23,532 speed offences logged in Whiteley in two weeks

5.13.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 4th May 2009

Liz Leffman, Prospective Lib Dem MP for Meon Valley, is shocked to have learned that in a two week period at the end of March 2009, a vehicle activated speed detector erected by Winchester City Council on Yew Tree Drive in Whiteley logged 23,530 instances of speeding traffic.

The speed detector was requested by Lib Dem councillor for Whiteley Vivian Achwal, because she was so concerned about traffic on the main road near Whiteley Primary School. The detector was erected on the first lamp post after the turn into Yew Tree Drive from Rookery Avenue, close to the place where children cross the road every day on their way to and from school, and was active 24 hours a day.

Lib Dems in Whiteley have for many years been campaigning for a proper crossing on Yew Tree Drive at the point where the speed detector was erected. But Hampshire County Council have refused, claiming that traffic numbers are not high enough to merit the expenditure.

"Hampshire County Council have simply ignored the reality in Whiteley, which is that every day, children's lives are at risk from speeding traffic as they go to and from school" said Liz Leffman.

County Council candidate Kairen Goves said "Now we have the hard evidence, we are challenging the County Council to review their previous decision. Yew Tree Drive is an accident waiting to happen. Our children's lives are surely worth the cost of a crossing"

Winchester City Council said that the number of times that the detector was triggered was " remarkably high considering its location" and have contacted the police to see if they will consider taking some enforcement action.

Liz Leffman has written to Hampshire County Council to ask them to reconsider their decision.