Mum's plea: Slow down in our village

A mum is spearheading a campaign to improve road safety in her village.

Emma Porter has launched a petition to introduce traffic calming on the A6121 through Ryhall.

She faces a daily battle to cross the road from her house in Turnpike Close into the village because of speeding motorists.

She is particularly worried about her elder daughter Poppy, nine, who will start secondary school next year and will need to cross the road alone to catch the bus each day.

Emma said: “Something needs to change before there is a serious accident. The more people who sign up, the more likely our fears will be listened to and things can change for the better.”

The online petition has already attracted 230 signatures and the family hopes to have pap[er copies available in the village over the next few weeks.

Emma said: “In the past two months I’ve been overtaken twice when I’ve been doing 30mph and in the summer there was a head-on collision at 10.30pm.

“I don’t know what the best solution is but something needs to be done to make them slow down but at least one crossing needs to be put in.”

Ryhall Parish Council is backing the petition and is already looking at road safety improvements.

Rutland County Council is implementing a village spped reduction scheme in Ryhall early next year, which will include will include visual gateways to encourage drivers to slow down.

Temporary speed indicator signs will also be installed un Rutland Way and Shepherd’s Walk; and Newstead Lane in Belmesthorpe to monitor driver behaviour.

Parish clerk Caroline Adams said the council is also submitting a transport scheme to Rutland County Council for a pedestrian crossing on Turnpike
Road.

She said: “This involves a formal application with support of the ward members, parish council endorsement and possible commitment to some funding contribution.”

Parish councillors would also like the county council to introduce a speed reduction scheme at the top of Essendine hill to slow down traffic entering the village.

Rutland County Council’s portfolio holder for highways and transport Lucy Stephenson said the council takes road safety issues “extremely seriously”.

She added: “We are awaiting the parish council’s request for a pedestrian crossing on Turnpike Road. Once received this will be assessed together with other similar schemes and in line with our current policies around highway safety.”

To sign the petition visit www.change.org/p/rutland-county-council-traffic-calming-and-pedestrian-crossing-ryhall