West Berkshire Council to reduce speed limit at Hungerford Common from 40mph to 30mph to tackle speeding

More action on speeding at Hungerford Common is needed, Hungerford Town Council heard on Monday night, November 1.

After years of campaigning by the town council, West Berkshire Council has agreed to reduce the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph from December.

But that will still not be enough to avoid accidents, many residents fear.

District councillor James Cole (Con, Hungerford & Kintbury) told the meeting that Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) which could be programmed with messages, such as 'beware, cows' could be bought with a district council loan.

He said the Town & Manor of Hungerford was concerned about the issue and also favoured chicanes or speed humps.

However town councillor Nick Schlanker warned that spending public money on land owned and operated by the Town & Manor of Hungerford could cause ill feeling among some townsfolk.

He described the organisation as "a commercial charity" and said: "I don't know why a private organisation is expecting this council to pay for this. The grazers are certainly a syndicate - it's their problem."

Mr Cole replied that there was "no question" that the Town & Manor should contribute but pointed out: "There's an awful lot of Hungerford and Inkpen residents that use the common.

"There's enough silly people that go speeding through there and I dare say some are town residents."

Town mayor Helen Simpson acknowledged that speeding as a whole was a concern for the community.

She said Town & Manor chief executive Ellie Dickins had contacted her to discuss the purchase of SIDs.

Mrs Simpson added: "I think she has committed to attending our upcoming highways and transport committee meeting to discuss options and to show the community they're willing to volunteer and perhaps offer some money towards getting our own equipment."

SIDs flash the current speed limit if a vehicle approaches which is exceeding this speed.

Proponents believe this can help to break the habit of drivers who consistently use excessive speed.