Kenley has a long and unfortunate history of speeding drivers on its roads. Hayes Lane, Abbots Lane, Higher Drive and Oaks Road, are just some of the roads used as ‘rat runs.’ An increase in traffic and the use of SatNavs has made a bad problem worse.
For many of us who live on Hayes Lane, the removal of the speed humps around 2008 defied logic. Here was a stretch of road without pavements and its only traffic calming measure was removed.
The introduction of the 20mph limit did little to slow things down and is largely ignored. It’s arguable that 20mph is too slow and it would be unrealistic to expect everyone to drive rigidly at 20mph.
What is ‘excessive speed’ may be subjective, but we all see drivers travelling at speeds which are dangerous, sometimes more than double the permitted speed limit. There’s dangerous overtaking too. There isn’t a road in Kenley where overtaking at speed could be considered safe.
Excessive speeding degrades our environment and restricts our freedom. It causes anxiety and endangers lives.
Kenley Residents Against Speeding (KRAS) aims are threefold:
- to gather evidence about where excessive speeding takes place and to log the vehicles involved
- to bring residents together to put pressure on the local authority and the police to take action
- to devise means to slow drivers’ speeds and to carry out lawful activities that encourage careful driving
Croydon Council has said it will carry out a survey to establish if there is a problem in Hayes Lane between Old Lodge Lane and Abbots Lane. Even if their findings identify a problem there is no guarantee of action of any kind. We’ve been here before.
As residents who witness speeding and overtaking on a daily basis we don’t need surveys to tell us there’s a problem. We know what we see.
We understand that the Council can’t commit funds without evidence. But this problem has been going on for at least 15 years and nothing positive has been done, with the possible exception of reducing the speed limit across the Kenley Common stretch of Hayes Lane. But we know changing a speed limit doesn’t change speeds.
It’s important that this campaign has the wide support of Kenley’s residents. Please register your interest by contacting vicechair@kenleyra.org.uk or text your support to 07480 123645. Thank you.