Angry Lewes residents say 20 is plenty

Fed up residents of neighbouring streets in Lewes braved a cold and frosty morning to demonstrate to motorists that their roads have a 20 mph limit.
Residents remind motorists of the 20 mph limitResidents remind motorists of the 20 mph limit
Residents remind motorists of the 20 mph limit

More than 20 angry Priory Street and Southover High Street residents waved 20 mph signs at passing motorists on Friday morning, January 20.

They were backed by Lewes Living Streets supporters from across the town.

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The residents say they are fed up and frustrated by speeding traffic, traffic noise as vehicles crash across the textured road surface, and large vehicles mounting the pavement to pass each other making pedestrians feel unsafe.

Residents remind motorists of the 20 mph limitResidents remind motorists of the 20 mph limit
Residents remind motorists of the 20 mph limit

All of this makes for an unpleasant experience both for pedestrian and for people who live on these streets, they say.

Lewes Living Streets and local resident Kevin Moore said: “We want to encourage people to walk around the town and if it feels unpleasant and unsafe people won’t walk which means more cars, more congestion, more pollution, and an even more unpleasant experience for us all.

“We have to stop this vicious cycle. We can share the road successfully, but only if motorists keep to the 20 mph speed limit and give way to pedestrians.”

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One of the complaints is that there are too few 20 mph signs to remind motorists.

Residents remind motorists of the 20 mph limitResidents remind motorists of the 20 mph limit
Residents remind motorists of the 20 mph limit

There are only signs at the beginning and end of the street.

Lewes Living Streets and local residents are pressing for more signs, including 20 mph roundels on the tarmac.

The residents say their ideas are being opposed by the district council and that its conservation officers have written to them saying they think it out of keeping with the heritage look of the street.

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The residents claim they are not be taking no for an answer.

They are organising another pop up demonstration on Friday, January 27 at 9.30am at the Kings Head pub and walking the length of Priory and Southover High Street with their 20 mph signs.

A petition calling for the 20 mph signs on the tarmac will be presented to both East Sussex and Lewes Councils.

Priory Street resident David Williams said: “We have 20 mph roundels in the rest of the town, albeit in need of a refresh, so why not in Priory and Southover High Streets?”

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Lewes Living Streets are also calling for the police to help by sending warning letters to motorists who are caught speeding by the Lewes Community Speed Watch.

At present these are only sent out if the motorists are caught speeding on 30 or 40 mph roads.

Lewes Living Streets will be meeting East Sussex County Council and the local police with local MP Maria Caulfield and persuading and enforcing the 20 mph speed limit across the town will be top of their agenda.

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