Dear Evening Leader,
A letter for possible insertion.
In your article Politicians back 20 mph School Zones Plan Penyffordd County Councillor Colin Bithell who lives in a cul-de-sac far away from speeding noisy dangerous vehicles worries that it may not be practical. Colin needs to get out a bit more. Cheshire and Wrexham Councils have many hundreds of 20 mph compulsory zones.
Colin has been asleep on watch whilst Chester Rd, Penyffordd, a route to school has built up to 2000 speeding motorists a day. As far as I am concerned Councilor Colin Bithell is currently unqualified to comment on this laudable scheme.
Flintshire Highways have just today added 2 traffic calming features that have been totally ignored by this afternoon's traffic.
Whilst Wrexham Council have been visionary in their use of traffic calming techniques in Rhos, Rossett and Cefn Mawr.
The Welsh Assembly Government have a strategy called The Manual for Streets that can transform Chester Road from being a 50 mph rat run back to its proper status of being the village centre suitable for children on cycles going to school, OAP's, villagers and horses.
Compulsory 20 mph would be purgatory for our 2000 a day unwanted short cutters, they would be more inclined to use our By - Pass. A 20 mph compulsory limit brings an automatic ban to those doing 40 mph, this is a deterence in itself. The 20 mph limit a small price to pay by villagers for a much safer and quieter village.
Tony Sharps CC of Northop Hall comments that having 20 mph zones at 2 am in the morning is nonsensical. This is easy to say when you have bumps in the road outside your house that make it impossible to do little more than 20 mph.
Here in Chester Road , Penyffordd we want a village environment NOT a 50 mph Rat Run
It's time for councillors to consider safety and village environment as well as votes, they do have a relationship.
Yours sincerely
Colin Hughes
Chester Rd Penyffordd
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The article below on which the above letter was submitted
A letter for possible insertion.
In your article Politicians back 20 mph School Zones Plan Penyffordd County Councillor Colin Bithell who lives in a cul-de-sac far away from speeding noisy dangerous vehicles worries that it may not be practical. Colin needs to get out a bit more. Cheshire and Wrexham Councils have many hundreds of 20 mph compulsory zones.
Colin has been asleep on watch whilst Chester Rd, Penyffordd, a route to school has built up to 2000 speeding motorists a day. As far as I am concerned Councilor Colin Bithell is currently unqualified to comment on this laudable scheme.
Flintshire Highways have just today added 2 traffic calming features that have been totally ignored by this afternoon's traffic.
Whilst Wrexham Council have been visionary in their use of traffic calming techniques in Rhos, Rossett and Cefn Mawr.
The Welsh Assembly Government have a strategy called The Manual for Streets that can transform Chester Road from being a 50 mph rat run back to its proper status of being the village centre suitable for children on cycles going to school, OAP's, villagers and horses.
Compulsory 20 mph would be purgatory for our 2000 a day unwanted short cutters, they would be more inclined to use our By - Pass. A 20 mph compulsory limit brings an automatic ban to those doing 40 mph, this is a deterence in itself. The 20 mph limit a small price to pay by villagers for a much safer and quieter village.
Tony Sharps CC of Northop Hall comments that having 20 mph zones at 2 am in the morning is nonsensical. This is easy to say when you have bumps in the road outside your house that make it impossible to do little more than 20 mph.
Here in Chester Road , Penyffordd we want a village environment NOT a 50 mph Rat Run
It's time for councillors to consider safety and village environment as well as votes, they do have a relationship.
Yours sincerely
Colin Hughes
Chester Rd Penyffordd
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The article below on which the above letter was submitted
Politicians back 20mph school zones plan
By Kate Forrester
SENIOR politicians in Flintshire have backed proposals to introduce 20mph speed limits across all 'walk to school' routes.
The proposal has been drawn up by the British Medical Association (BMA) Cymru who are calling for the Welsh Assembly Government to introduce the scheme as part of an effort to cut road casualties and increase physical activities amongst children.
Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh secretary for the BMA, said: "The Welsh Assembly Government have already done a great deal of work to help slow down speeding motorists near Welsh schools. The 'Safe Routes to School' scheme is already providing children a safer route to school and saving countless lives.
"But, does this go far enough? The BMA thinks not – the Welsh Assembly Government and local authorities need to go much further to save even more children."
Local councillor Bernie Attridge said: "I would welcome this initiative. I am chair of Governors at Dee Road Infants School in Connah's Quay and one of our concerns is the increasing levels of traffic driving past the school. Safety measures are usually introduced after an accident, so I would be pleased if this campaign was successful."
Councillor Chris Bithell, Flintshire Council's executive member for education and children's services, added: "It is a very good idea. Some 20mph zones have already been introduced to some school areas in Flintshire."
While the majority of Flintshire residents and local authorities back the scheme, there remain some concerns about practicalities.
Tony Sharps, councillor for Northop Hall, commented: "It is an excellent idea, but only if the limits operate in school hours. I am all in favour of the initiative, but it is nonsensical to apply such a speed limit in the early hours of the morning for example."
Holywell Central councillor Peter Curtis added: "It is a commendable idea, but can it be policed effectively? Teachers cannot be expected to police it as they have enough to do. Drivers would have to police themselves."
Councillor Colin Bithell, who represents the Penyffordd Ward, said: "It is a good idea but may not be practical. It could be hard to establish specific 'walk to school' routes."
Penyffordd residents concerned about the volume of speeding traffic passing through their village have also welcomed the campaign.
Colin Hughes, who was featured in the Leader last week after his online blog about speeding traffic in Penyffordd landed him in trouble with Flintshire County Council, said: "There are speed bumps near our local primary school, but these have little effect on modern cars – they can still travel over them at 40mph.
"There are often large groups of young children riding bikes or walking to school in the village."
l What do you think? Leave your comments at www.eveningleader.co.uk
Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh secretary for the BMA, said: "The Welsh Assembly Government have already done a great deal of work to help slow down speeding motorists near Welsh schools. The 'Safe Routes to School' scheme is already providing children a safer route to school and saving countless lives.
"But, does this go far enough? The BMA thinks not – the Welsh Assembly Government and local authorities need to go much further to save even more children."
Local councillor Bernie Attridge said: "I would welcome this initiative. I am chair of Governors at Dee Road Infants School in Connah's Quay and one of our concerns is the increasing levels of traffic driving past the school. Safety measures are usually introduced after an accident, so I would be pleased if this campaign was successful."
Councillor Chris Bithell, Flintshire Council's executive member for education and children's services, added: "It is a very good idea. Some 20mph zones have already been introduced to some school areas in Flintshire."
While the majority of Flintshire residents and local authorities back the scheme, there remain some concerns about practicalities.
Tony Sharps, councillor for Northop Hall, commented: "It is an excellent idea, but only if the limits operate in school hours. I am all in favour of the initiative, but it is nonsensical to apply such a speed limit in the early hours of the morning for example."
Holywell Central councillor Peter Curtis added: "It is a commendable idea, but can it be policed effectively? Teachers cannot be expected to police it as they have enough to do. Drivers would have to police themselves."
Councillor Colin Bithell, who represents the Penyffordd Ward, said: "It is a good idea but may not be practical. It could be hard to establish specific 'walk to school' routes."
Penyffordd residents concerned about the volume of speeding traffic passing through their village have also welcomed the campaign.
Colin Hughes, who was featured in the Leader last week after his online blog about speeding traffic in Penyffordd landed him in trouble with Flintshire County Council, said: "There are speed bumps near our local primary school, but these have little effect on modern cars – they can still travel over them at 40mph.
"There are often large groups of young children riding bikes or walking to school in the village."
l What do you think? Leave your comments at www.eveningleader.co.uk
Last Updated: 03 September 2007 1:31 PM
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