Police boss calls for action over speeding in village
Commissioner says effective action is needed
A POLICE chief has said “effective action” is needed to prevent a tragedy in Sharnford after a motorist was clocked driving 109mph in a 30mph zone.
Lord Willy Bach, Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, visited the village after concerns over speeding, high traffic volume and HGVs using narrow roads were raised by the Sharnford Traffic Action Group (STAG).
The group’s temporary camera has recorded heart-stopping speeds on the village’s main roads - the B4114 Leicester Road and Aston Lane - including one motorist hurtling at 109mph near a pedestrian crossing last month.
Other speeds clocked over a three week period included 95mph, 90mph, 74mph, 71mph and eight at more than 60mph - all in 30mph zones.
Lord Bach said “it is imperative that there is some effective action before there is a tragedy” and vowed to write to Leicestershire County Council, Blaby District Council and the Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership to make his concerns clear.
He added: “I will also be asking if there is a reason why there are no average speed cameras along those stretches of road.
“I’m advised that these units would be a highly effective traffic calming measure, but for some reason Leicestershire does not have any.
“I will invite the councils and the Road Safety Partnership to revisit their current position on road safety measures in Sharnford as a matter of urgency.
“It’s important that it doesn’t take a fatal or life changing accident to happen before something is done about this problem - which has, in any event, been going on far too long.”
STAG, which has been campaigning against dangerous driving in the village for more than 10 years, says the sheer number of vehicles using Sharnford as a shortcut is also an issue.
Secretary Mike Shirley said lives are being “put at risk by reckless drivers” and some HGVs have mounted kerbs, felled lamposts and even damaged homes trying to navigate narrow streets.
He called for a new bypass and temporary speed cameras to be installed.
Lord Bach said: “It’s clear to me that the amount of heavy goods traffic on what is essentially a village road could result in a very dangerous situation for roadusers and pedestrians.
“The amount of traffic is only likely to increase due to developments in the area around Sharnford.”
Leicestershire County Council offered to install speed bumps on Aston Lane at a cost of £12,000 to the parish council - which is almost its entire annual budget.
A council spokeswoman said their own speed survey showed the village would not “qualify” for speed cameras and it cannot afford to build a bypass without government funding.
Jonathan Clarkson, spokesman for the Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership, said: “We are aware of local speeding concerns in Sharnford and the B4114 remains one of our regularly visited core mobile camera sites. The partnership would be willing to review this if there is a future change of events.”