Mum's support for rural roads' speed limit cuts

A young mum-of-two said a council's strategy that could see the speed limit on her village's road halved is "absolutely fantastic".

Laura Fenton, who lives in Hare Hatch, Berkshire, said she is often scared walking down her road with her children as drivers try to hit its 60mph limit.

Campaigners have spent years attempting to cut the speed limits in routes including Blakes Lane, where Fenton lives with her family, and Scarletts Lane.

Wokingham Borough Council said it will be "proactively assessing" roads in towns to see if they should be cut to 20mph and review limits on smaller, rural routes.

Fenton said she was happy at the potential cut to Blakes Lane that could see it reduced to 30mph.

"We have been hoping for it since we moved in three years ago. With two young kids I have to go around a blind bend into the village with the buggy and it's a 60mph road," she added.

"Most cars go at a sensible speed but it only takes the one in 10 that is pushing that 60mph and us to be coming down at the wrong time for something crazy to happen."

Simon Chapman, who lives in Scarletts Lane, has campaigned for a lower speed limit in the village for about a decade and said the possible change was a "great relief".

"Once the speed limit comes down I will again walk down [Scarletts Lane], which will not only be pleasure but healthy," he said.

"It will also benefit cyclists, horse riders, anyone who shares the roads [and] vulnerable users, of which there are plenty."

The council's executive member for active travel, transport and highways Adrian Betteridge said public support supports cutting speed limits.

But he said any changes will be "driven by the data".

"The data tells us that walkers, cycling, children and the elderly are disproportionately at risk on the roads," Betteridge said.

"They have a right to be on or around the roads as much as anyone else in these areas and we should protect them."