DRIVE gently in Bentley – that’s the message from residents in the once peaceful village between Redditch and Bromsgrove.
However that peace is steadily being shattered by speeding motorists racing through the country lanes trying to bypass the A448 Bromsgrove Highway.
Now concerned locals, Bentley Pauncefoot Parish Council and Tardebigge First School have joined together to launch a campaign urging drivers to slow down.
“There’s a lot of farm traffic, walkers, cyclists, horse riders around here and we are becoming increasingly concerned about the volume and speed of traffic coming through,” said Councillor Barry Spence.
“For instance we’ve got all the development around Church Road in Webheath, the proximity of Bromsgrove railway station and all the problems with the A38 and A448 junction.”
He added that there had already been a number of minor incidents in the Cur Lane and Copyholt Lane area and the campaign was being launched before a major accident occurred.
“We asked for a reduced speed limit without any success and so we decided to take the initiative just to convey the message that although the speed limit may be 60mph that is not a reasonable speed to drive at through our village,” said Coun Spence.
That message ‘Lanes are our Lives’ is being delivered through a pamphlet drop – with graphics designed by children at Tardebigge School – to householders around the surrounding area, and to the new developments currently being built nearby.
“We don’t want to be preachy, just deliver a sensible message to expect the unexpected,” said Coun Spence.
“It’s a serious business but to lighten it the children at Tardebigge First School did a brilliant job with the graphics so we’re hoping people will sit up and take notice that lives are at risk here.”
In fact the children did such a brilliant job their school received a thank you donation from the parish council.
The campaign launches next Thursday, September 12.
