STOKE Heath residents have written to the Worcestershire County Councillor responsible for highways, calling on him to make a temporary 30mph speed limit on the Redditch Road through the village a permanent fixture.
In a letter to Coun Alan Amos they claimed the area was more deserving of the lower limit than others on the A38, including Wychbold, Northfield and Rubery, which were already 30mph.
They cited narrow pavements with a single carriageway, two sets of traffic lights with four-way traffic, including a pedestrian crossing, and entrances to schools, an art centre, a recreation ground and a children’s play area.
And they said the pavement, at its narrowest point, was frequently used by pedestrians, cyclists, mobility scooter users, dog walkers, mums pushing prams and children walking to school or to the recreation ground.
John Ellis, who is standing as a candidate in the Bromsgrove District Council elections, has led the campaign.
He said: “The speed limit is 40mph but motorists still speed down there, way over that amount – some even at 60mph and more.
“We feel if the speed limit was reduced to 30mph it would make motorists think twice about what is predominantly a residential area.
“And we fear if this is not done there could be a serious injury or even a fatality – and by then any action taken would be too late as the damage will have already been done.”
Coun Amos said he and the Highways department felt it needed to return to 40mph to keep the large volumes of traffic moving on what was a main route through Bromsgrove.
The decision was taken after extensive correspondences with residents, looking at the evidence and discussions at council meetings and with highways officers.
* WHAT do you think? Do you think the speed should be reduced on the A38 by the Hanbury Turn? Maybe you feel other areas should be 30mph. Email your views to [email protected]
