Speeding motorists cause safety concerns in town
Swaffham Buttercross
As many sports-minded people will know, another Formula 1 Grand Prix season has just finished with Sebastian Vettel once again crowned as champion, for the third time in a row and at the tender age of 25.
I mention this to attention focus on the driving of some car users in and around Swaffham, many of whom drive as if they are intent on giving Sebastian a run for his money.
My wife and I took a stroll down Brandon Road a couple of Sundays ago to see the work Norfolk County Council is doing to construct the new roundabout there.
While this was interesting enough, of more interest was the speedy driving of many motorists exiting our town along the A1065.
Traffic police had not surprisingly set up a speed trap in the area and were issuing enough tickets to paper our front room.
Speed seems to be quite a problem these days. It may be because cars are quicker and quieter or the general stress of life many people experience these days distracts them, but whatever the cause, speed kills.
Unfortunately, the 20mph speed limit within Swaffham is also constantly ignored and there are roads away from the town centre which have become overused in terms of what they can safely accommodate.
One is Whitsands Road, where there have been many near misses for pedestrians, and certainly when leaving the rear exit of Asda’s car park. Parked cars along this route provide a further hazard.
I wrote a week or two ago that it was almost a certainty that the recently repaired railings around Cranglegate corner would be damaged again before Christmas. Well it has happened and before November was spent. Surely a design change is needed here, and before someone is hurt?
I now turn to the tricky subject of parking. In common with many people in Swaffham, I have strong feelings over the best parking regime for our struggling commercial centre.
Cars parked all day unchecked are of no use to our shop owners. But more on that later, and certainly after further decisions are taken by those in control of such matters.
It is good to see Thursford-bound coaches stopping off to give passengers a break and a chance for a bite to eat.
No doubt our public toilets are a draw here and it is a relief to have them still here, something that was in doubt a year or two ago. I have been told that the evening closing time has been extended to allow these people returning home to avail themselves of the facilities.
I hope and trust our food and drink establishments have benefited from these visits and I further hope that these visitors will have been impressed with our precious little market town.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Light rain
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