Crash victim campaigns for 20mph limit in Oswestry
A Shropshire cyclist who suffered serious injuries when she was hit by a car is staging a public meeting as part of her campaign to get a 20mph speed limit imposed in her town.
Sarah Charlotte Peace is spearheading a campaign for a 20 mile-an-hour speed limit throughout Oswestry.
National campaigner Rod King, the founder of the 20's Plenty for Us Campaign, will be the guest speaker at a campaign meeting which is taking place at The Dining Rooms in Welsh Walls, Oswestry, on Monday.
He is campaigning for 20mph to become the default speed limit on residential and urban streets throughout the UK.
More than 1,000 people have already backed the 20s Plenty Campaign by signing a petition calling for Oswestry to become the first town in Shropshire to have a 20mph speed limit introduced.
The campaign has also gained the support of Oswestry Town Council.
Mrs Peace, 41, suffered serious leg injuries and post traumatic stress when a car ran over both of her legs in Salop Road, Oswestry, in August 2012.
She suffered compartment syndrome, which can lead to muscle and nerve damage, and an open wound above her right ankle.
She is still undergoing treatment for her injuries.
"I'm fresh out of a 15-day stay in hospital and recovering having undergone further rehabilitation for my injuries," she said.
More than 40 people are expected to attend Monday's meeting and Mrs Pearce is urging others to come along and join them.
Mrs Peace said: "A physical show of support on top of the already-gained 1,000 plus signatures will certainly boost this campaign, which has already attracted the valued support of Oswestry Town Council."
She continued: "Rod King has received an MBE recently for his 20s Plenty charity work.
"This includes consulting with councils to assist the 20mph implementation.
"The 20 mph speed limit can be done on most streets without the need for any physical calming."
Mrs Peace was named the 20s Plenty For Us campaign's national campaigner of the year at a conference in London.
The campaigner is a qualified yoga instructor and a registered exercise professional but has not yet been able to return to teaching.
She said that already nearly 13 million people live in local authority areas which are adopting or have adopted the 20mph policy.
"Most importantly, through democratic debate those communities have decided that "20's Plenty Where People Live".
"And it is those same communities who have then changed their behaviour to drive slower in residential streets and where people walk and cycle," she said.
"I have had to have 10 casts on my leg and because of the injuries have still not been able to take up a job I was offered before the accident.
"I know I should think that I am lucky to have survived the accident, but to be honest I don't feel lucky.
"We have to ensure cyclists feel safe on the road."
