by The Local Democracy Reporter, ldreporter@post.com
Oakham Town Council met on Wednesday, 8th April 2026, for a productive session that saw significant progress on the future of Victoria Hall and a formal commitment to local road safety
The highlight of the evening was a detailed presentation regarding the refurbishment and governance of Victoria Hall
Stage 1 focuses on obtaining trustee ownership for the Council and registering deeds with the Land Registry
Stage 2 will involve securing planning and building consents to begin physical works
A major consultation is planned, including the distribution of 5,000 flyers and a survey to gauge public support for the project
The Council approved £24,000 for contract management and design fees to oversee the early stages of the project
While debates occurred regarding the business plan and potential "twin-hatted" legal conflicts, the majority of Councillors voted to proceed with these essential first steps to protect the building's future
In a move toward enhanced pedestrian safety, the Council formally resolved to support the principle of 20mph speed limits on appropriate streets within Oakham
The meeting also touched on several immediate town matters:
The Clerk reported that a large tree at Centenary Field which fell during high winds was promptly felled and cleared to ensure public safety
Cllr Clark confirmed that a bid has been submitted for Oakham to be recognised as a UK Town of Culture, following positive public feedback gathered at local market stalls
The police have officially closed the case regarding unauthorized access to Council premises
The Council is preparing for a busy May, with the Annual Town Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 12th May, followed by the Annual Town Council Meeting on Wednesday, 13th May
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Do they really believe 29mph will increase safety? Were is the proof. Knee jerk reaction. It is already less than 20mph 90% of the time during the day. And will not prevent more silly behaviour by pedestrians. And who will police it, with what? Radar guns on the street?
ReplyDeleteI personally believe the current proposal is a "knee-jerk" reaction to a tragic incident. While emotions are understandably high, I requested that the matter be deferred for further study; unfortunately, the others involved did not agree.
DeleteRegarding the broader issue of road safety, I want to clarify a few points:
Pedestrian Safety, Crossing the road is serious business. I cross frequently and always exercise caution. However, I find the new law giving pedestrians right of way at junctions to be quite daft.
While it’s helpful when drivers stop, I would never simply step into the road. Relying on the hope that an approaching motorist is aware of the law or has even seen me is a risk I’m not willing to take.
The Real Issue (Speed) The primary concern on our High Street and throughout town is speed, particularly in the evenings. We’ve already seen the consequences of this, with past incidents where vehicles have driven into shops and traffic lights.
We need solutions that address the root cause of these accidents, speeding rather than implementing reactive measures that may not actually improve safety for those on foot. Regards Martin