Lives put at risk by Southminster speed limit (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Lives put at risk by Southminster speed limit

9:00am Wednesday 4th March 2009

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CHILDREN’S lives are being put in danger as a speed limit is increased on a road right next to a new playground.

This is the view of several residents in Southminster who feel angry and frustrated as they claim Essex County Council has ignored their concerns - a decision they say the council will live to regret.

Norman Hume, cabinet member for highways and transportation, has agreed to increase the speed limit on Southfield Way from 30mph to 50mph - while at the same time a new playground has been built for the community close to the road.

Peter Goodwin, of Woodside, said: “We have seen several crashes already so this is just setting up for an accident. We can see a fatality and are terrified.

“We have grandchildren who play here and we have seen vehicles coming off the road and going through fences while it is 30mph.

“We are told what a difference speed makes if you get hit so with the play area so close this is madness. We can see children getting injured and fatalities. There are already about eight damage sites from crashes along here.

“This is also about local democracy. We feel so ignored all the time,” he added.

Jim Blanche, also of Woodside, has two young sons. He said: “We have been told that our views have been taken into consideration but it seems it was always going to be increased. Even at 30mph we have had cars go off the road and the money has only just been spent on the new playground.

“We have lots of children here, are told to reduce our speed and the road is also about ten metres away from a high pressure source of gas - there is not a lot of joined up thinking.”

But the council disagree and has stated that the increased speed limit could actually make the road safer.

Cllr Hume said: “Evidence and current guidance shows that speed limits on roads are only effective if the majority of drivers obey them and they fit in with the drivers’ perception of the road.

“Speed limits in the wrong place can lead to more accidents with drivers braking suddenly or going at unpredictable speeds. This road is not in a built up area with very few crossings made by pedestrians and therefore the 30mph speed limit on this stretch of road has been deemed in appropriate by Essex County Council and Essex police and has been increased in line with current guidance.”

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