Residents back 20mph limit
Residents voiced their support on Tuesday for a 20mph speed limit on all residential roads in Southwell.
At a public meeting in the Minster Centre, Church Street, residents heard a presentation by speed limit campaigner Mr Rod King (58) of Lymm, Cheshire.
The meeting was organised by Mr John Lightwood (54) of Kirklington Road, and attended by 20 people who heard Mr King’s presentation, entitled 20s Plenty Where People Live.
Speaking of the advantages of driving at 20mph, Mr King said: “It is not just safer for pedestrians, cyclists and children but it lowers traffic noise and pollution, and if you enforce this speed limit it will encourage people to walk or use their bicycle.
“The UK currently has the worst record in western Europe for pedestrian fatalities and we have speed limits that are 60% higher on urban roads than our European neighbours.
“Two people die each day on our roads. How many more does there have to be before people act?”
Mr King showed slides of Portsmouth city centre where a 20mph speed limit is imposed. He encouraged residents to rally support, write to their MP and approach the Nottinghamshire County Council highways officers.
“You cannot get anywhere without public support,” he said.
A former chairman of Southwell Town Council, Mrs Beryl Prentice, supported the idea.
Also at the meeting was Mrs Celia Atkinson, of Newark Road, Southwell, who said: “It was a very informative talk full of good sense. He was discussing an issue that needs to be addressed in Southwell.”
Afterwards Mrs Lois Hipkiss (38) of Marrison Way, Southwell, said: “I walk to school every day with my six-year-old son and the speed of some of the cars that go past can be quite frightening.
“If we imposed this speed limit I think it would really improve the quality of life for everyone.”
The chairman of the Southwell Traffic Action Group, Mr Mark Bertolini, of Easthorpe, said: “Imposing this kind of speed limit will certainly improve the safety of our schoolchildren.
“Southwell has tight corners and narrow pavements. I regularly see motorists having to mount the pavements just to get by — something needs to be done.”
Mr Lightwood will hold a follow-up meeting on July 1 at the Old Court House, The Burgage, at 7.30pm.
