Campaigners demand tougher action against Addingham speeders (From Ilkley Gazette)

Campaigners demand tougher action against Addingham speeders

1:40pm Thursday 2nd July 2009

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A GROWING demand for better protection from speeding “nutters” for Addingham schoolchildren could lead to tougher action from highway bosses.

Motorists have been ignoring the recently imposed 20mph speed limit along Bolton Road past Addingham Primary School, according to villagers.

Addingham Parish Council chairman Alison Widdup said: “Bradford Council’s Keighley Area Committee is to consider installing traffic-calming measures near Addingham Primary School after a data-logging exercise showed average vehicle speeds in the area to be well over the 20mph limit.

“Addingham Parish Council had asked for the exercise to be carried out as part of its campaign to improve road safety in the village. Figures released by Bradford show the average speed of vehicles entering the village at 28mph, and for those leaving the village 31mph.

“We welcome any measure that contributes to improved road safety in the village and the area around the school has been our major concern and priority. I hope that the Keighley Area Committee will consider the proposal for traffic calming to be a positive and necessary one in the light of this evidence.”

Village resident Fiona Mann has been campaigning for extra road safety measures outside the school after her four-year-old son, James, narrowly missed being hit by a car as he crossed the school turning circle.

Mrs Mann said: “This car driver just put his foot down. I don’t know how he missed James. It was just the most horrific experience – I thought he was a goner. People are driving through the village like nutters.”

Mrs Mann successfully campaigned to have a crossing patrol introduced at the school. Previously – to the consternation of parish councillors – highway bosses had claimed that there could be no crossing patrol on Bolton Road because speeding cars made it too dangerous for the person carrying it out.

Mrs Mann has had lengthy dealings with highway bosses over the issue and asked for the council’s data-logging exercise to be extended beyond its usual period to allow the completion of nearby roadworks which caused traffic to slow down artificially.

Mrs Mann, who has two children at the primary school, said: “I have contacted them and nagged them about traffic calming. They came back and said they would recommend that they would put traffic calming in.”

“The data-loggers obviously have accurately recorded the speeds but walking along that road twice a day, the speed that cars seem to be travelling at is quite frightening.”

Keith Escritt, principal engineer of traffic and highways north – Keighley, said: “We have carried out traffic speed surveys of this section of road and found that some motorists are exceeding the 20mph limit.

“Traffic-calming measures may improve the situation, but this area already has a marked 20mph zone and flashing signs warning motorists to slow down. It is one of a long list of areas where traffic-calming measures would be feasible, but this list is already over-subscribed and whether schemes are approved is decided by area committees and with advice from senior officers.”

Despite Bradford Council’s cautious approach, campaigners said they were hoping that any measures could be implemented as soon as possible after being debated by the area committee.

Mrs Mann said she would like to see speed humps installed or road narrowing which is popular on the continent.

“In France they have large concrete tubs with flowers –why they can’t do something like that I don’t know,” said Mrs Mann.

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