Porthtowan villagers fear for children’s safety on 60mph roads

Villagers are campaigning for a 30mph speed restriction on roads through their village.

Residents of Porthtowan in Cornwall said they presented a 34-page document and petition to Cornwall Council highlighting the dangers children faced including when crossing a 60mph road to catch the school bus.

Campaigner Anita Duffy said a child had been hit by a car and pushed on to a wall because there was no footpath.

Cornwall Council said it would be reducing some speed limits in the area but could not accept a blanket request to reduce all 60mph speed limits to 30mph. “National criteria dictates that rural roads in areas without housing or other development should be 60mph,” it said.

Mrs Duffy said the 60mph limit was too high for vehicles entering a village.

“Porthtowan is quite different than other villages in that it’s got the bottom of the hill and then it’s got two separate sections up here at Coast Road and then down at Chapel Hill.”

She said the council had agreed to drop a “small section to 40mph but it’s not adequate enough”.

Another campaigner, Emile Kott, said he wanted to know his children were safe when crossing roads in the village.

“Kids are crossing the road twice a day to get to the school bus, it’s not safe,” he said.

“It’s only a matter of time before something bad happens. I find it frustrating.

“I’d like to ask Cornwall Council if they came and had a look would they cross the road with their children, twice a day, would they feel comfortable that their child was safe?” he said.

Patrick Buxton said the road had no footpath and needed a lower speed limit and a patrol crossing because of the amount of children being dropped at the junction to catch the bus.

Cornwall Council said data from the area indicated the vast majority of vehicles were travelling at 40mph but it was proposing speed limit changes.

A spokesman said: “We have amended the forthcoming 20mph public consultation to include several requests made in the report.

“This includes extending the 40mph limit on Coast Road to cover the bus stops by the junctions of Sandy Road and Atlantic Way and reducing the speed limit on Beach Road and Sandy Road to 20mph.

“We will also extend the proposed 40mph speed limit for Chapel Hill to cover the campsite, which is currently within a national speed limit.

“These bus stops will also be upgraded next year, with new shelters and footway connections.”