PLANS are afoot to curb speeding drivers across Flintshire.

Members of Flintshire Council’s environment overview and scrutiny committee will meet tomorrow (Wed) to discuss introducing traffic calming measures at speeding hotspots in the county.

The council receives about five requests for new traffic calming measures every year and those up for discussion include Windsor Drive in Flint and Bryn Awelon in Buckley.

The types of traffic calming measures that could be introduced include speed humps, chicanes, road markings and improved signage.

The council is calling for member’s support to adopt a new traffic calming policy in order to carry out an updated assessment policy for potential schemes.

Sealand Councillor Chris Jones, who sits on the committee, wants vital traffic calming schemes to be implemented as soon as possible.

She said: “I want improved signage and a speed reduction on Sealand Road and Welsh Road and I think 20mph zones outside all schools is totally necessary.”

Statistics show that accidents on Flintshire’s roads are on the decrease with 686 recorded injury accidents in 1998 compared to 461 in 2008.

Pedestrian casualties have also reduced by 40 per cent from 104 to 62 in the same 10-year period.

Council officers say the reduction is partly down to traffic calming measures that have already been introduced.

But the council has also been inundated with complaints in relation to the speeding schemes.

A report by Flintshire Council officer Neal Cockerton says the main causes for complaint are noise and vibration to nearby residents, damage to vehicles and discomfort for passengers.

Mr Cockerton says in his report: “Traffic calming measures can adversely affect emergency vehicles and bus operations and inconvenience local residents.

Schemes should therefore only be progressed where it can be demonstrated that the potential benefits outweigh these disadvantages and there is a positive contribution to road safety.”

A request for £100,000 has been made to Welsh transport body Taith to implement the schemes.

A consultation with the emergency services, public transport services and the public will take place before any scheme is implemented.