eastcombe
Hill to Olveston and on to Elberton.
Roads today
Modern vehicles move fast and roads are now subject to rules
aimed primarily at drivers. Road markings and signs are of
specified size, design and distance from junctions, and visibility
is improved by the creation of vision splays, by setting back
walls and by widening verges.
Narrow roads, of uneven width,
with tight corners are an important part of the character
of our villages and act as a powerful influence in calming
traffic. Generally cars are free to park at the kerb on all
roads. In the villages their presence makes drivers slow down.
The availability of roadside parking outside shops is important
in maintaining their viability. Parking outside Olveston School
is a particular problem, with safety implications.
Concern is growing over the
increasing speed and number of motor vehicles in both villages
and open country and more speed limits are being applied.
Variation in speed limits from one road to another causes
confusion, and the size, height and number of signs damages
the environment.
In residential areas elsewhere,
20mph speed limits are being tried. European examples, described
here as Home Zones, restrict through traffic and reduce the
width of existing roads. Sometimes all signs and even footpaths
are removed to encourage drivers to slow down.
Highway Maintenance
Most residents like the rural appearance of roads surfaced
with tar spray and chippings, with grass verges between road
and footway. However, more regular maintenance is necessary
if this form of construction is to remain effective. Increased
traffic tends to damage the road edge. The temptation for
highway authorities to kerb roads and move footways to the
kerb edge should be resisted.
Grass verges in open country
are traditionally flail mown two or three times a year. If
they are mown regularly or garden flowers planted, the verges
lose their rural character.
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