THE latest round of speed limit reductions has brought hope to people living in a dangerous road.
The county council has announced that it will slash the limit on Gravel Lane, Chigwell, where there have been 17 accidents in the past three years.
Ilana Scott, 54, who lives on the road and has had her fence smashed in crashes more than six times in the past year, welcomed the reduction, which is due to come into force next month.
“It’s fantastic news,” she said. “What people do is speed along the road on the straight bits and when it gets to the bend, they don’t slow down and hit the kerb.
“This definitely sends a message to drivers and hopefully, the police will help us, by getting people to drive at that speed.
“It’s also an acknowledgement that there’s a problem.”
Her neighbour, Ronald Till, said: “Anything to slow them down, but I think it’s a waste of time, because there are plenty of signs down Gravel Lane saying ‘slow down’.
“The only thing that’s going to make a difference is to hit them in the pocket with a speed camera on the straight bit.”
The council is also planning to reduce the speed limit on Epping Road and Epping Upland Road, Epping Upland, School Road, Stanford Rivers and Harlow Road, Moreton, from 60mph to 40mph.
People who have been campaigning for speed limit reductions in their own streets were angry that roads through Epping Forest were reduced to 40mph earlier in the year, while theirs were overlooked.
Theydon Road, between Theydon Bois and Epping, and Coopersale Street in Fiddlers Hamlet, are among the roads that have missed out on the reductions.
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