RESIDENTS of Kilmington will soon find out if new road safety measures will be installed through the village as a traffic survey nears completion. The A35 Action Group has been campaigning to see a pedestrian crossing and reduced speed limits installed along the trunk road through the village ever since a young girl was knocked down and had to be airlifted to hospital with head injuries in 2006. The troublesome stretch of road is used by heavy goods vehicles making their way to ports in Southampton, Portsmouth and Plymouth, and has been the scene of numerous traffic collisions in recent times. Residents describe turning in and out of the village as a “chicken run”. The- road traffic survey is being carried out by the Highways Agency and the results are due to be published in April.
Strips were placed along the road through the village to measure volume and speed of traffic.
At a meeting of the A35 Action Group in The Old Inn, Kilmington, last week, East Devon councillor Ian Chubb said:
“Nothing is guaranteed because they move in mysterious ways these highways people, but I’m quite confident something will get done.
“As we’ve heard in the past they don’t want to do a lot because of the cost.
“But councillor John Jeffery has heard from the police that there is a good case for improvements to be made along the road.
“I am continuing to speak to Hugo Swire about putting pressure on at the top,” he said.
A35 Action Group member Mike Jones had been in touch with the road safety charity Brake, and said the group would be waiting until the results of the survey before making any decision about a protest.
“We’re greatly optimistic but if the results of the survey are not favourable we will protest,” he said.
Jenny Heathman, also a member of the A35 Action Group, said: “Now is the crucial time to voice your opinions.
“People must keep writing letters to keep the pressure on.”
Formatted letters, addressed to the Highways Agency, can be found in the village shop and primary school to be signed and posted.