Divide over Cold Ash speed bump plans
Proposal for speed hump outside St Mark's to be put to public
PLANS to install a speed hump near St Mark’s School in Cold Ash could face a bumpy ride following a heated discussion last week.
Speaking at a meeting of Cold Ash Parish Council to discuss whether West Berkshire Council should hold a public consultation on the proposal, chairman Richard Marsh said that the two inch-high hump was the latest option in a long-running discussion between the parish council, residents, St Mark’s School and the district council.
Urging councillors to reject the idea was resident Mr Tredinnick who said that the hump would be positioned 30ft from his bedroom.
He said: “We get vibrations today from lorries so God knows what it will be like.
“If it’s to serve the children there’s gridlock there, you can’t speed and when the kids aren’t there it’s not needed.
“This will affect us 24/7. This is not acceptable. We went round this a few years ago and it was not needed.
“It was outsiders asking for this... they have asked for this and what are they going to achieve?
“Put in 20mph limits not something that’s going to blight our lives 24/7.
“I think you should reject it today for our sakes.”
Former district councillor Geoff Findlay added: “We definitely have no serious injury record outside the school.
“The majority of people calling for this, of course, don’t live immediately in the area.”
Resident Len Whitehead asked whether all alternative measures had been investigated, including a 20mph limit and employing a lollipop lady.
Parish councillors were divided, however, with members of the transport working group in favour, while non-members said they did not have enough information.
Strongly objecting was Gill Hall who said that she could not see what the ‘horrible idea’ was likely to achieve, while Marigold Jaques said: “Why risk wasting officers’, our and residents’ time when you can’t prove it will help and residents don’t want it?”
And while agreeing that something should be done to ensure children’s safety, Linda Verner said the hump would be an over-reaction as speeds along Hermitage Road were limited during school closing time.
On the flip side, Bernard Clark said he thought the hump was one of a number of things the parish should be doing to reclaim the village from the motor car.
“From my point of view I would like us to be really aggressive about trying to win our village back. I think it’s a good thing,” he said.
Mike Munro said that the parish council should be pre-emptive and “not be waiting for a child to be knocked down”, and asked the district council to look at all the options.
Mr Marsh replied that the district council had recommended that the hump was the best option.
And, following a split vote, Mr Marsh used his casting vote to push the proposal out to public consultation; leading to Mr Whitehead slapping his leg in anger.