Critics are angry about a body that decides whether speed limits on Devon roads should be reduced, saying the process is "secret". Members of Devon County Council, the county's largest council, have expressed dismay at the unelected SCARF committee, which decides whether to reduce speed limits.
The issue was raised at Devon County Council, which is part of the SCARF entity, after some councillors claimed it can make decisions without oversight from elected representatives. "I do have concerns about the SCARF process and the level of democratic scrutiny and involvement of local members in decisions around road safety intervention," said Councillor Frank Biederman (Liberal Democrat, Fremington Rural).
SCARF, which stands for Speed Compliance Action Review Forum, is a joint process between Devon County Council and Devon & Cornwall Police. It assesses speed concerns in what its website calls a "consistent manner". Concerns raised to the body are assessed, but not all undergo the full SCARF process. Those that do make the cut are put through a speed detection assessment for data to be gathered, and outcomes range from education to enforcement, or even engineering changes to the road layout.
Cllr Biederman has pushed for the county council to "urgently review" a decision to hold the speed limit at 40mph on the B3233 between Fremington and Instow, claiming that the significant volume of traffic on it is negatively impacting the lives of residents. "The reality is that in Yelland, it has grown so much with significant [housing] development – upwards of 1,000 homes – and the number of car movements that creates is huge," Cllr Biederman said. "Every door I knock on in Yelland, the residents tell me they fear crossing the road. They have to stand there forever for an opportunity to cross, but with the size of vehicles, too, they fear leaving their homes and they are becoming socially isolated." He added he was "fed up" with SCARF because it seemed to be a "blockage to getting anything done in our communities".
Fellow member, Councillor Alan Connett (Liberal Democrat, Exminster & Haldon) asked for more transparency about the SCARF committee and process. "I ask the highways cabinet member [Councillor Dan Thomas] whether he agrees that we need to pull the curtain back and let light into the secret process of SCARF meetings, and to have them in the diary so local members are informed about when they are happening," he said at Devon’s full council earlier this month.
Cllr Thomas acknowledged the frustration, but noted there were difficulties with creating a prospective calendar for the meeting, because operational pressures on the police meant they were often reorganised. "In terms of 'opening up the darkness', as Cllr Connett says, I note the wish to let councillors know when meetings have happened and the minutes of them," Cllr Thomas said. "But if councillors want to attend, that is going to be a potential stumbling block in the sense that the SCARF process is very much fact- and risk-based, and it has been free of politicisation, something we as councillors inherently bring with us," he said. "If the suggestion is that we attend but don’t speak, that could be welcomed, but I don’t put much money on that happening." Cllr Thomas said he would discuss the issue further with Cllr Connett "on a way forward that allows democracy in".
Another North Devon member, Councillor Ed Tyldesley (Liberal Democrat, Chulmleigh & Landkey), also complained about SCARF, echoing both Cllr Biederman and Cllr Connett
Devon Speed Limit Committee Accused of Secrecy