Oakham Community Urges Swift Action on Traffic Calming Following Tragic Fatality
The market town of Oakham is mourning following the recent tragic death of a woman struck by a van in the town centre. While the official cause of the accident has not yet been released by authorities, the incident has sparked an urgent and unified call from both residents and town councillors for a comprehensive overhaul of local road safety measures.
The movement for change has seen several councillors step forward with specific proposals to prevent future tragedies. Cllr Chris Clark was the first member to call for action earlier this week, asserting that the council should "go all out to reduce the speed in the town centre to 20 mph." This sentiment was bolstered by Cllr Paul Ainsley, who also called for a reduction to a 20 mph limit. The proposed safety zone could encompass the central area bounded by South Street, Station Road, Burley Road, and the Level Crossing. Expressing the somber mood of the community, Cllr Jonathan Nicolls remarked, "This is tragic. My heart goes out to her family."
The calls for reform have found strong support from Cllr Martin Brookes, who described the news as "very sad" and offered his full backing for the 20 mph proposal. However, Cllr Brookes suggested that the scope of the safety measures should be expanded even further. "Residents have been calling for action on this issue for quite some time, and given recent events, it feels more urgent than ever," he stated. He specifically highlighted Catmos Street and the Stamford Road roundabout as areas of significant concern, noting that he has witnessed numerous accidents involving speeding cars losing control in those locations. "It honestly feels like a miracle that we haven't seen a serious injury there yet," he added.
The conversation has also highlighted a troubling history of vehicular property damage in the town. Cllr Brookes pointed to the recent destruction of the new pelican crossing lights outside Oakham Wines and reminded the community of previous incidents where vehicles collided with buildings, including Oakham Wines and Knights of Oakham on two separate occasions. "Speeding in our town is unfortunately not a new phenomenon," Cllr Brookes observed, "and while we don't yet know the specific circumstances of last week’s tragic incident, the pattern of behaviour on our roads is clear."
Further complicating the safety landscape are the recent updates to the Highway Code regarding pedestrian right-of-way. Cllr Brookes noted that while these rules were intended to improve safety, they have created a "dangerous mix" when combined with existing speeding issues. He reported seeing pedestrians stepping into the road at road junctions without looking, assuming vehicles can stop instantly.
To address these multifaceted issues, Cllr Brookes has proposed a comprehensive traffic calming strategy funded by Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money. Rather than "wasting" the funds on Victoria Hall, he suggested investing in functional and aesthetic improvements. This vision includes implementing attractive traffic calming measures such as extra planters with trees, painting street lights, and replacing town bins. "I believe a comprehensive traffic calming strategy is the only way to protect our residents and our town's historic storefronts," Cllr Brookes concluded.
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