Act now - before there’s a death

I have read a number of stories regarding drivers speeding through Budleigh Salterton, even going as far as to state the roads that will be monitored. Not once has Bedlands Lane been mentioned.

There are only three roads into Budleigh in any direction: East Budleigh Road, Exmouth Road and Bedlands Lane, via Knowle village.

Speed cameras have, in the past, been set up on both the other roads but, to my recollection, never on Bedlands Lane. This road has no road markings, and there is a 'bottle neck' at one end (the junction with Knowle Road) where cars are parked and create a single line of traffic.

At the other end, you have a 'chicane', which links Bedlands with Moor Lane and Barn Lane. In between, you have a wide stretch of road without road marking, where vehicles continually and consistently drive in excess of 40mph.

How do I know this? I live in the road and am appalled at the speed at which people drive up and down the road regularly. You can hear by the sound of the engine how much the vehicles accelerate along this 'drag strip'.

Adjacent to Bedlands Lane is St Peter's Primary School. Only last year, a vehicle hit the railings.

There is a 20mph sign and flashing light on the T-junction, but this is only in force during specific school hours - a little wasted at a junction of 'Give Way' which reduces speed anyway!

Isn't it about time the council and the authorities started to show it in practice rather than in manifestos and statements that have no substance. We want action!

There are a lot of children who live in roads adjacent to Bedlands Lane. How many schools in Exmouth do not have traffic calming in their approach to the school? These are not just deterrents, but preventative measures. There are none existing in Budleigh.

They are needed now, before a child and family suffer the heartache of being a statistic.

Mr Dalton,

11 Boyne Road, Budleigh Salterton.