A COUNCILLOR is campaigning for the speed limit to be reduced through Quendon following the death of a jogger. Father-of-two, Peter Ramsdale, of Widdington, was killed on London Road while out jogging last Sunday. In light of the accident Ray Bedborough

A COUNCILLOR is campaigning for the speed limit to be reduced through Quendon following the death of a jogger.

Father-of-two, Peter Ramsdale, of Widdington, was killed on London Road while out jogging last Sunday.

In light of the accident Ray Bedborough, Quendon and Rickling Parish Council chairman, said: "We are more determined than ever to get the speed limit reduced on this dangerous stretch of road."

The section of the B1383 that runs through the village of Quendon is marked as a 40mph zone, but the parish council want to reduce this to 30mph limit.

Mr Bedborough said: "I am very concerned that there is going to be another death on this road because the vehicles come through at high speeds."

The parish council has appealed to the Essex County Council Highways Department for the changes to be made, but so far their request has been rejected.

"It is very frustrating," said Mr Bedborough. "We meet all the requirements that qualify Quendon for a 30mph status and yet it seems to be falling on deaf ears."

What is particularly galling for the parish council is that only a mile up the road is the village of Newport which has a 30mph zone.

Helen Robertson, headteacher of Rickling Primary School, said they "fully supported the campaign." She added: "A lot of the children have to cross the road to get to the school and it can be very dangerous.

"It's a catch 22 situation because we want to encourage the children to walk or ride their bike to school because of the health benefits, but at the same time we realise that walking along the main road, even on the pavement, can be very dangerous."

In December 2005 a speed survey discovered that that the average speeds of cars travelling northbound through the village was 44.6mph. In the 24-hour survey the number of vehicles that used the road was 10,280 and the number that was measured as travelling at 51mph or over was 512.

Mr Bedborough believes that these statistics are unacceptable because "it only takes one speeding car to take a life."

A local survey conducted by the parish council discovered that almost everybody who lives along the stretch of road is in support of the campaign.

"People in the village regularly phone me up to ask me why it's taking so long to get the 30mph limit introduced," said Mr Bedborough. "It has got to the stage where people are beginning to think they should take the situation into their own hands and change the signs themselves!"

An Essex County Council spokesman said: "Essex County Council has been in discussions with the parish council over a possible speed limit reduction in the Quendon and Rickling area.

"A final decision on this has been delayed due to changes being made to the national guidelines on speed limits.

"We are currently waiting to receive the new criteria, and we will then be conducting a full review of local speed limits.

"We hope to be able to start work on this as soon as possible."

# WHAT do you think about the speed limit through Quendon? E-mail us your views at alistair.nelson@archant.co.uk