Exeter school head backs new proposal for 20mph restriction
ANOTHER large part of Exeter looks set for a 20mph speed limit.
The restriction will be imposed throughout the Alphington area if councillors tomorrow approve a £36,000 scheme by Exeter's joint highways committee.
It would bring the district into line with the Exwick, Redhills, St James and city centre areas, which have already adopted the 20mph limit.
Pennsylvania and Topsham are the next two residential areas to be considered for a cut to the 30mph restriction.
Debbie Buckingham, headteacher at Alphington Primary School, supported the proposal.
She said: "We have a lot of pupils and encourage them to walk and cycle but are constantly worried because increasingly people are using Alphington as a short cut and often drive very fast through here as does some of the general traffic in and around the school."
The 20mph plan has also been welcomed by Alphington residents, including Suzanne O'Connell, whose 12-year-old son Jake was knocked off his bike last week while he was crossing Church Road at the zebra crossing.
Mrs O'Connell said: "Jake is fine, with just cuts and bruises but he was shaken up by it.
"There are always problems on that crossing. We have asked the council to put a toucan or a pelican crossing in but it says there is no money in the budget. Cars will stop but then the car behind will bump into them or motorcycles will overtake cars that are stationary.
"At least if they are going slower to begin with it should be better."
Alphington currently has a 30mph limit, with two vehicle- activated speed signs in Church Road. They will be changed from 30 to 20 and two additional signs will be put in Chudleigh Road and Shillingford Road.
Devon County Council says that the speed reduction will have safety benefits for vulnerable road users and will help to encourage walking and cycling for local journeys.
Traffic calming measures were also considered as an addition to the drop in the speed limit but the council says they would be more expensive.
However, highways chiefs have said that they could be considered again for specific areas if traffic speeds continue to be a problem.
A Devon County Council spokesman said: "The reduced speed limit is being proposed in order to improve safety for all road users, in particular pedestrians and cyclists."
5 Comments
by Craig, Alphington, Exeter
Thursday, November 06 2008, 9:58AM
“The issue of Alphington being used as a shortcut isn't going to go away even with the City council¿s overly ambitious proposals of widening the main city arteries. However the speed that some cars drive through Alphington is appalling, therefore any measure to change (some) driver¿s behaviour that it is unacceptable to drive at these speeds has to be welcomed. £36k is worth every penny if it saves one accident where a child is killed or seriously injured. The zebra crossings in the area also need to be looked at, constant traffic queues in Church Road especially at school time make¿s it a very dangerous place to cross and surely some of this money might be better spent on upgrading it to a pelican crossing instead?”
by K Searle, Exeter
Thursday, November 06 2008, 8:42AM
“Then don't moan when you're caught for speeding Paul...”
by paul, exeter
Wednesday, November 05 2008, 6:23PM
“I am not going to do 20MPH any where / and nor will anyone else it'a a tolal waste of money !!!!”
by Elizabeth, Exeter
Wednesday, November 05 2008, 6:14PM
“But surely, Lucy, the point of the exercise is to try and prevent FURTHER child injury or even death. Don't know how old you are; but a few extra safety measures could have prevented the misery of several families that I have known of over my advanced years.
We are so busy rushing around now (possibly enroute to our multi-million shopping centre) that it's very easy to forget what seeing the world through the eyes of the young is like.
It's our responsiblity to drive with the young and inexperienced in mind and if spending a few thousand ensures that others do too, then we shouldn't begrudge the outlay when so much is spent in the name of civic pride (perhaps the numberplate on our mayoral car could be sold off to fund such work).”
by Lucy, Exwick, Exeter
Wednesday, November 05 2008, 2:42PM
“As a resident in Exwick, I first thought the 20 mph speed signs were a good until and i found out that a large sum of money similiar to what is going to be spent in alphington was spent in exwick.
Even though if a driver goes over 20mph to say 30mph it is still not braking the law. Because depending on the speeding limit in that road or area thats the law.
So to be honest the speed signs are a waste of money, There was never any of this when i was a child we all have to me more careful and accidents are bound to happen.
The council cant keep forking out on thousands of pounds for when each child dies or has a accident it wont bring them back or make up for what happened.”