Message from: Mike Jones
Date Sent: 17 September 2007
ROAD SAFETY ON A35 - COME AND JOIN OUR PROTEST
Following very little feedback on the A35 action plan and seemingly no progress, a growing number of Kilmington parents are planning a protest against the speed limit or lack of one through our village (as suggested at the meeting held Aug 2006). We firmly believe it is our right to have a speed limit in force. We also feel we should legally have a speed restriction at the School crossing from Millers Farm Shop to the Whitford Road . This is actually used by school children daily. We also feel for our children negotiating the narrow footpath from the War Memorial to the Old Inn with 30 ton juggernauts and the like hurtling along at 60+ mph. The safe stopping distance for a laden heavy lorry is immense.
We also are deeply concerned for our elderly folk & children crossing the A35 at several points, namely, Hill Crest for the bus, The Old Inn for the bus and farm shop and just to enjoy a stroll into Axminster. We could not consider our children making this journey without supervision even the older ones. The road has become so busy and lethal. That is not to mention the growing number of motor cyclists that use it as a regular chicken run. You have all heard the Grand prix sound effects!.
Serious accidents seem to be now a weekly occurrence. We are told that some years ago a Highways official was quoted as saying " Well no one has died yet" - to him we say "run that past us again!". Wilmington got their speed restrictions through direct protest.
To this end we are planning a meeting on September 20th in the Old Inn at 7.00pm. We are also planning a protest march along the A35 through our village boundary early in October. The press, highways agencies government and local council have all been approached.
We hope together we can force a 30 mph speed limit through our beautiful village.