Neighbours in Wokingham are complaining that cats have been killed due to speeding cars on roads to the north of the town, and fear a child could be next.
Bell Foundry Lane in north Wokingham is meant to be a 30mph road. However, neighbours in the Eldridge Park estate say the speed limit has been mostly ignored.
Hayley Parker, who lives in Eldridge Park, said: “Almost no one drives 30mph.
“A number of cats have been killed and our fear is that a child will be next.
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“With Cantley Park just over the road, it’s no longer safe to cross the road without lights and or other slowing down measures in place.
“The current speed limit signs are poorly placed and not noticeable.
“Something needs to be done urgently as this is an accident waiting to happen.”
She has set up a petition calling for Wokingham Borough Council to put measures in place that will reduce the speed of cars and vehicles using Bell Foundry Lane.
The road forms part of the wider North Wokingham Distributor Road, one of the major new routes in Wokingham Borough.
The majority of the route is complete, as it is a mix of new and existing roads. The distributor road utilises Oak Avenue, Diamond Jubilee Way, Bell Foundry Lane, Queens Road, Toutley Road and Old Forest Road.
According to the council’s Strategic Roads and Highways Map, a road will need to be built linking Diamond Jubilee Road and Bell Foundry Lane to complete the route. A shared pedestrian and cycle path is being built as part of the route.
Hayley Parker expressed fears the problems would get worse once the North Wokingham Distributor Road is completed.
So far, 92 people have signed the petition on the council’s website. You can view it here https://wokingham.moderngov.co.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=116&RPID=8742782&HPID=8742782
The petition will run until Monday, September 13.
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The council’s executive member for highways and transport said she’ll look into what measures can be imposed but speed enforcement ultimately lies with the police.
Councillor Pauline Jorgensen (Conservative, Hillside) said: “We will always listen to residents petitions and we’re interested to receive them it but in the end we have no powers to enforce speed limits and if there is a concern about speeding they [the residents] should be contacting Thames Valley Police.”
She added she’ll look into what methods to reduce the speed of cars are possible on Bell Foundry Lane, but said that speed bumps would not be introduced on the road as it is a main road.
Despite neighbours fears, a council spokesperson said that the road has a 'good' safety record.
In full, the council spokesperson said: "Bell Foundry Lane has a good road safety record. We monitor speeds in the area and the averages speeds are below the 30mph limit.
“This petition has been received and remains open for residents to sign until 13 September. The council will consider the outcome of its investigations once the petition has closed and will inform the petitioners of the outcome.
"The council has no enforcement powers with regards to speeding on any road in the borough, as this is the responsibility of Thames Valley Police."
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