Thatcham drivers "travelling at acceptable speeds"

West Berkshire Council responds to speeding concerns along The Moors

MOTORISTS travelling along The Moors and Lower Way are driving at acceptable speeds.

That was West Berkshire Council’s response to concerns raised over speeding following a “miraculous” near miss in The Moors Recreation Ground last week.

A group of teenagers and a woman were nearly hit by a BMW after the driver lost control and crashed into the park.

One of the teenagers who was nearly hit, along with local residents, called for action to tackle speeding on roads near the park.

They said that people speed up between the cameras dotted along Lower Way and The Moors, adding it was a wonder that no one had been hurt or killed.

The council has responded by saying that a speed survey was carried out less than 100 metres to the east of the park.

The survey, carried out between May 14 and 19 this year, recorded an average speed of 29.6mph for vehicles travelling east along the The Moors.

Those heading to Newbury were clocked doing an average speed of 30.2mph.

A speed survey was also carried out on Lower Way between April 22 and 29.

The average speed of vehicles were recorded as 28.4mph and 29.1mph for east and westbound traffic respectively.

Council spokeswoman Peta Stoddart-Crompton said: “Both results show that the overwhelming majority of road users are travelling at an acceptable speed for a 30mph limit.

“Controlling the small number of drivers who may be travelling above the limit would be an issue for the police to consider.”