Villages in Uttlesford aim to cut speed limit
VILLAGES across the district are campaigning for lower speed limits to make their roads safer and quieter. Following the success of Quendon and Rickling Parish Council, who campaigned for the speed limit through their village to be cut from 40mph to 30mph
VILLAGES across the district are campaigning for lower speed limits to make their roads safer and quieter.
Following the success of Quendon and Rickling Parish Council, who campaigned for the speed limit through their village to be cut from 40mph to 30mph, the parishes of Wicken Bonhunt and Clavering are hoping to follow suit.
Chairman of the Wicken Bonhunt Parish Meeting, Fabian Bullen, said that the B1308, which runs through Wicken Bonhunt and Clavering, faced similar problems to the Quendon road.
"It is a high density residential road with many properties close to the carriageway," he said. "We have straight stretches of road and several bends which constantly encourages excessive speed and dangers to our young children, pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders.
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"We are also regularly plagued by extreme vehicle noise from heavy commercial vehicles, delivery vans and 'boy racers' whose drivers seem to believe that our current 40mph speed limit is the minimum and not the maximum.
"In fact on many occasions during each day it becomes impossible to stand in our street and have a conversation. You are simply drowned out by straining engines."
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Encouraged by the recent success in Quendon, Mr Bullen said that they would now double their efforts to secure a 30mph limit through Wicken Bonhunt.
Essex County Councillor Ray Gooding said he would support any village in his area trying to secure a reduced speed limit.
"It is very much the case that some of the villages do need to see a reduction in the speed limit," he said. "Essex Highways has taken on board the new criteria and the speed limits will be assessed in keeping with the small villages."
New government criteria have stated that where appropriate 30mph should be the norm for villages and Cllr Gooding believes that both Clavering and Wicken Bonhunt fall well within this category.
"I think the main problem now will be getting the police to buy into this because they need to be able to enforce the new limit," said Cllr Gooding. "The other issue is securing the funding from the council."
Newport is currently campaigning to have its speed limit cut further, from 30mph to 20mph, on the estate roads and near to the school.
