6,600 RESIDENTS SAY IS PLENTY!
Town petition being presented to county council today
A CAMPAIGN for a 20mph speed limit in a North Staffordshire town centre will be considered by county councillors today.
More than 6,600 people have signed a petition calling for the new restriction in Leek town centre. This is well above the 5,000 signatures needed to trigger a debate by Staffordshire County Council.
The discussion will take place at today’s full county council meeting. Afterwards, members will be asked to agree on action to take in response to the petition.
Leek resident Roger Warrilow organised the petition. He said: “I will bring to the attention of the county council that since the removal of the safe and efficient roundabout 10 years ago – situated at the entrance to
Derby Street – there have been accidents, more pollution and traffic hold-ups.
“Sainsbury’s money was invested in the removal of Leek’s iconic floral roundabout and there was a 106 agreement implemented to reorganise traffic at the top of St Edward Street.
“This agreement was broken and put on hold by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Staffordshire County Highways.
“A decade later, nothing has been done, crossings are in the wrong places and there is no crossing in St Edward Street from High Street.
“Surely, the least the county council highways can do for the safety of Leek’s pedestrians is to slow traffic to 20mph to secure a safer environment.”
Councillor Charlotte Atkins, right, who represents Leek South, presented the petition to the county council and said there was an urgent need for better pedestrian safety measures.
She added: “Safe pedestrian crossings and lower speed limits have long been promised but not delivered.
“There are detailed existing plans to improve St Edward Street with a 20mph speed limit and the introduction of both controlled and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings.”
The debate will coincide with national Walk to School Week.
Campaign group 20’s Plenty for Staffordshire said: “Roads can be made safer if speed limits are reduced from 30mph to 20mph – these limits can greatly reduce road casualties and also reduce traffic pollution and noise and create a safer environment for walking and cycling.”