‘Cut speeds before fatal crash’
CALLS FOR ACTION TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT IN VILLAGE
A VILLAGER fears the number of cars speeding along his road will “kill someone one day”.
Geoff Barnes, from Rothley, says motorists “zoom past” his home much faster than the 30mph speed limit.
Mr Barnes lives in Swithland Lane, a large stretch of straight road that runs through the outskirts of the village to Quorn.
He said: “This problem has built up year on year and it doesn’t seem like anything is being done about it.”
The 74-year-old, who has lived in the area for 29 years, said: “Every year the speeds seem to be getting quicker.
“I walk along that road and there are other residents, cyclists and pedestrians – I don’t want anybody to be killed.”
The road used to have a 40mph speed limit before dropping to 30mph when it became a conservation area.
But according to Mr Barnes, the speed limit is rarely adhered to by motorists passing through the village. With no traffic calming measures in place, he does not believe anything will change.
“I have continued to bring this case forward to the police and the council,” he said.
Following a complaint to Leicestershire County Council in 2021, it was acknowledged that speeds along the road were high.
The council admitted the problem in a letter to Mr Barnes, saying that speeds “tend to be faster” due to the straight road and set-back houses.
They said it was earmarked as one of a list of roads to look at as part of the council’s community speed management initiative.
However, the council said survey work as part of the initiative was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Barnes said he believed something should be done to prevent a serious incident.
“My argument is that this should not be about waiting until some- thing bad happens, it is about preventing an incident,” he said.
Following his complaints, Swithland Lane has become a “community concern site” for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership. But Mr Barnes said he and other residents would like to see speed cameras placed along the road in order to tackle the problem, adding: “We pay a lot of tax each year and all we get is our bins emptied.”
A county council statement said: “We have many sites similar to this across Leicestershire that we are assessing and prioritising as part of our community speed management Initiative.
“Survey work to support the assessments was delayed due to the pandemic and we are working through that backlog.
“Once assessed we will be in a position to say if Swithland Lane meets the criteria to make changes.
“However, any changes may be reliant on further funding, with the council’s finances continuing to be strained by both national and international factors.”
Jonathan Clarkson, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership spokesperson, said: “As a result of the concerns of local residents, Swithland Lane became one of our community concern sites in April 2022.
“A Leicestershire County Council speed survey, carried out in September 2021, showed over 20 per cent of vehicles on that stretch of road exceeding our 10 per cent plus 2mph threshold for speed camera enforcement.
“The site is benefiting from regular speed camera van visits until at least April 2023.”