Thatcham park crash raises speeding concerns

"It's a wonder that someone has not been hurt or killed"

CONCERNS about speeding on roads near to the scene of Monday’s “miraculous” near-miss have been raised.

One of the teenagers who narrowly avoided being hit by a car that left The Moors and ploughed into a The Moors Recreation Ground – hitting the bench that the group had been sitting on, along with fencing and a lamp post – said that something needed to be done.

“There are currently speed cameras along this road, but as soon as the speed cameras finish individuals race past the park trying to show off,” he said.

“I feel something should be done about this matter as, quite frankly, me and my friends were very scared and wouldn’t want anyone else to be in the same situation.”

He said that, while no one had appeared to be injured following the crash, the outcome could have been very different if children had been playing in the park.

Local resident Jane Hewett, who rushed to aid a woman who was “inches from death”, also called for action.

“This road is really shocking to turn out of,” she said.

“People speed along here and there needs to be some traffic calming. It’s a wonder that someone has not been killed or hurt here.

“Just crossing to the park you’re taking your life in your hands.

“It’s shocking, it’s something that needs to be done.”

One Lower Way resident, who wished to be anonymous, said that she had been calling for West Berkshire Council to deal with speeding in Lower Way and The Moors.

She said that some drivers would speed along the straight stretch of road after passing the speed camera near Paynesdown Road, with nothing to slow drivers down until the next camera at The Moors.

She claimed that the council had no intention of looking into the issue and that it had no up-to-date speeding data for the area.

She added that she had been trying to get the council to install a speed trap in the area since the beginning of the year.

Following Monday’s near miss the resident said: “Imagine if those people had been hit. I don’t understand why the council can’t take it seriously.

“I’ve been here a few years and seen it get worse.

“It would be nice to use this negative to try and do something positive. I wonder if they will take it a bit more seriously now.”

Thatcham Town Council has also received residents’ concerns over speeds along The Moors in recent months.

West Berkshire Council had not responded to questions as the Newbury Weekly News went to press.