CAMPAIGNERS across Wokingham borough have launched a petition demanding that speed limits on country roads be halved on narrow carriageways.

Local campaigner, Simon Chapman of Scarletts Lane, Kiln Green has identified several lanes across Wokingham Borough where ‘inconsiderate drivers’ terrorise walkers, riders and cyclists who feel in danger when being forced to share the road with vehicles travelling up to 60 mph.

Roads affected include Bear Lane, Blakes Lane, Blakes Road, Castle End Road, Dark Lane, Milley Lane, Mumbery Hill, Scarletts Lane, Tag Lane and Wargrave Hill.

Some 60mph lanes run as narrow as 3.5 metres wide in places with no street lighting and footpaths for pedestrians.

He hopes to attract 1,500 signatories over the next three months at which level the council will be forced to debate the petition in the chamber.

Mr Chapman said: “The law is an ass. Narrow lanes with no footpaths should never have been given the national speed limit and anyone with a scrap of human decency would acknowledge that legalising speeds of up to 60mph when children, dogs and other vulnerable road users are forced to use the road as their pavement proves a lack of care for residents or their quality of life.”

He claims that the number of minor accidents and near misses in these lanes has multiplied since lockdown with more people working from home and receiving deliveries throughout the day and evening.

 “Families with children or dogs are frightened to go for walks, bike rides or a run,” he said, adding that there weren’t even grass verges along many lanes making it difficult for people to get out of the way of oncoming vehicles.

After lobbying to Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, to change the law, Chapman was referred back to Wokingham Borough Council who have the power to reduce speed limits locally.

Campaigners have described this as a ‘waste of time’ after raising the topic with Wokingham Borough Council for over a decade.

He added: “They are blind to the humane argument that vulnerable road users, often with no escape route, should not have to share the carriageway in fear with vehicles travelling above 30mph."

"I have been asking WBC for a decade to lower the 60mph limit in Scarletts Lane which narrows to a width of 3.5m in places but they have been determined not to do so because there haven’t been enough road deaths or serious accidents and most drivers keep within the speed limit.

“But they are blind to the humane argument that vulnerable road users, often with no escape route, should not have to share the carriageway in fear with vehicles travelling above 30mph."

He hopes that the recently updated Government Guidance on Setting Local Speed Limits will bring WBC into line with residents’ wishes.

It states: "Different road users perceive risks and appropriate speeds differently, and drivers and riders of motor vehicles often do not have the same perception of the hazards of speed as do people on foot, on bicycles or on horseback. Fear of traffic can affect people’s quality of life and the needs of vulnerable road users must be fully taken into account to encourage these modes of travel and improve their safety. Speed management strategies should seek to protect local community life.”

This government guidance also notes that in 2022, 27% of all road deaths in England occurred on national speed limit rural single carriageway roads – and states that speed limits on single carriageway rural roads should take account of vulnerable road users wherever there is no footway.

Wokingham Borough Council have been contacted for a comment.