Call for speed limits on 'lethal' south Shropshire road

RESIDENTS ARE being forced to take their lives in their hands with traffic travelling at speeds of between 80mph and 120mph on a "lethal" south Shropshire road, it has been claimed.

A number of people in the Corvedale have called for more traffic-calming measures as well as the increased enforcement of speed limits on the B4368, which links Craven Arms with Much Wenlock and Bridgnorth.

David Clarke, of Hopesay Parish Council, said all rural roads in Shropshire should have a 50mph speed limit.

The ideas were put forward at last night's meeting of Craven Arms and Rural Local Joint Committee.

It comes after a motorcyclist died in an accident on the B4368 in October and residents used the meeting to tell councillors and police officers about the problems they faced daily.

West Mercia Police has pledged to meet groups of motorcyclists to try to educate them about road safety and carry out speed checks on rural roads in the area.

But Inspector James Dunn, who is based in Ludlow, warned he had limited resources and said villages could not all be monitored all of the time.

Kate Wadley, of Corfton, said: "We do not want to be another statistic. I often have to walk along the road from Corfton to Diddlebury and I'm taking my life in my hands every time. It's lethal.

Tim Teague, of Abdon and Heath Parish Council, said: "There are some people riding bikes at up to 120mph, speeds at which they could lose their licence."

Mr Clarke said: "A blanket 50mph speed limit on rural roads throughout Shropshire would reduce accidents, fuel consumption and carbon emissions."

Jim Halley, of Aston-on-Clun, said other rural roads in the area needed monitoring.

The Right Reverend Alistair Magowan, Bishop of Ludlow, who lives in Corvedale Road, called for the speed limit out of Craven Arms to rise gradually from 30mph to 40mph to 60mph.

Mr Dunn said: "We are going to put a bid in for more force resources to tackle this."

By Peter Kitchen