A former roads policing officer has presented an alternative plan to proposals designed to make Kirk Michael’s roads safer.

Duncan Livingstone, who lives in the village, believes there are better solutions for traffic calming on the Main Road to some of the proposed plans by the Department of Infrastructure.

The DoI’s plans were unveiled last month at a public meeting at the Civic Community Centre in the village.

Via online polls, Mr Livingstone gathered residents’ views on the plans and put forward alternative ideas using his own knowledge of road safety and driver behaviour after years of being a police officer and driving instructor.

The results have been given to Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer, Ayre and Michael MHKs Alfred Cannan and Tim Baker, Michael Commissioners and director of highways Jeff Robinson.

He said: ’I am left with the conclusion that it is imperative the proposals presented last week be rejected as they do not fit either the needs or the wishes of the village.’

Based on his research, he found that 170 people out of 189 who responded to his poll on Facebook group ’Kirk Michael Massive!’ rejected the department’s idea of having removable speed cushions throughout the Main Road.

A total of six people thought they were a good idea. The remaining 13 thought the idea - proposed by another resident - of having a 20mph speed limit instead of the current 30mph limit was best.

Mr Livingstone spent 19 years in the policing unit. He was trained as a forensic collision investigator and was the constabulary’s advanced driving instructor from 1997 until retiring in 2010.

He said the results don’t suggest ’any strong desire’ for these speed reducing features.

He added there would be an ongoing costs in removing them for sporting events, such as the TT, and replacing them over time. ’This doesn’t even consider the potential road damage from 38 tonne wagons bouncing over speed bumps, which potentially could damage foundations of adjoining houses,’ he said.

Traffic lights

Another poll looked at his suggestion - which he gave at the public meeting - of having traffic light controlled pedestrian crossings with speed detection equipment installed.

This question received 100 replies, with 93 respondents agreeing with the idea.

He said: ’These systems are used successfully in France, Portugal, and Spain, as well as a trial which has taken place in Scotland. I think they would fit well into the dynamic of the village without ruining the aesthetic.’

The DoI plans show a raised and removable crossing outside Michael School.

Mr Livingstone suggests a puffin crossing (a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights and sensors that control the crossing time) should be installed with speed detection lights to reduce ongoing costs of having a raised crossing.

He suggests a puffin crossing outside the residential home Cannan Court using the same technology so elderly residents can easily access it and parking spaces will not be lost ’as they would be if the crossing was near to the butchers’, he said.

He said the DoI’s proposal to widen pavements should be ’applauded’ and that its buffer zones idea has also received a positive response. See the DoI’s proposals: https://prezi.com/p/cxole4e2zkt1/kirk-michael-traffic-calming-final/