I WONDER if I may use your pages in order to thank the 100-plus people who signed a petition in early 2014 requesting that the speed limit in Morse Lane, Drybrook, be reduced.

The group included a wide spectrum of individuals who use, work in, live in or travel along the lane, and who felt that the national speed limit of 60 mph is simply too high for safety and for the comfortable and safe use of the road by those on foot, horses or bicycles.

At the outset we had an encouraging message that a reduction to 40mph might be possible and assurances were given that ‘these things take time’.

A few weeks ago – two years later – having been chasing some information on progress and having had the usual round of unanswered messages and being swapped from person to person for two or three weeks, I was informed that the reduction has not been allowed.

The reasons given are threefold: Morse Lane does not fit a bureaucratic paradigm in terms of how it ‘looks’ – not ‘urban’ enough – the local police have said they don’t see how they would enforce it and, thirdly, it would cost £10,000-£15,000.

It was also said that there is no record of serious accidents here and no fatality or serious injury.

That there have been no such incidents which is more due to the agility of our road users and pure luck than by design.

We see the changes and the unique circumstance applying to this road and are trying to prevent such a tragedy by raising this question in the first place.

I, for one, would not waste my time otherwise.

Dealing with the first point, there are, in my experience, other locations which ‘look’ like our lane with lower speed limits.

Secondly, the local constabulary disappeared from our community some years ago. Shut up shop and withdrew it appears.

No one in our group can recall seeing a uniformed member of the police in circumstances where they have been accessible or available to be spoken to for at least two years, this just further evidences that fact.

Thirdly, how on earth can it cost that amount of money? There has to be something wrong with a system that can be so expensive.

I note, incidentally, that our rates have gone up again this year and the police are having a slice of that too. What are we paying for?

The writer also informs me that he is sure that most drivers use the road sensibly and with appropriate care for the conditions, while going on to say that a lower speed limit would not necessarily stop people speeding anyway.

Yes, I think most locals do, they are aware of the danger, but a derestricted speed limit sign signals to others that they are approaching a clear piece of road deemed to be safe for speed of up to 60 mph.

It simply is not and the petitioners, who know the area well, knew that.

A lot has changed in the many years since it was decided to leave the lane as derestricted.

A 30mph or 40mph sign says, I believe, ‘be cautious’.

Regarding those who would break the limit and travel too fast anyway, yes, the place is full of these fools but to just give up and surrender is almost unbelievable.

At least with a speed limit they can be prosecuted: give us the cameras, we’ll do it for you seeing as we’re on our own anyway.

Our road signs (such as they are) lie battered, broken and rusting in roadside weeds and undergrowth, smashed down by the drivers who also regularly collide with walls, screech to a halt and yell abuse at one and another day and night.

I woke one morning a few years back to a car sliding on its roof down the road having turned over and these are the people who, officials touchingly believe, are using the road sensibly and with awareness.

Single groups like ours can easily be ignored – I have the impression that others have also been ignored.

The most likely reason appears to be one of cost, not safety, and the environment for pedestrians and residents is rapidly getting worse.

However, I believe if enough people in the Forest are up for it we can get together in common cause and try to make our roads safer places.

Without doubt, speed is a major factor, not just in terms of accidents but the fact that pedestrians are being driven from them out of fear – a lost resource.

If you are interested in seeing what can be done, or have a local problem like ours, write in to the paper and then perhaps we can all get in touch.

– Leslie Shepperd, Drybrook.