Dorchester town councillors call for speed reduction for Kings Road

The area was previously below the criteria for an electronic speed indicator device

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 15th Aug 2023

Town councillors in Dorchester have backed residents in Kings Road over attempts to slow traffic down.

A resident, who recently moved to the area, describes speeding on the road as “out of control” and asked the authority for help.

A letter to the Town Council said:

“It’s the mindless speeding at night and in quieter times of the day that are extremely dangerous."

The local resident also pointed out that the area has a playing field - which most people need to cross the road to get to; houses with front gates directly onto the road; and the only access, via Lubbecke Way, to the town household recycling centre.

A Dorset Council speed survey has previously found the road was just under the criteria for a Speed Indicator Device, which flashes up a driver’s speed, or reads “thank you” if under the legal 30mph limit for the road.

There are calls for speeds to be lowered on Kings Road and Lubbecke Way - with Dorchester Town Council set to ask Dorset Council to reconsider a 20 mph zone

At the time, the Town Council was told the only other solution was to try and persuade the police to use speed cameras in the road from time to time, which is not likely to be seen as a priority.

The town council’s planning and environment committee voted to recommend that it pays for a speed survey as the first step in assessing the problem.

Councillors also agreed to write to Dorset Council again about a 20mph speed limit for Lubbecke Way, off the Kings Road.

Cllr Richard Biggs said that Dorset Council wanted a previous request to be made again – this time on a new request form it has produced to consider new 20mph limits, along with a survey of residents living in the area.

The town council had called for the lower speed limit when the road was allocated as the new route to the Louds Mill household recycling centre after the previous route was closed.

Cllr Biggs told the meeting:

“Dorset Council say they have told us that it needs doing and we have not done it and the only 20mph application they have seen from us is for Poundbury. If we want it considered, we will have to do it the way they want.”

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