CAMPAIGNERS are urging residents in Tatworth and Forton to sign a petition calling for the speed limit to be reduced to 20mph.

Parish councillors unanimously agreed to request the extension of the 20mph speed limit to all builtup areas in the villages, about five years after it was brought into force on certain roads.

They have asked Somerset County Council’s highways department to carry out a speed evaluation, before they request that the B3162 in Forton and Waterlake Road and Langdons Way in Tatworth are made 20mph zones.

Tatworth and Forton Parish Council chairman Cllr Andrew Turpin said: “There are areas within our parish which are really not suitable for pedestrians when vehicles are being driven at the speeds they are.

“The B3162 through Forton has no pavement and that’s one reason why we think there needs to be more protection afforded to pedestrians through a lower speed limit, and particularly children walking to school along there.

“It’s a constant threat or hazard to them because the road is just too narrow.

“But the real nub of the issue is in Tatworth. Cars go at some considerable speed along Waterlake Road, making it fraught with risk and danger for children walking to school. Langdons Way is also supposed to be safe but it isn’t.“

The county council will first do a speed evaluation to see how quickly cars are driven through the villages – once we have that ammunition, we will start to lobby to get the work completed.”

Villager Caroline Hooper has three young children and has started a petition backing the parish council’s plans.

She said: “A lot of cars don’t stick to the 30mph that already exists but I think 20mph would be a better speed limit because there are lots of areas without pavements, which is dangerous for horse riders, cyclists, parents with children and anyone else not in a vehicle.

“With 20mph limits being rolled out across the country, it is time for our local roads to also have appropriate speeds.

“If you think traffic needs to slow down here, then please sign the petition – doing so supports the parish council in trying to make all residential areas in the parish safer for all.”

Copies of the petition are at Herberts News in Waterlake Road, South Chard Stores in Dyke Hill, Hibbard Automotive in Thorncombe, run by Tatworth resident Tara Smiley, and at Caroline’s house, Wayfarers, in Forton.

To get hold of a copy, contact Caroline via caroline.hooper206 @btinternet.com or on 01460-65640.

All sheets will be collected by the end of March and handed to Cllr Andrew Turpin.