Fury at speed-cut priority

Residents campaigning for a 20mph limit in rat-run Stourbridge streets are fuming that a lane nearby has been given priority.

For years people living in West Street, Cecil Street and Wheeler Street have been calling for action.

Now, they have been angered by a proposed reduction in the speed limit in Bromwich Lane, Pedmore, which they claim does not suffer as many problems. The residents say they are angry that the restriction is due to be introduced while their years of campaigning have proved fruitless.

They are now repeating calls for action in their three streets, saying that there is still a real problem with cars travelling too fast.

A recent survey carried out in the three streets found that 203 of 220 residents who were asked were in favour of a reduced speed limit and traffic-calming measures.

Speeding drivers are not the only problems in the narrow streets – a number of lorries got stuck after drivers received faulty instructions from satellite navigation systems.

Signs are now due to be put up later in the year warning drivers of heavy goods vehicles against using the roads.

Councillor Liz Walker said people in the three streets were still desperate to get the 20mph speed limit put in place.

"It is something residents have been calling for for a long time now," she said.

"I think a great many were upset when theyheard about the proposals for Bromwich Lane after all the calls they have made for similar restrictions.

"Speeding is still a problem along these streets and has to be dealt with."

Dudley Council has previously said a 20mph limit would have to be supported by traffic-calming measures.

But officers said there was no justification for introducing these, based on supporting evidence from police records.