Speed campaign had ‘lukewarm’ response (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Speed campaign had ‘lukewarm’ response

7:10am Monday 8th February 2010

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By Chris Harris »

A PARISH leader has poured cold water on a campaign to reduce speed limits on a busy road in Kings Worthy.

Peter Warrener was speaking after a seven-year-old girl called for traffic to be slowed in Springvale Road.

Cllr Warrener, chairman of Kings Worthy Parish Council, said householders had been surveyed about the matter, but the response had been very low.

“I should add that Kings Worthy Parish Council did carry out a survey some way back asking for people’s opinions and it was very weakly accepted,” said Cllr Warrener.

“It was not a case of Kings Worthy saying ‘no’ — we asked for opinions and got a very low response.”

It has been a controversial, long-running issue in the village.

Parish councillors were given the opportunity for lower speeds in Springvale Road and Lovedon Lane in October 2007.

But the matter was dropped because the authority was too divided and residents not enthusiastic enough.

But Jane Rutter, a Lib Dem campaigner in the Worthys, said the party had received a “huge response”

after it called for safer speed limits.

She said because Headbourne Worthy had opted for 30mph, there was now a mix of limits along Springvale Road.

The subject reared its head again last week when Kings Worthy Primary School pupil Sophie Johnstone asked for speeds to be cut.

The youngster wrote to MP Mark Oaten and Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate, Martin Tod, to launch a petition after her mother said she could not have a kitten because the road was too dangerous.

Cllr Warrener, a former road safety officer, added: “If the people of Kings Worthy want a 30mph limit that’s fine.

“But is it going to be enforced? I rather doubt it.

The police are busy doing other things and will the motorists take any notice of the signs?

“My belief is the people that are clamouring for the 30mph speed limit are breaking the speed limit themselves.”

But he did vow to get the issue discussed at the next meeting of the parish council on Monday, February 15.

Meanwhile, Steve Brine, the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Winchester, has called for another part of Kings Worthy to be made safer. He said he would discuss improvements for the junction of Lovedon and Park Lanes with the A33.

He said: “Susie [his wife] and I have a very good friend who was badly injured recently while turning out of Lovedon Lane at this junction.

“My initial feelings are that we need a specific measure here, perhaps even a roundabout, to ensure that accidents like this are not repeated.”

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