crossing

Illuminated beacon poles

Message received 10 Mar, 2025 – via email.

Thank you for your recent newsletters which I always find an interesting read.

I was sorry not to be able to attend the recent meeting regarding the crossing by the Batchworth canal.

I regularly drive over it on my way to work in Northwood so I am aware how some other drivers seem to disregard the needs of pedestrians looking to cross and how difficult it can be sometimes be to see people there when it’s dark.

In Ruislip some of the pelican beacon poles are illuminated and that at least makes drivers aware that a crossing is there as they approach it. Better lighting also would help in my opinion.

RDRA response:

Many thanks for your email. I wholeheartedly agree with your comments and these were raised at the forum.

Also look up our column in March issue of Ricky News-page 48.

I sincerely hope that HCC/TRDC take this issue seriously and do something about it.

May elections are your opportunity to express your views to your councillors as they will be after your vote.

By R.D.R.A., ago

Dangerous Crossing: Are you a Survivor?

This article will be in the next Ricky News, written by RDRA Committee members Christina Evans, Anne Littlejohn, Andrea Clark & Debbie Wheeler.

The RDRA (Rickmansworth & District Residents’ Association) organised the Batchworth Bridge Crossing Safety Forum on 29th January, in partnership with BCC (Batchworth Community Council) to discuss the hazards of Batchworth Bridge Crossing. Fortunately to date, there has not been a fatality (unless you count the two dead swans). Over 60 residents attended the Forum.

The major concerns highlighted at the Forum:

  • Batchworth Bridge Crossing is frequently used by people of all ages & abilities, night & day.
  • There has been numerous near misses and several accidents.
  • Poorly lit crossing.
  • Drivers can’t see pedestrians at night.
  • Crossing is on the brow of a hill and drivers accelerate towards the crossing.
  • Faded crossing markings (cannot be seen from roundabout).
  • Inadequate and obscured 30mph signage.
  • Crossing is on a dual carriage way – one lane stops, the other lane doesn’t stop.

Suggestions from the Forum were:

  • Improve or add lighting:
    • The white part of the Belisha Beacon poles should be LED lit.
    • Add spotlights on the pole to illuminate pedestrians.
  • Add speed cameras leading to crossing.
  • Smiley Activated Message (SAM).
  • Larger and more frequent 30mph signage.
  • Painting 30mph roundels on roads leading to crossing.
  • Reduce speed from 40mph to 30mph on Riverside Drive (single carriageway).
  • Recent temporary traffic lights worked.

Residents were in favour of permanent traffic lights on the crossing.

What can we do to avert a fatality?

Contact Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) for action to be taken. Request reply. Use the HCC webform to inform them:

  • Near misses or accidents you’ve had or witnessed.
  • Dangers of the crossing.
  • Safety improvements needed.

HCC webform: https://bit.ly/BB-HCC

Or scan the above QR code

Or phone HCC direct: 0300 123 4047

Voice your concerns now!

By RDRA, ago

Batchworth Bridge Forum – BCC response & petition

Message from Batchworth Community Council (BCC)

Dear Resident,

Thank you for braving the cold and attending the Batchworth Bridge Forum, hosted by the Rickmansworth & District Residents’ Association (RDRA) on the Wednesday 29th January.

Batchworth Community Council (BCC) has collated your comments and met County Councillor Reena Ranger to discuss them.

Cllr Ranger said, “Thank you for taking the time to talk to RDRA and Batchworth Community Council – I will be discussing the feedback with Hertfordshire County Council.  These will be very helpful for improving Hertfordshire’s initial proposals sent to BCC along with the expert analysis I funded.”

Since the meeting, Batchworth Community Council and Cllr Ranger have raised the ‘small’ improvements with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC), to see if they can go ahead without a wider scheme.

In addition, a resident who attended the meeting has launched a petition for Three Rivers District Council to part-fund the works to the crossing using Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL): paid by developers to improve infrastructure locally. 

The petition can be found on the Three Rivers Website https://my.threerivers.gov.uk/ please search for “Make Batchworth Bridge Crossing Safe for all users”.  To sign the petition log in with your usual Three Rivers user name and password or register if you’ve not used the TRDC site before.

CIL was discussed at the forum last week.  In total, £3.5 million has been paid for developments in Batchworth – about half of all the CIL paid across the district. However, 85% of it goes to Three Rivers, and other bodies have to apply for it. 

BCC backed a Hertfordshire County Council bid to help fund the crossing, but this was refused by Three Rivers in December.  The petition is for Three Rivers to rethink its decision.

BCC and Cllr Ranger will be in touch as soon as we have some news to give you on this project.  Again, thank you for attending and your comments. 

In the meantime, please visit https://rickmansworthresidents.org/ to sign up for news from the RDRA.

Best wishes,
From all of us at BCC and your County Councillor Reena Ranger

By R.D.R.A., ago

RDRA to host a Batchworth Bridge Crossing Forum in partnership with BCC

Wednesday 29th January at 7.30pm
Education Centre at Batchworth Lock WD3 1JJ

Following the most recent accident on this crossing and thanks to persistent pressure by Rickmansworth residents about pedestrian safety, the RDRA are hosting this forum, in partnership with BCC, to discuss with Three Rivers District Council.

Parking can be found in Church Street, Moor Lane and the Tesco car park, all of which are a few minutes’ walk from the Lock.

If you feel strongly and are able to attend, please do come along!

By R.D.R.A., ago

Temporary traffic lights on Batchworth Crossing

Message received Dec 14, 2024 – via Contact us form

Can you tell me what’s going on with regards to the temporary traffic lights on the zebra crossing nr Batchworth lock being set up earlier in the week? Are these a trial to see how it would work if these were made permanent. How long are they going to be there?. 

RDRA response:

I wish I knew. I do hope that they become permanent fixtures.

HCC who are responsible should be able to assist with this. Possible contacts are Reena Ranger or Paula Hiscox who are our county councillors.

Watford Observer article

By R.D.R.A., ago

Batchworth Bridge accident

Following the recent accident on the southbound side of Batchworth Bridge on the 21st of January, we must continue our campaign to have the Zebra Crossing replaced with a Pelican crossing.

We have tried many times before and get really silly reasons from the County Officers as to why this is not possible.

The main problem is the short length of 30 MPH speed limit in between 40 MPH either side and drivers do not slow down for this short section of road.

By RDRA, ago