This petition is about the excessive speed of motor vehicles driving through Winkfield Row, and in particular on Forest Road, Locks Ride and Chavey Down, putting residents, visitors and wildlife at risk. We ask Bracknell Forest Council to implement speed-calming measures (speed cameras or chicanes) to help ensure the 30mph speed limits are adhered to and thereby reduce the risk to pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists from motorists driving dangerously.

Speeding is endemic on these roads. Forest Road runs through a residential area with a primary school and a Parish Council play-park diagonally opposite with two blind corners that poses a unique threat. This morning a deer was hit and killed by a speeding car opposite the primary school. Sadly this is one of many accidents, but it has galvanised the local residents to group together to petition the Council to take action before a person is hit and possibly killed. We need the Council to step up and help make sure the speed limit is properly enforced. The presence of a highly visible police van every couple of months, in the middle of the day, does not serve as a serious deterrent and over the past 5 years, has not solved the terrible speeding that occurs at all times of the day, it has only gotten worse.

With previous resident complaints, the Council has repeatedly denied that there is a speeding problem on these roads. This is at odds with the experience of almost every local resident that has issues with excessive speeding and safety. Every parent that attends Winkfield St Mary’s Primary School and walks their children to school on Forest Road, can attest to the chronic speeding, the multitude of accidents and the lack of care from the Council. The pavements are not adequate for walking safely, with no safety barriers, sections of the road that are dangerously narrow (Buses, trailers and large van wing mirrors often overhang the paths and could cause serious injury) and often no safe crossings. The school governors have repeatedly contacted the Council to appeal for help to reduce the risk to children walking to school on Forest Road.

The residents are aware of several building development proposals in the Winkfield/Ascot Heath area under consideration that would result in a large increase of cars on these roads. Before any new developments happen, the residents need assurances from the Council that their safety is of higher concern, that any contributions by developers towards Bracknell Forest Council and their infrastructure budget are not worth more than the life of a child. We welcome meeting with the Transport Department and the Police to discuss how best to stop the speeding and that the needs of the vulnerable road users, people on foot, on bicycles or on horseback are fully taken into account.