Woolton Hill community speedwatch group aims to improve walk to school

A COMMUNITY speedwatch group in Woolton Hill is aiming to improve the safety of children walking to school and prevent a serious accident in the village.

Rebecca Cooke, a member of the Campaign for Safer Roads and Paths in Woolton Hill, said the 189-member group had been formed after views expressed on a social media website last April.

The main aims of the campaign were to slow traffic down and also make the road between Woolton Hill infants and juniors schools safer, by preventing cars from driving on the pavement, along with the implementation of a 20mph zone for the village and the involvement of local schools.

Speedwatch coordinator, Fergus MacLeod, said: “Locally, we have some of the most beautiful countryside, excellent schools and amenities which locals want to walk or cycle to.

“However, many locals have come forward having not felt safe walking in the village due to the encroachment and increase in inconsiderate, fast and aggressive driving and the huge increase in construction and delivery traffic.

“With tight roads and intermittent pavement, it can make walking or cycling fraught with danger, particularly if you have children.

“Community Speed Watch acts as a reminder and hopefully a deterrent to those who speed or drive aggressively, before we have a serious accident in the village.

“If we can reduce speeding locally we may get more villagers safely using our paths and roads.”

The campaign has seen the adoption of a community speedwatch scheme and recruitment of volunteers to run it, as well as the installation of temporary police cones on the bend outside the schools, providing a passing place at busy times of the day.

An advisory 20mph speed limit is proposed through the village at school times, with both schools notified of the campaign and road safety assemblies planned.

East Woodhay parish councillor, Brad Norton, said the parish council supported the campaign, adding: “Road safety and, in particular speeding, is a community policing priority for our parish.”

More volunteers are needed for the Community Speed Watch scheme, from Woolton Hill and Highclere, with training provided on use of the Speed Indication Device (SID) by Hampshire police in the village.

Duties include recording the speed of drivers at the roadside and use of the SID, with flexible times available.

For more information visit safevillageroads@gmail.com.