Road safety petition will tackle speeders in Christchurch (From Bournemouth Echo)

Road safety petition will tackle speeders in Christchurch

3:00pm Tuesday 4th September 2012 in News By Katie Clark

CHRISTCHURCH residents concerned about speeding vehicles in their street will be presenting a petition to councillors urging them to take action on the busy road.

Members of the Marsh Lane Action Group will present the petition to the council tonight, asking them to consider the safety of small children and elderly residents on the road, just off Fairmile.

People living in the road are worried about the speeds and manner of driving on the small street, which has seen a number of incidents over the past few months.

The latest collision in June saw emergency services having to cut drivers from their vehicles after an incident involving up to four cars.

Ward councillor Fred Neale, who has asked police to carry out speed checks along the road, said: “I have been campaigning for many years for speed to be controlled along this section, but it has always fallen on deaf ears.

“Perhaps now that Dorset County Council has taken over highways, we may get something done.

“We have already asked for some form of chicane to be installed, rather than speed humps, for the simple reason that since the speed humps were put along The Grove, it appears that boy racers are having competitions as to who can achieve the best launch from the humps.”

The speed checks that were carried out showed a number of drivers exceeding the speed limit.

Steve Roberts from the Marsh Lane Action Group said: “Something needs to be done here to make the road safer for residents and for pedestrians, in order to slow down the traffic before we have another accident.

“As the previous accidents have illustrated, it is very possible that the next accident may prove fatal.”

The petition will be presented by Barry Sherwin on behalf of the Marsh Lane Action Group.