Make our roads safer before a child is killed, plead residents

Calls are being made to make busy residential roads in Totnes safer following several accidents involving children.

Residents of Collapark and Smithfields took part in a Mother’s Day protest against “inadequate” signs and speed humps in the area where they live.

They say there have been five accidents involving speeding cars and children in the neighbourhood over the last few years, and that fast moving traffic has also caused the death of numerous cats.

One mother, who has a child with special needs and who didn’t want to be named, said: “My son doesn’t understand road safety. I do my best to keep him safe but as he gets older I am more nervous of the speeding cars.”

Residents claim the streets around their homes are being used as a rat run by motorists trying to avoid the A381 Western By-Pass, and that damaged sleeping policemen are failing to slow them down.

More than 100 residents have signed a letter to Devon Council calling on the highways authority to fix the speed humps and to install clearer 20mph signs.

Retired teacher Colin Moore, who is leading the campaign, said: “We are calling on the county council to urgently repair or replace the sleeping policemen speed bumps with traffic calming measures which actually force the traffic to go at or below the 20mph speed limit.

“We would also like to see better and more frequent reminders to drivers that these are residential roads with large numbers of children who live on or near the road, and who frequently access the play park on Collapark.

“More, larger and electronic 20mph signs are needed to keep vulnerable pedestrians and other road users safe.

“Drivers are increasingly using the roads as a “rat run”, frequently exceeding the speed limit, with some going in excess of 40mph.

“Some drivers do slow down for the speed bumps but, because the speed bumps only have a slight incline, many drivers do not.

“Either way, the speed bumps at present do little more than shake the diesel particulates from exhausts which has significant negative health ramifications, particularly for children.

“We’re also seeing an increasing number of delivery vans, often under much pressure to get through their quota, using the road as a quick way to avoid traffic build up elsewhere.

“All this means much more traffic which, combined with the higher number of young children on our street, makes an accident, perhaps serious, ever more likely.”

Scaffolder, Alan Clark, of Smithfields said: “These bumps slow down some cars but not vans.”

Resident Marc Martinot, 69, recalled five accidents involving children over the years, and says numerous cats have also been killed in collisions with motorists.

Nieve Garner, 22, says several of her cats have been run over, and another elderly resident, who did not want to be named, said three of her cats had also been killed by motorists.

Colin, 67, continued: “I have spoken to several other residents who have lost cats and some others who have been witness to crashes between cars. 

“The latter have sometimes involving their own parked vehicles and numerous wing mirrors have been lost.

“We urge the county council to do more to ensure the safety of all pedestrians who walk along our street, especially the young, the infirm, the vulnerable and the elderly.

“Do we really need to wait until a child is killed or seriously injured on our street?”

A county council spokesman said: “There have been no speed related injuries recorded in Collapark or Smithfields over the last five years and the historic speed data indicates that motorists do comply with the 20mph speed limit.  

“However we recognise residents’ concerns about speeding and safety in the area and this will be fully investigated in partnership with the police.”