Safety fears over speeding drivers

Residents want a mini roundabout to be introduced to help slow traffic down

Residents in a village in Herefordshire have called for speeding measures to be introduced to tackle dangerous driving.

A 30mph limit is in force in Canon Pyon, north of Hereford, but villagers said drivers regularly exceeded this.

They have called for a mini roundabout to be introduced to force traffic to slow down.

Councillor Jon Lee, the chair of the parish council, said the introduction of measures on the A4110 would struggle to make an impact.

"It’s a straight bit of road and the first opportunity for miles for people to overtake," he said.

Local resident Caroline Lamont said road safety had been a concern since she moved to the area.

"How long will it be before someone gets killed? I have been hearing this for the 13 years I've lived here,” she said.

"You have to be visible. I walk my dog every morning about five o’clock, and could get you 25 [drivers speeding]. The speed is phenomenal - cars, motorbikes, even lorries will overtake."

Mr Lee welcomed a recent agreement to extend the 30mph zone northwards to an area including a primary school and no footpath connection to the rest of the village.

A pedestrian crossing linking the village hall with the car park opposite was also promised by Hereford Council.

Parish clerk Paul Hayden, however, said preparatory work for this was now five years out of date.

"Highways [officials]... measured the speed again, and lo and behold, the speed was too fast and doesn’t meet the national criteria to build a zebra crossing."

Mr Lee said: "Hopefully we can get measures in at both ends of the village to calm the traffic and lower the speed, then we can have the crossing."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.