Car wars set for council debate

5:22pm Monday 14th January 2008

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COUNCILLORS are getting set for the latest round in a battle to cut speed limits in Stourbridge.

The long running campaign for a 20mph limit in the town's Old Quarter will come to a head at the Stourbridge Area Committee meeting next week.

Committee member cllr Malcolm Knowles says speeding drivers are causing safety problems in the area and over 90 per cent of Old Quarter residents who responded to a survey carried out last year support a reduction in the current limit of 30mph.

Council traffic officers disagree with cllr Knowles, saying the area has a low accident rate for the volume of vehicles using its roads.

John Miller, Dudley director of urban environment, said: "Records indicate that six slight personal injury accidents occurred throughout the Old Quarter in the three year period to July 31 2007."

Mr Miller also says a cut in speed limits could not be warranted over such a large area and the council only introduces limits of this sort in area after a high number of accidents.

Cllr Knowles said: "One accident for that person is one too many, I know there are difficulties but it has been done elsewhere and nothing is impossible."

Fellow campaigner and traffic expert Russell Eden says if the limit is not reduced residents may take direct action to slow traffic by parking on either side of roads to create a chicane.

Mr Eden said: "This is not illegal as long as they park facing the right direction and leave gaps for emergency vehicles.

"A reduced limit would reinforce the fact that the Old Quarter requires a different balance between car, pedestrian and resident. It's a community, set out in the days of horses and carts, with houses close to roads, narrow roads and narrow pavements.

"Drivers maintaining speeds of around 30 mph, and more, are being reckless at best, as there is too much visual information for them to deal with at that speed. High speed in this area is a sign of poor driving ability."

The Old Quarter lies to the west of Stourbridge and includes Clifton Street, Greenfield Avenue and Albert Street, the council survey revealed vehicle movements averaged around 100 per hour, which is typical this type of area.

The Area Committee meeting, at Red Hill School, Junction Road on Monday January 21, will also be told a 20mph limit may be introduced in Hill Street close to Greenfields Primary School as part of a government initiative.