SIR: I applaud the Campaigners pressing for a 20mph city-wide speed limit (Chronicle, February 3). However, if the county council commit they would be wise to examine firstly the efficacy of the existing 20mph zones and get them working as they should. Putting signs up is not enough. Each area must be analysed and a combination of traffic calming measures assessed to make them work.

Over the last six months I been calling upon the county to address the problem of speeding along Petersfield Road in Winchester, an existing 20mph zone. County councillor Dominic Hiscock visited and took on board the problems but he was informed by HCC that they were not even considering improvements at this time and that roads were in a state of “managed decline”.

SEE ALSO: Vandal attack on city historic monument

In December 2021 I wrote to Hampshire County Highways asking for the 20mph road markings to be repainted (they are all but invisible), zigzag road markings to be installed outside All Saints' church, the entrance to which serves pupils attending All Saints School and young children attending Pre-school in the Church Hall, and traffic calming at the passageway from Quarry Road.

HCC’s written response was that as there had been no injury accidents reported they could not justify inclusion of traffic calming on their safety programme. Further, they stated that the county council was scaling back work on larger measures such as lower speed limits, physical traffic calming and heavy goods vehicle controls unless required to support casualty reduction.

White lines were to be inspected but after six weeks I have neither heard of nor seen any action.

The county should sort out existing problems and learn from them prior to embarking on any new initiatives.

Richard Long,

Petersfield Road,

Winchester

 

Message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story. We really appreciate your support.

Please help us to continue bringing you all the trusted news by sharing this story or by following our Facebook page. 

Kimberley Barber