The diary of an access campaign
How long does an access campaign take?
I asked Nick Howorth of the Gloucestershire House Campaigns Action Group to give us a run down of their highly successful campaign SAFE: Safe Access For Everyone. Here's the story so far...
What was the issue that started the campaign? The need for improvements in road safety and accessibility in our local area.
What was the aim? To make Charlton Lane Safe and Accessible For Everyone.
Date | Campaigns action | What happened |
April 2008 | The Campaigns Action Group (CAG) was started and we began planning. | Goals and objectives were agreed. These began primarily with the need for a pedestrian crossing. |
May 2008
| We started to build evidence to support the need for improved safety. This included doing traffic counts and collecting case studies. We started a petition which went out to shops and people in the local area. We also got media coverage from the local newspaper. | The campaign gained momentum and support. Role and responsibilities were designated such as the groups lead contact and who would be doing what task and when. |
August 2008 | We made contact with key targets: Gloucestershire Highways and Cheltenham Borough councillors by writing to them. | Through contacting targets they gained an understanding of the campaign and a willingness to work with the CAG. |
September 2008 onwards | We held meetings with local residents and key targets on the main issues. | More pressure applied to targets by regularly following up on meetings and letters to see what was being done and when. |
January 2009 onwards
| Ongoing CAG activity including; communication through meetings, e-mails, telephones and press coverage. | Raised bus stop levels were introduced; wheelchair users can now easily and independently access the bus service. Drop kerbs were implemented to allow physical access for crossing. |
June 2009 | CAG entered Campaigning Service of the Year Award, in an effort to be recognised for the achievements and to share good practice. | Awarded Runners Up Campaigning Service of the Year Award 2009
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July 2009
| CAG maintained communication with Highways and supporters and used previous evidence to achieve objective of H Marking | H marking painted to deter cars from parking over drop kerb area. |
May 2010
| As a collective consequence of all the above actions Charlton Lane was revamped! | Footways were widened, entire stretch of pavement was resurfaced and camber was significantly reduced. |
July 2010 onwards | Continued meeting with CAG and targets and involving local residents for support. | Informed that the case for a crossing has gone to Priority Assessment; budget dependent. Making contact with Highways; Road Safety Team Leader to look at working in partnership on issue of speed in the local area. |
Recent developments include
Meeting with Gloucestershire County Council Road Safety Partnership and discussing ways of working together to combat speed on Charlton Lane. The next CAG meeting will discuss which techniques will be applied to the campaign for maximum effect.