Basingstoke ObserverA group of residents are calling for the speed limit to be reduced on Griffin Way in Hook. .
The call has come following the building of a number of housing developments which have changed the nature of the landscape.
A petition has been launched with over 250 signatures received in a fortnight but now residents are looking to the wider public for support.
Dr Janet Lord shared: “Our petition requests the lowering of the speed limit to 30mph from 50mph on the approach to the Barratt development on Griffin Way North, Hook RG27.
I would like to increase awareness of our petition as countless pets are dying with the current speed limit and with a playground on the other side, it is only inevitable that a child will be tragically hurt.
This area is no longer the countryside, but a residential area to a few new developments; Barratt, David Wilson, Croudace, but so far, the Parish Council has not been successful at getting the attention of our local MP (Ranil Jayawardena) or Hampshire County Council to reduce this speed limit.”
The Basingstoke Observer connected MP Ranil Jayawardena for comment and he responded: “The safety of local people is crucial and the right speed limits are one part of the solution to making our roads safer, alongside better roads.”
Hampshire County Council responded with a statement from Executive Member for Highways Operations, Councillor Russell Oppenheimer, who said: “Road safety is always a high priority for the County Council but our limited resources have to be targeted to where we are confident new measures will be most effective, our approach being based on a combination of site-based evidence and professional judgement, with input from Hampshire Police where necessary. Road safety education is also an important factor.
We are aware of residents’ call for a change in the speed limit on Griffin Way. However, based on current evidence, this road, which has a relatively good safety record, would not be a priority for new safety measures compared with other locations in Hampshire.”
The petition reads: “In the last few years a number of new developments have been built on Griffin Way North / Reading Road and the area is now residential and not the countryside it once was. The speed limit needs to be reduced accordingly.
We have heard of a number of pets tragically killed by cars in the last few months and this is no surprise since the 50mph speed limit is in place to the middle of the Barratt development and the 30mph only starts a few metres prior to the A30 roundabout.
The pedestrian crossing used by children and dog walkers from Oakwood Grange to the Maynard Drive playground, green space and walks beyond lies in the 50mph section of road, greatly increasing the risk to all those who use it.
Furthermore, exiting from Titchener Way onto Griffin Way North by car is hazardous, especially when turning towards the A30 at the current 40mph. The visibility of approaching vehicles is not sufficient given their speed and the curve of the road combined with the uphill exit and it is only a matter of time before an accident occurs.
Please sign this petition so that our voices can be heard as a community by the local councillors to extend the 30mph speed limit prior to the Barratt development.”
If you would like to sign the petition, you can do so online at: https://chng.it/V6tZrKPFdH
