A Litlington Parish councillor and mum-of-two has started a petition for the speed limit to be lowered on a road connecting Litlington to Bassingbourn.

Royston Crow: Horse riders also use the road.Horse riders also use the road. (Image: Archant)

Councillor Sass Pledger started the campaign to get the limit reduced on Bassingbourn Road, which turns into Brook Road, from 60mph to 40mph following several reported near-misses with motorists.

“From my perspective I’ve got two young children and I have friends in the village who also have children,” said Councillor Pledger.

“Should a driver have a problem or make a mistake along that road with the pavement being how it is, the impact would lead to a fatality – and at that speed you don’t stand a chance.”

The road is the principle thoroughfare between Litlington and Bassingbourn used by schoolchildren travelling by bicycle and on foot, mothers with pushchairs, dog walkers, joggers and horseriders as well as drivers.

Royston Crow: Horse riders have experienced problems on the road between Bassingbourn and Litlington.Horse riders have experienced problems on the road between Bassingbourn and Litlington. (Image: Archant)

A recent road speed survey commissioned by the parish council showed that more than 25 per cent of vehicles drove in excess of the 60mph speed limit and that the majority of speeding occurred at a time when children would be commuting to and from school.

“It’s a straight stretch of road with a high speed limit, it’s dangerous,” said Councillor Pledger.

Sarah Howard uses the road frequently: “I’ve experienced motorists being abusive on the road – people swearing, sticking their fingers up, boy racers speeding along and other cars having to swerve out the way, and it’s happened to lots of people I know,” she said.

Councillor Pledger has stressed that in order to try to tackle this issue the parish council needs as much support as possible.

“We want to raise as much awareness as we can,” she said.

“Particularly as those most at risk seem to be our children.

“There have been near misses and the speed limit is just too high considering the poor footpath, and the lack of protection for pedestrians, cyclists and road users alike.

“It is only luck that no-one has died, and luck is no security at all.”

To view the petition click here.