Slow down! Town council to combat speeding

MELKSHAM Town Council is to target speeding motorists, by purchasing new speed indicator devices (SIDs).

The electronic signs that warn drivers travelling over the speed limit to slow down, will be permanently used at seven locations previously identified by residents as speeding hot spots.

SIDs will be located on Spa Road, Sandridge Road, Snowberry Lane, King Street/Semington Road, Church Lane, Lowbourne; and one device will be rotated between the Kenilworth Gardens estate, Coronation Road and Ruskin Avenue, which all have a 20mph limit.

The devices will also record the number of vehicles passing through the area and their speeds, allowing the town council to collect evidence about the effectiveness of the scheme, and also help advise the police about where and when speeding enforcement may be most effective. It is hoped that the SIDs will be installed and operational by spring next year.

The scheme has been welcomed by residents living in the affected areas. Spa Road resident, Norman Drake said, “It’s a good move by the council, and a great place to start to try and tackle the problem of speeding. I’m pleased, and I hope that it gets some results.”

Church Lane resident, Sue Bailey, who in August appealed for traffic calming measures to be put in place on the lane after a driver crashed into her property, said, “I am pleased to hear this – it’s a step forward in the right direction. I still feel that we need chicane style speed restrictions on the lane to truly slow people down, but hopefully this new scheme will help. It will be interesting to see what happens next.”

The scheme was proposed by mayor cllr Jon Hubbard at last week’s full town council meeting, receiving unanimous support from his fellow councillors. 

Cllr Hubbard said, “These new speed indicator devices will help remind people that there is a 30mph speed limit in force on these roads. When vehicles are travelling in excess of these speeds, they are not only breaking the law, but they are also exhibiting anti-social behaviour and putting other people’s lives at risk.

“On Spa Road we have a children’s centre and the Canberra Youth Centre and sometimes we see cars blasting past at, frankly, stupid speeds where, if they hit a child, a fatality would be the likely outcome.

“By introducing these speed indicator devices my hope is that we will remind people that they are in a 30mph area and they will slow down. This will not only make them safer drivers, but also save them money and all the evidence demonstrates that by slowing down, they will save fuel and reduce pollutant emissions.

“By putting in a speed indicator device in the new 20mph areas, we can help remind people who use these roads, particularly those who only use them on an occasional basis, that a 20mph speed limit is now in force. This is ‘soft’ enforcement where what I would like to see is people being reminded that these limits are in place. Then, if they persist in speeding, no-one can reasonably complain if they end up with speeding tickets down the line.”