We, the undersigned, being residents of Bear Lane, Blakes Lane,
Blakes Road, Castle End Road, Dark Lane, Milley Lane, Mumbery Hill,
Scarletts Lane, Tag Lane or Wargrave Hill or other narrow
residential roads within Thames Ward without footpaths, hereby
petition Wokingham Borough Council to urgently lower the speed
limit on such roads to a maximum of 30mph in order that residents
and others who must share the carriageway on foot, bicycle, horse
or vehicle may proceed safely and without the constant fear of a
high speed collision.
Many of these tiny, often twisting and sometimes steep residential
roads are used by a disproportionate number of motorists –
measured at up to 180 an hour at peak times in Scarletts Lane
– as a short cut or "rat run" without due consideration for
others who have no choice but to share the road.
The majority of drivers do not exceed the current legal limit but
that limit encourages them to drive at speeds above 30mph which are
always dangerous given that young families can be walking on the
road around the next bend.
Hence, we and many other residents are in constant fear when we
leave our gates since it is often impossible to take evasive action
when confronted by oncoming vehicles in one or both
directions.
The number of minor accidents and near misses has increased in line
with the growth in traffic since lockdown and a frightening
increase in the number of delivery vans and lorries, only a small
proportion of which are delivering to residents.
Some elderly or vulnerable residents are now reluctant to leave
their homes while others must try to find safer times to escort
their children, walk their dogs or take exercise.
We understand that speed limits will be exceeded but a 30mph limit
will promote significantly greater mindfulness among drivers than
the current excessively high limits.
This petition should not prompt an in-depth analysis of vehicle
numbers or current speeds because it requires only common sense,
logic and human decency to impose a much lower speed limit on
narrow residential lanes without footpaths (and often without
street lights) – as has been recognised by neighbouring local
authorities including Reading, Oxfordshire and the Royal Borough of
Windsor & Maidenhead.
Because these roads are often well-preserved historical cart paths
with an attractive rural character, this petition asks only for a
reduction in the speed limit and does not seek changes to street
geometry as these would urbanise them and detract forever from the
amenity benefit they afford to many, residents and visitors
alike.
Finally, we urge you not to delay this urgent safety measure and
quality-of-life enhancement by consulting unnecessarily with the
police or other authorities as their response will predictably be
that they do not have the resources to enforce any such new limits.
We know how effective an occasional short visit by a local
neighbourhood police officer with a hand-held speed gun can be as a
deterrent to all drivers.
Your Council has the power to authorise this request without
reference and we urge you to do that.
Thank you.
Started by: Simon Chapman
This ePetition runs from 23/04/2024 to 22/07/2024.
64 people have signed this ePetition.