FED up residents in Bracewell have called on the police to crack down on motorists ignoring new speed limits through the village.
After years of campaigning, lower limits were finally put in place, dropping from 60 m.p.h. for the whole stretch to a 40 m.p.h. limit approaching the village from Barnoldswick, 30 m.p.h. through the village and 40 m.p.h. out the other side to the A59.
However, residents have said they have made little difference, with traffic still flying through at dangerous speeds.
The issue was raised at the latest West Craven Safety Partnership meeting, held at Bracewell Village Hall. Residents at the meeting said they estimated only around 40% of drivers were sticking to the new limit through the village.
Sgt Damian Pemberton told attending villagers that he would speak to road policing and ask officers to include the road as an area to focus on.
Villagers also attended the West Craven Committee meeting to ask Insp. Phil Davies what could be done to enforce the new speed limits. He too said the issue would be raised with the road policing unit.
Robert Bargh of Hopwood Farm in the village said: “When the signs were put in at first it seemed to slow people down. But some of them are going at ridiculous speeds, coming through the village at way over 40 m.p.h. We even have buses and lorries coming through too fast.
“If the speed limit is going to be observed then the police are going to have to do something about it because too many people ignore it. There will always be some idiots but maybe if people get to know someone has been prosecuted, it will slow people down.
“We also have a major problem with motorbikes flying through, especially over summer weekends. You can hear them roaring as they come out of Barnoldswick. It is especially hard for us coming out of the gates with tractors and taking stock across the road. It is so narrow and bendy, there’s no time for them to see you if they are coming too fast.”
Residents pleaded with Lancashire County Council for several years to lower the speed limit, rejecting offers of speed humps and warning signs as they believed only a lower speed limit would make any difference. But they say it has to be enforced.
A resident at a farm who has had several cars crash into the garden wall said: “The traffic is still going really fast and whizzing through, especially at night. We wish the police would come up and do speed checks because it is so dangerous on this road. It is tough moving the farm vehicles and cattle.”
Harry Chambers, whose house fronts onto Bracewell Lane said: “There has been very little difference since the signs were put up. I think there has even been a bit of a protest about it, refusing to slow down.
“We walk along with the dog and stand and watch cars coming through doing 60 and motorbikes doing 80 m.p.h.
They go that fast you can’t even read their number plate to report them. I think the police could do a lot more with the speed cameras. They could park outside the village hall and catch them coming down.
“A lot of ramblers walk through the village, sometimes as many as 30 in a group, especially on a nice weekend. If I am walking across to the church I have to move sharpish.”
Pendle councillor David Whipp said he would be raising the issue with West Craven’s new Sergeant and ask that Bracewell be added as an area of community concern.
He said: “After many many years it is good news that the lower limits are in place but there needs to be enforcement. Actions needs to be taken to make sure the limit are actually observed.”
County councillor Keith Bailey said: “Common sense tells people they shouldn’t speed through Bracewell, but common sense seems to be in short supply in some quarters these days. I think it may be difficult to find a straight piece of road long enough to site the mobile speed camera but I am talking to Lancashire Constabulary to see what can be done. I am asking for interactive signs which do seem to work in other places to be put on the approaches but this might take some time to implement.”