Telraam Update
Kibworth has been struggling to cope with increasing traffic volumes over many years. Even seemingly trivial requests for improvements have been turned down by the Highways authorities whilst the perceived dangers to pedestrians and cyclists through motor traffic have steadily increased, as expressed by many residents in the surveys carried out as part of the Neighbourhood Plan.
The scheme aims to deliver the necessary data and evidence that could be used to make a stronger case for better traffic management and traffic reduction in Kibworth and to encourage active modes of travel, thereby enhancing the village and improving quality of life for all.
In October 2024 we published an article by Stefan Richter. Along with appropriate QR codes and reference numbers regarding the recently installed Telraam traffic data sensors. These sensors can detect and count different types of vehicles, (including pedestrians), the direction of travel and approximate speed. All the data is available publicly with a 15-minute delay.
A year has gone by since they were installed. We approached parish councillor, Kevin Feltham, to ascertain what data had been accumulated and how that data would be used.
The reply is as follows: –
Kibworth Beauchamp parish council bought the six Telraam devices after being briefed by Stefan [Richter] and his agreement to find varied locations for them. It has taken over a year to finally get all six installed and two of them are in Kibworth Harcourt! He is our Telraam guru.
Like all of them, roadworks and other reasons have an effect on the data. The device you are hosting has had Station Street closed for over 4 days recently and this affects the normal traffic flow.
LCC Highways are aware of them but still use their own traffic measurement equipment when studying traffic modelling across the county as using standard methods. They have concerns about the accuracy of Telraam for speed measuring although traffic volume measuring is deemed sort of ok. The advantage for us is that the six devices give us real-time data every day and especially when there is a change in normal traffic movements.
County [Council, Highways] looks at the strategic infrastructure modelling linked to districts’ local plans. HDC are not proposing a Kibworth bypass in their latest draft Plan, so county is not actively looking at local modelling, despite asking for average speed cameras on A6 for years. Phil King, as county councillor, held an online public meeting last month with the Director of Highways, and she confirmed the A6 is a known problem, but has no plans to do anything! A bypass could cost £100m so way outside county finances; it will only happen with developer funding, like funded the new Melton Mowbray bypasses. Housing locations are decided by HDC and as I’ve said, nothing planned for us in the draft plan!
To date, the parish council has objected to the latest proposed new small estates on both Smeeton Road [28 houses] and now Fleckney Road [32 houses]. Amongst the reasons for the parish council objections has been traffic volumes and speeds as measured by the relevant Telraam devices. To date neither application has been decided by HDC but hopefully the real-time data provided will help!
I mentioned to Stefan that we have a gap in our local traffic modelling as no measurements on Wistow Road, so we are missing that data. Kibworth Harcourt parish council has agreed to buy 4 more devices when suitable locations are found, so I’m hopeful that should help provide an overall traffic picture for both parishes.
Patience and long-term research are important when looking at traffic levels and infrastructure! Parishes are consultees only in planning matters and the Telraam data has given us important information to use in our limited role. I am hopeful that more areas across the county will take an interest and more Telraam devices installed by other parishes and I have explained how we are using them to several county councillors, but none yet going ahead in their areas.
Macmillan Coffee Morning – Nov ’25
