Dear Editor,

I support Cllr Sean Dillow’s petition for safer speeds in central Basingstoke and near schools.

Cllr Dillow’s petition is motivated by an accident in 2021 outside Castle Hill School in Winklebury, where a car mounted the pavement and injured two people - one was a child. Sadly, it is just one accident of many that highlights the growing problem on our residential roads.

Every day in Oakridge there are incidents of excessive speed or dangerous driving on Norn Hill, Vyne Road, Oakridge Road, Queen Mary Avenue, Darlington Road and many others. Cars mount the pavement in Sherborne Road, they speed through Oakridge village where they lose control and have hit trees. They race around roundabouts on Chapel Hill almost hitting parents and children walking to school. There is already a petition in Oakridge for 20mph speed zones with over 200 signatures.

READ MORE: Cllr Sean Dillow calls for 20mph speed limit outside schools

I am proud to have signed both petitions because excess speed is an issue that affects everyone. I believe it is important to work collaboratively as a community on issues of interest across the borough.

In Oakridge, the South View Residents Association is leading the way with volunteers running speed awareness sessions in the morning rush hour at various sites. These are speed camera initiatives supported by the local PCSO designed to raise awareness.

Part of the problem is Hampshire’s assessment criteria for new traffic safety measures. It takes several serious incidents at a particular accident hot spot for Hampshire County Council to take action. This is nonsense. Local people know where the danger points are. We need a proactive system for reporting dangerous roads and taking action before we have another serious incident. The road outside Castle Hill School needs action now, not after more accidents. Oakridge village needs action now, not next time a speeding car hits a person instead of a tree. We need new criteria for road safety assessments in Hampshire, powered by local eyes and ears.

SEE ALSO: Cutting speed limit to 20mph is unnecessary and an excessive restriction

Drivers that commute into Basingstoke may feel that 20mph is too slow for traffic to progress – in that case they should use the ring road not our residential roads. People that actually live in the town centre on these residential roads are saying 20 is plenty thank you.

You can sign Cllr Dillow’s petition at: https://www.change.org/p/reduce-speed-limits-in-our-borough-now-make-basingstoke-roads-safer-reduce-emissions

You can sign the Oakridge petition at: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/road-safety-in-oakridge-village

Paul Basham

Basingstoke

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