Residents of Washingborough are taking action following an incident where a lorry crashed into a local garden on Fen Road last year. A petition for a speed limit reduction on the rural road has been initiated by villagers who fear that some drivers are not respecting the conditions of the road. Carol Scholfield, a local resident, saw her garden wall demolished by a lorry, stating that the incident ‘could have easily killed somebody’. However, it should be noted that there is no implication that speed played a role in the accident. Lincolnshire County Council confirmed that they had reviewed a previous request for a speed limit reduction, but it did not meet the ‘requirements for change’.
The petition, which has gathered more than 100 signatures, proposes a speed limit reduction from 60mph to 40mph. Local residents argue that this alteration would result in drivers leaving the village at a more controlled speed. Scholfield shared her concerns about drivers who ‘come out of the village and put their foot down’, often overlooking the numerous houses along the road. Rhule, the initiator of the petition and owner of a horse paddock near the site of the crash, highlighted the potential risks to horse riders and those driving horse-drawn wagons. He called attention to the dangers of a startled horse colliding with a speeding vehicle. Luca Straker from the road safety charity Brake emphasised that despite the 60mph limit on many rural roads, drivers should adapt to the road conditions. A spokesperson for Lincolnshire County Council reiterated that a change in speed limit was considered last year, but the accident rate and traffic flow did not meet the threshold for change.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
