During one of his regular visits to Abbots Langley, Dean Russell MP met with local resident Kristina Allison and discussed her petition for ‘action for a slower AND safer village’ set-up by Kristina to tackle speeding on Gallows Hill Lane and around Abbots Langley village.
“I am regularly in Abbots Langley and was pleased to meet with Kristina and hear first hand about her petition. As a child I was knocked down by a car and whilst thankfully I was not seriously hurt, it could have been very different. So sensible campaigns such a Kristina’s to raise concerns about road safety are something I fully support.
Kristina has done a great job of engaging with local residents to raise the need for greater speed restrictions for the road. It is clear she has the support of many of her neighbours. In fact, even whilst we were speaking we witnessed several cars speeding along the stretch of road. So I completely understand why so many local residents have raised concerns.
I fully endorse the aims of Kristina’s petition and I wanted to help her raise awareness for local residents to sign it online. I wish her luck with the campaign and will also be writing to the council directly to show my support.
I would like to express my thanks to Kristina for raising her concerns and for proactively organising this petition.”
Kristina's petition is below, if you are a local resident and agree with the need for greater speed restrictions please show your support below. It will only take a minute of your time to set up an account and sign the petition:
https://democracy.hertfordshire.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=1139&RPID=18203745&HPID=18203745
Full details of Kristina’s petition can be found below:
Wording of the petition:
We the undersigned petition the County Council to that the speeding on Gallows Hill Lane and around Abbots Langley village has been increasing in recent years. Despite the police infrequently performing speed checks, this has had little-to-no impact on drivers passing through the village. Residents in this petition are in agreement with the following statement and the supporting letter addressed to the Local County Councillor to take action. ‘I agree that the speeding experienced on Gallows Hill Lane is out of control and support this petition and agree that something must be done to slow down the traffic.’
The letter accompanying petition sheets states:
Speeding in Abbots Langley - Action for a SLOWER AND SAFER Village
Dear neighbour,
I am writing to you with great concern as to the increasing levels of traffic and speeding that we are experiencing on our road - Gallows Hill Lane. This is not isolated to Gallows Hill Lane and is in fact seen across the village. In a few locations measures have been taken to ease this suchas Popes Road and Trowley Rise which is now a 20 MPH zone, and South Way - both with speed humps.
I would like to propose this matter is taken to the local county councillor for Abbots Langley to request that safety measures are considered. Waiting for a fatality is not acceptable and you have to live here to see that the situation is out of control.
The problems include:
- Speeding - including lack of on-going enforcement
- Safety - for pedestrians, there are no safe or designated places to cross the road
- Safety - for drivers from side roads
- Noise and quality of life
- Air quality
- Potential road calming solutions could include:
- Speed camera,
- Pedestrian crossings designated at more than a single location,
- Reduce speed limit to 20 MPH - throughout village and/or extend from the High Street,
- Vehicle passing places,
- Road signage,
- Width restrictions or speed humps.
I will be making visits to residents of Gallows Hill Lane seeking support for this petition to take to the Local County Councillor and also ask for any additional thoughts or ideas I could put to the councillor. Having already spoken to PC Zost at the Abbots Langley village police station I have been advised that they are holding a Casualty Reduction Month (June/July 2022) which would hope to raise the profile for road safety in the village, but I feel long-term and permanent action is needed.
Regards,
Kristina Allison
