Campaign launched for 20mph limit across Winchester

James Batho, a Liberal Democrat has revived the community Speedwatch initiative whereby volunteers monitor traffic speeds in the city. Details are passed to the police although no prosecutions result from anyone caught speeding.

Mr Batho addressed the town forum saying he wanted the 20mph limit at places where people “shop, play, work and learn”.

Mr Batho, (pictured below) who campaigned against the Royaldown plans for new town between Winchester and Hursley last year, said the 20mph zones were being forgotten about. He said the county council needed to consider new signs and to repaint the 20-zone markings on the road.

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Cllr James Scott, a Conservative councillor, thanks Mr Batho and the Speedwatch volunteers for their work: “Thank you for coming out again. I clocked you on Stanmore Lane. It is a great job you are doing. In Stanmore some of the signage is shambolic.”

Cllr Paula Ferguson said in Stanmore parents were afraid to walk to school with their children because of the speed of the traffic.

Cllr Derek Green, who lives on Battery Hill in Stanmore, told the forum that some drivers go down the road at 40-50mph. “I stood in the road and told a guy he had to slow down. He had to because I wouldn't move. I said ‘it's 20mph’ and got told to go away and his hand came out in a gesture.

“The only way to stop it is is to put down humps in the road and make them bigger. The Winnall humps slow traffic down. The Stanmore ones are broken up and people don't take notice of them.”

Mr Batho said that in the 20-zones on North Walls, Hyde Street and Stanmore Lane some 50 per cent of the drivers broke the limit. In the 30-40 zones in other parts of the city the offenders were around 10 per cent.

Cllr Kelsie Learney said the key thing was not infrastructure but “paint, signs and the will to do it”.

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The Chronicle spoke to parents outside Stanmore Primary School.

One parent, Jonny Clifton, said: “The thing with Stanmore Lane is that it is so narrow, you struggle to get above 15-20mph anyway because you're constantly letting cars come and go. There's still a lollipop lady here, I see her every morning and have used her a couple of times. As a parent, I think it makes sense that they introduce this limit.”

Ian Herring, retired headteacher of Bitterne Junior School, said: “What really is needed is instead of introducing these speed limits 24 hours a day, which people will ignore, what they need to do is put flashing lights on. This is what some counties do. They put flashing lights either side of the school and a 20mph speed limit in the morning and in the afternoon.”

Hampshire County Council has formed a task force to look at 20mph zones across the county.

The group will examine whether existing zones should remain, and which areas need the reduced speed limits.

Cllr Martin Tod, who will be in Hampshire County Council's working group on the issue, expects to find more roads that need 20mph restrictions.

He said: “At the moment we have a mixture of 20mph zones, and certain streets with the restrictions.

“But you then have roads in between that are still 30mph, especially in Winchester. Perhaps the simple answer is to just finish the job, in that regard.

“It’s my understanding that slower speeds are not only better for the environment, but also mean vehicles to less damage to our roads.”

Additional reporting: Toby Oliver

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