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Call to curb county's road deaths
THE Lib Dem hopeful for the new Meon Valley parliamentary seat has called for more effort to tackle road deaths in Hampshire.
Liz Leffman made the call following officially released figures that show deaths on the county's roads have risen by almost 30 per cent in a year.
Ninety-four people were killed on roads across the county in 2007 - up from 72 the previous year - while serious injuries also increased from 800 to 855, according to the Department of Transport figures.
Prospetive candidate Ms Leffman said: "This is bad news for Hampshire residents.
"The figures released from the DoT show that road deaths in our county have risen significantly, whereas nationally, road deaths and injuries are at the lowest level since records began.
"Conservative-run Hampshire County Council should be making road safety a much bigger priority, though its past history of tackling the problem leaves a lot to be desired.
"The half-baked initiative which offers schools the chance to take part in an advisory' 20mph scheme at a cost of £200 just for two signs, or £450 for signs with posts if they want to take part, is outrageous."
Ms Leffman added: "To begin a serious effort to reduce road casualties - especially amongst young children - we still believe the best move would be for the county council to introduce compulsory 20mph speed limits in areas close to schools.
"If not, then the least they could do is supply the advisory signs to schools free of charge."
Cllr Mel Kendal, executive member for environment at Hampshire County Council said: "It is ludicrous to suggest that road safety is not a high priority for us.
"We are fully committed to making Hampshire's roads as safe as possible.
"Although the 2007 figures show the first significant increase in the number of people killed or seriously injured in four years, the level of road casualties has reduced by 30 per cent overall in recent years, thanks to initiatives put in place by the county council.
"We have made a substantial financial commitment to improve our highways in safety engineering and traffic management, measures in excess of £3 million a year for the last four years."
Cllr Kendal said this included improving the skid resistance of road surfaces, new road markings, and better traffic signing.
He added: "Thankfully there have been very few occurrences in Hampshire of children being injured by fast moving traffic near to schools.
"In the last three years there have been nine reported serious injuries that have occurred within 500 metres of any one of Hampshire's schools.
"Nevertheless there is still a real concern from parents and schools about the speed of traffic near to schools.
"20 is Plenty' is an education campaign using signs that advise drivers to adopt lower speeds outside schools."
3:25pm Friday 1st August 2008
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CommentPosted by: Geoff, Hampshire on 12:11pm Sat 2 Aug 08
Sorry, mr Kendall, but your car-centric policies make the County a laughing stock when it comes to road safety.
Making schools pay for signs, and even pay more if they want a pole to put it on is crass in the extreme.
In fact its just simply disgusting.
Meanwhile, last March you proudly announced £100,000 into cycle training but it is now August and according to my school not one child has been offered this.
How about walking the walk instead of talk talk talk and empty promises.
But I expect you will be claiming massive expenses for all the hot air you spout.
Sorry, mr Kendall, but your car-centric policies make the County a laughing stock when it comes to road safety.
Making schools pay for signs, and even pay more if they want a pole to put it on is crass in the extreme.
In fact its just simply disgusting.
Meanwhile, last March you proudly announced £100,000 into cycle training but it is now August and according to my school not one child has been offered this.
How about walking the walk instead of talk talk talk and empty promises.
But I expect you will be claiming massive expenses for all the hot air you spout.
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