Last updated at 12:37, Friday, 28 September 2012

Calls have been made for a crossing to be installed outside Cockermouth School after almost 10,000 drivers using the road were clocked speeding.

CROSSING CALL: Councillor Len Davies

The town’s rural safety group was last night due to talk to the Highways Agency about installing the crossing on Castlegate Drive.

Len Davies, of the group, said a crossing was essential after new figures showed that speeding was still an issue.

The highest recorded speed – by the town’s speed indication device – between January and September on Castlegate Drive was 81mph. The speed limit there is 30mph.

Mr Davies, who is also a town councillor, said: “Some incidents of the highest speeds have been on Castlegate Drive, so that is an obvious concern with the school being there.

“We will be speaking with a representative from the Highways Agency to see about the possibility of getting a crossing outside the school to prevent any possible deaths because even one is too many.

“With the new hospital being built and new housing developments there is bound to be a huge increase in traffic along that road and we need to protect the children.

“There is going to be a bigger demand on the school with more pupils, parents transporting their children, and coaches. It is important that safety measures are in place to prevent any kind of tragedy from happening.”

The device recorded 120,912 cars found travelling 5mph above the speed limit at various points in the town since the start of December.

It is put in place for a week at a time in rotation at Low Road, Lorton Road, Castlegate Drive, Gote Road and Lamplugh Road and collects speed and time data from individual cars, but does not identify the vehicle.

It has been programmed to not show speeds above 45mph, to discourage motorists from setting a high number as they drive past.

Peter Wilkinson, of Sunscales Avenue, a group member, has been responsible for moving the device around the town. The data has been passed to police for officers to take action.

Mr Wilkinson said that there had been a greater police presence in some areas, but speeding was still an issue in the town and remained high on Low Road and Lorton Road.

More than 40,986 drivers were clocked above the speed limit on Low Road and 24,696 on Lorton Road.

On Gote Road, 27,856 cars were recorded speeding, on Lamplugh Road 17,473 were above the 30mph limit and on Castlegate Drive 9,901 were clocked speeding.

The top speed in the town was 89mph, on Lorton Road.

No one from Cockermouth School was available to comment.

First published at 11:56, Friday, 28 September 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk