CONCERNS are growing in Norton Fitzwarren that dangerous drivers are ignoring the speed limit.

Organiser of Norton Fitzwarren Speedwatch and parish councillor Mike Palmer says residents can no longer safely cross the road due to the speed that vehicles travel through the village.

He is now urging Somerset County Council to add increase signage, add and road markers and move the 30mph sign to the Cross Keys roundabout.

He said: “There are nine bends in total on the B3227 that goes through our village. People aren’t prepared to slow down.

“Last year we were averaging some 600 vehicles an hour though Norton Fitzwarren, which has now increased to over 800 vehicles an hour; we are also noting more 42-ton articulated lorries are using this road to get to their destination.

“We accept that those living at Cotford St Luke and Wiveliscombe have to use the B3227 to get to work, and get home but please we implore you, keep the speed down.”

Mr Palmer would like to see road markings stating the words ‘slow’ or ‘bend ahead’, four 30mph signs throughout the village, the 30mph sign at the entrance to the village moved up to the Cross Keys roundabout, and double white lines across the village so drivers shouldn’t cross the line.

He added: “With all these things added, the speed should average around 25mph, right now it is about 33mph, but a lot of drivers go a lot faster than that.

“Two weeks ago six people were caught by our gun doing 47 in the 30 zone.”

The speed watch team wait at the Beauford Park entrance for an hour on random mornings. Mr Palmer believes that from Beauford Park down to the village hall is mainly older residents, he says he has stood in the road blocking traffic before to allow an elderly lady to cross the road safely.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: “We are currently seeking to extend the 30mph limit in Norton Fitzwarren to join the existing 30mph limit near the Manor Road traffic lights on Staplegrove Road.

“This has been planned for some time and will take place once the Traffic Regulation Order has been advertised, subject to any objections.

“We’ve also been looking at making other improvements to signs in the village and will be ordering these in the next few months.

“Road safety is a priority for us and we are always happy to speak to local communities about any concerns they may have.”

Mr Palmer added: “I would ask everyone driving through our village to keep there speed under 30 mph, keep off your mobile phones and watch out for that old age pensioner wanting to cross the road or that child on his/her scooter or push bike.

“We have rights as well as you, you may pay road tax, and are sat in your safe tin box, but remember if you kill someone because you cut one of our corners or were on your mobile or decided to go above the speed limit, you loose everything.

“For the sake of an extra five or 10 minutes, come through our village a little slower and give our people the chance to live a full and contented life.”

Inspector Andy Pritchard, Community SpeedWatch lead for Avon and Somerset Police, said: “Community SpeedWatch groups are a highly valued partnership between us, local communities and councils, which supplements our work on road safety.

“They are extremely successful at both helping to detect and deter speeding. Drivers who are caught speeding are issued a warning letter and details of persistent offenders are passed to police for further action.”