1. Public Consultation on Traffic Calming in Gifford
Gifford Community Council (GCC)
May 2018

2. Background to the current proposal
GCC have received frequent complaints over many years in relation to speeding vehicles within the village.
GCC worked with Police Scotland and obtained speed data for the village’s three main roads.
This has led to consultation with East Lothian Council and Police Scotland about possible measures to reduce speeding.
Previous action has included installation of a speed sign on Edinburgh Road and increased enforcement from the police. This has not however reduced the level of complaints from residents.
At the request of GCC, East Lothian Council conducted a speed survey in the village in February 2017.
Following this there was an initial consultation with residents in July to gauge support for physical traffic calming measures.
Of 550 surveys distributed, 115 were returned were in favour and 11 against. Chief reasons against related to noise pollution and concerns about effectiveness of speed reducing measures.
Since then a Traffic Calming Sub-Group has investigated options for physical traffic calming measures and are now consulting with the village on the proposal of speed cushions.

3. Speed survey – Duns Road
Entering the village
Leaving the village
Each of these bars shows the proportion of vehicles travelling at particular speeds on each day of the speed survey. The keys below the graphs show what speeds are represented by each colour in the graph.
On Duns Road about 50-60% of traffic leaving the village, and 40-50% entering it, travelled at over 35mph.

4. Speed survey – Edinburgh Road
Leaving the Village
Entering the Village
On Edinburgh Road about 35-50% of traffic leaving the village, and 15-25% entering it, travelled at over 35mph.

5. Speed survey – Haddington Road
Leaving the Village
Entering the Village
On Haddington Road about 35-45% of traffic leaving the village, and 30-35% entering it, travelled at over 35mph.

6. Crashes resulting in injury (1999-2017)6 10
1 – slight injury, involving a goods vehicle
2 – serious, motorcyclist
3 – slight, car and cyclist
4 – slight, car and cyclist
5 – slight, goods vehicle and pedestrian
6 – slight, 2 cars
7 – serious, car and child
8 – slight, vehicle and pedestrian
9 – slight, vehicle and child
10 – slight, car 5 4 7 3 8 2 9 1
This data is taken from based upon official data from incidents reported to the police. It shows that there have been traffic incidents in the village in the last twenty years that have resulted in people being injured, although we do not know whether speed was a factor in individual incidents.

7. Alternatives considered
Advice from East Lothian Council is that these would cost about £20,000 each.
May divert heavy rain from road onto pavements.
Noise/vibration from vehicles impacting table and accelerating away.
Speed tables
Changes to current rights of way at junction may lead to confusion.
Roundabout
There is no need to reduce traffic to 20mph as opposed to 30mph.
Drivers failing to respect the current speed limit are unlikely to respect a new speed limit.
20mph zone
Long lines of sight at each of the roads reduce effectiveness as vehicles will only need to slow down if another vehicle is coming in the other direction.
Chicanes
Would not allow wide vehicles to pass.
May encourage drivers to swerve and cyclists to go down wrong side of road.
Central reserve on Edinburgh Road entering Gifford before bridge over Gifford Water
Alternatives considered

8. Proposal of tarmac speed cushions
Two adjacent speed cushions on the road after entering the 30mph zone (three required on Edinburgh Road due to its extra width).
A series of three sets of speed cushions on each road to slow traffic between the cushions.
Additional street lighting would be required on the Edinburgh Road over the speed cushions.
Details of speed cushions
Vertical treatments such as speed cushions are expected to reduce accidents by about 44%*
Motor vehicles are likely to travel at about 17mph over speed cushions and 22mph between them.*
Will not interfere with drainage from roads.
Less noise than speed tables as larger vehicles can straddle cushion and less impetus for accelerating away.
The village could still be used for major events, such as cycle races.
More affordable than alternatives.
Rationale for speed cushions
Duns Road has the highest average traffic speeds of any of the roads.
Speed cushions on Duns Road would reduces hazards to vehicles exiting Walden Terrace and The Wynd.
Vehicles naturally slow down on Haddington Road as they approach the junction with Main Street so it is less of a priority.
Rationale for priority of roads *

9. Example of speed cushions
Diagrams to go here.

11. Process
Community consultation: During May with a decision made by GCC at June 11th meeting
Safety audit: awaiting quote for this
Statutory undertakings: emergency services
Commission work
Phase 1 – Duns Road: funded by GCC from existing funds
Phase 2 – Edinburgh Road: apply to Local Area Partnership next financial year
Phase 3 – Haddington Road: apply to Local Area Partnership next financial year

12. Questions/Feedback
Please let us know your views by completing the survey online at