12:40pm Tuesday 17th July 2012
By Gina Marden
CAMPAIGNERS calling for a dangerous road to have its speed limit cut have scored a major victory.
For several years people living in Hardings Elms Road, Crays Hill, have said 40mph was far too high and wanted it cut to 30mph.
Residents had witnessed several crashes along the road, between Wickford and Basildon, but have now secured the speed limit drop after Essex County Council officers experienced the road for themselves.
Highways officers Vicky Duff and Natalie Szpigelman met with Basildon and Billericay MP John Baron and Ramsden Crays parish councillor David McPherson-Davis who drove them along the road in his car at 40mph.
Both Mr Baron and Mr McPherson-Davis campaigned with residents for the speed limit change. Mr McPherson-Davis said the highways officers soon realised why residents wanted something done.
He said: “It absolutely frightened the life out of them.
“The problem has always been that the road is full of blind spots, so if you have people turning into, for example, the nursery, often people wouldn’t see them until it’s too late.
“I was very pleased to receive the letter from John Baron to say the limit will be cut to 30mph.”
Mr Baron added: “Reducing the speed limit makes sense given the layout of Hardings Elms Road and the fact the new 30mph limit will match the speed limits on the two roads it links, those being the A129 and Wash Road.
“I’m pleased Essex County Council has listened to local residents, councillors and myself.
“My thanks go to Vicky Duff and Natalie Szpigelman of Essex County Council, and to councillor David McPherson-Davis, who undertook the road test with us with such relish.”
The new speed limit will be imposed on Hardings Elms Road from the A129 to the junction of Wash Road.
Mr McPherson-Davis said Essex County Council has also confirmed it will be cutting the limit on the nearby A129 London Road.
It will be reduced from the current 60mph to 30mph on the stretch from the Crays Hill Recreation Ground to the entrance for the Barleylands farm shop.
An Essex County Council spokesman said: “We aim to bring in the new speed limit within the next few months.”
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