Tell them your traffic issues

Shakila Barabhuiya • Published 26 Nov 2009 12:00 0 Comments

RESIDENTS in Southcote are getting a chance to have their say on local traffic issues.

Conservative candidates delivered around 200 surveys to neighbours in New Lane Hill and the adjoining roads, after concerns about speeding traffic and overweight vehicles were voiced at a street surgery.

The survey aims to find out what kind of traffic calming measures people want to see introduced in the area and whether they believe Reading Borough Council's overweight lorries scheme is working.

The scheme is designed to stop lorries over 7.5 tonnes from using New Lane Hill.

Rob Vickers, the Conservative candidate for Southcote who lives in New Lane Hill, said: "I know from first-hand experience that speeding and overweight lorries rumbling along local roads are a real nuisance for local people and I would ask all those who have received this survey to make their views known."

Fred Higgs, 66, who has lived in New Lane Hill for 32 years, said: "The main concern is the speed of the traffic. The number of overweight vehicles has actually slowed down because they know they'll be reported if they come down here. I would like to see the return of the automatic speed warning sign which was put up in April because people did slow down, even in the two weeks it was there."

Neighbours returned 20 response to the survey in the first week and Alok Sharma, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West, said: "What it demonstrates is that this is a big issue for local residents.

"Once we hear back from local residents we will certainly be raising their concerns with the council."

John Bowsher, Southcote Residents' Association chairman, said: "It's one of those situations where it's going to be very difficult to police."

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