CONCERNED parish chiefs will step up their bid to tackle motorists speeding through Welland after the village’s first ever vehicle activated road sign was installed.
The 30mph sign, which was placed just beyond the Castlemorton Common entrance to the village on Gloucester Road, is the result of a year-long fund-raising effort by residents and Welland Parish Council.
And according to parish council chiefs the £2,000 sign is already having the desired effect, with an estimated 72 per cent of drivers going through Welland now sticking to the speed limit.
With one sign already in place the parish council hopes to launch another fund-raising campaign in the future to install another at one of the other entrances to the village.
Viv Nelson, chair of Welland Parish Council said: “This sort of speed-indicating sign is new to our part of the world but first indications are it is having a positive traffic slowing effect.
“You can physically see drivers slamming on the brakes well in advance as the sign warns them the limit has changed from 60mph to 30mph.”
The appeal for funds to help with road safety projects across the village was launched by Welland Parish Council last year.
Residents were active in fund-raising for the new road sign with village businesses also donating to the cause.
The parish council also ran shows and events to help raise the £2,000.
Worcestershire County Council’s highways chiefs then advised the parish council where to mount the sign which provides facts and figures on traffic flow and speeds in and out of Welland.
Coun Mick Davies, of Malvern Hills District Council, added: “Speeding motorists have been a major anxiety for residents because the road is heavily used by pedestrians, children going to school and visitors to the village shop.
“We will continue to gather data from the road sign to demonstrate how effective it is before we go about getting another one.”
