Leap Gate Petition Update
Strong Support for the Reduction of Speed Along the Newly-Opened Section of Leap Gate.
Our online petition calling for a reduction in speed along the newly-opened section of road along Leap Gate, Trowbridge, has reached over 500 signatures within the first few weeks of going live. Set up by residents of Castle Mead, the Persimmon Homes and Charles Church development south of Paxcroft Mead, the petition calls for a lowering in speed limit from 50mph to 40mph, and the re-siting of the 30mph speed-limit sign further down the road to incorporate all the housing along Leap Gate. Although the road has only been open a couple of months, residents living along the main section have witnessed numerous cars driving at excessive speeds both in and out of the estate, with reports, most worryingly, of cars running through the red pedestrian lights. Local residents liken the newly-opened road to “Castle Combe circuit”. “Drivers are completely ignoring the speed limit, racing down the road at speeds in excess of 50mph. It’s not safe to walk our children to school along this road,” cited one local resident.
Residents who live along Leap Gate believe it is an accident waiting to happen. “There are currently no deterrents in place to prevent people from speeding along this section of the road and setting the speed limit to 50mph only encourages people to speed. Not only is this dangerous for those walking their dogs, exercising or cycling along the road, but means that it is excessively noisy.”
Compounding the problem, it would seem, is Wiltshire Council’s decision to re-route traffic from the A350 and A361 through the Castle Mead development, meaning that heavy goods and agricultural vehicles have also now been witnessed speeding along Leap Gate. “It would seem that Wiltshire Council have tried to kill two birds with one stone,” commented another resident, “the need to build more housing and the need to build a relief road. The result? A bypass through a housing development!”
“It completely goes against the Council’s Land at East Trowbridge Development Brief (Adopted: September 2004), which cites the implementation of a development to help reduce car dependence by facilitating greater walking, cycling and public transport use. Plus the implementation of a high quality and well-designed scheme!”
Residents are hoping to achieve over 500 signatures in time for the full council meeting on 18th October where it will be presented. Councillor Steve Oldrieve, who has been very supportive, raised concerns over speed limits last year before the road opened. “The 50mph speed limit is not only excessive, creating noise disturbance for those houses that face this stretch of Leap Gate, but seems very ill-conceived. The remaining sections of Leap Gate are either 30mph or 40mph. It becomes confusing for drivers, and local residents are naturally concerned about dangerous driving.”
With planning application in for further development down the road, setting the speed limit to 50mph, proponents of the petition believe, was very short-sighted, and they are hoping that the petition will persuade Wiltshire Council to think again about the speed limits currently in place. Local residents are asked to show their support by signing the petition at:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/leap-gate-petition-keep-our-children-safe
Our online petition calling for a reduction in speed along the newly-opened section of road along Leap Gate, Trowbridge, has reached over 500 signatures within the first few weeks of going live. Set up by residents of Castle Mead, the Persimmon Homes and Charles Church development south of Paxcroft Mead, the petition calls for a lowering in speed limit from 50mph to 40mph, and the re-siting of the 30mph speed-limit sign further down the road to incorporate all the housing along Leap Gate. Although the road has only been open a couple of months, residents living along the main section have witnessed numerous cars driving at excessive speeds both in and out of the estate, with reports, most worryingly, of cars running through the red pedestrian lights. Local residents liken the newly-opened road to “Castle Combe circuit”. “Drivers are completely ignoring the speed limit, racing down the road at speeds in excess of 50mph. It’s not safe to walk our children to school along this road,” cited one local resident.
Compounding the problem, it would seem, is Wiltshire Council’s decision to re-route traffic from the A350 and A361 through the Castle Mead development, meaning that heavy goods and agricultural vehicles have also now been witnessed speeding along Leap Gate. “It would seem that Wiltshire Council have tried to kill two birds with one stone,” commented another resident, “the need to build more housing and the need to build a relief road. The result? A bypass through a housing development!”
“It completely goes against the Council’s Land at East Trowbridge Development Brief (Adopted: September 2004), which cites the implementation of a development to help reduce car dependence by facilitating greater walking, cycling and public transport use. Plus the implementation of a high quality and well-designed scheme!”
Residents are hoping to achieve over 500 signatures in time for the full council meeting on 18th October where it will be presented. Councillor Steve Oldrieve, who has been very supportive, raised concerns over speed limits last year before the road opened. “The 50mph speed limit is not only excessive, creating noise disturbance for those houses that face this stretch of Leap Gate, but seems very ill-conceived. The remaining sections of Leap Gate are either 30mph or 40mph. It becomes confusing for drivers, and local residents are naturally concerned about dangerous driving.”
With planning application in for further development down the road, setting the speed limit to 50mph, proponents of the petition believe, was very short-sighted, and they are hoping that the petition will persuade Wiltshire Council to think again about the speed limits currently in place. Local residents are asked to show their support by signing the petition at:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/leap-gate-petition-keep-our-children-safe
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