Speed Limits In Saddinton
The 20mph speed limit in Saddington is there for some very good reasons.
On 2 December 2021 Saddington was fortunate to be granted a 20mph speed limit on all the roads through the village. This did not happen by chance and it took over two years of negotiations, form filling, speed monitoring and demonstration of a need before Leicestershire County Council agreed to the change of speed limit.
Why was this necessary?
Saddington is a rural village, and we are grateful that it is home to many working farms and if you are lucky, you may have even seen the sheep and cattle moved from field to field using the roads. There are also many concealed entrances to homes and farms which are difficult to exit by the residents, particularly when traffic is moving quickly, or when visibility is poor.
Saddington has two stables, and livery yards, with many horses exercising on the roads. Horse-riding lessons take place, where toddlers and children are seen riding on the roads, learning how to ride and use the road in a safe manner.
Many cyclists, runners, dog walkers and ramblers use the village to exercise. We are lucky to be home to parts of the Leicestershire round and cycle routes.
Saddington is on the Fox Connect bus route, and school bus route and these pass through the village to take children to the local schools.
Parts of Saddington have no pavements or only very narrow pavements in places, and there are narrow pinch points and bends in the road where vehicles travel in both directions but on many occasions do not slow down to allow room for each other to pass. This can be hazardous and intimidating when walking/riding/cycling with vehicles travelling on the narrow roads in excess of the 20 mph speed limit, often mounting pavements or driving across grass verges and front gardens.
There is now significant damage to several of the grass verges with deep ruts having been created along the side of the road, which are dangerous to all road users and which risk damage to vehicles.
There have been car accidents, damage to vehicles and property throughout the village, much of which could have been avoided if a little patience was shown.
What have we done in Saddington and what else can be done?
The police have previously carried out speed checks and warned drivers of excess speed, and the police will be operating their speed camera in Saddington again this year. The council have painted ‘dragons’ teeth’ on the entrances to the village. A traffic speed group in the village have been exploring and taking advice from the council on other measures that could be used. This work is ongoing, but we are habitually being frustrated by the lack of funding within LCC which means that LCC are unable to provide speed limiting systems or speed awareness signs in Saddington… unless Saddington pays for these ourselves.
It is notable that much of the speeding traffic occurs during the school run at both ends of the day and at commuter time. Therefore some of the problem is the responsibility of local drivers, businesses and parents, who use the roads regularly and who should now be aware of the 20mph speed limit through Saddington village, and should be aware of the local hazards, compounded by the increase in the number of vehicles using the roads.
This situation is not unique to Saddington, and most, if not all, of the local villages are suffering the same issues. Therefore we wanted to share with you our concerns and raise awareness of the 20 mph speed limit through Saddington and the reasons why it is in place.
Thank You,
Saddington Residents
Nature Notes: Ermines – Miners & Spinners
