TRAFFIC calming measures for an Eaton Socon road moved a step closer last week when the town council agreed to investigate the costs involved. At the meeting of St Neots Town Council last Wednesday (December 3) councillors discussed the possibility of pr

TRAFFIC calming measures for an Eaton Socon road moved a step closer last week when the town council agreed to investigate the costs involved.

At the meeting of St Neots Town Council last Wednesday (December 3) councillors discussed the possibility of providing funding for a safety scheme in Nelson Road.

The issue was brought to the council's attention by Eaton Socon resident Suzanne Bennett who has collected more than 100 signatures calling for traffic calming to be installed in the street.

The concerned mother of one believes traffic calming on the nearby Great North Road has led to motorists using surrounding roads, such as Nelson Road, as a rat run.

Mrs Bennett, who lives in Collingswood Road, which adjoins Nelson Road, said: "It is only a minority of drivers who speed along the road but it is enough to be concerned."

She added: "There have been several near misses. We have seen a car crash through a garden fence and others hit lampposts.

"If we do not do something soon, something bad is going to happen."

At the council meeting, Councillor Derek Giles said: "Monitoring of the road has shown there is an average of 4,000 vehicle movements a day. The majority of motorists were found to be driving 30mph or below. But about 10 per cent were travelling above 35mph and there were a few driving in excess of 55 mph."

Although councillors acknowledged the need to slow down motorists, some expressed concern at agreeing to support a scheme before costs had been investigated.

Cllr Giles said: "We do not know what the cost of traffic calming measures would be and we do not have any money in our budget for it this year. But we do need to progress this matter. I think we should ask Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) to design a scheme then we can decide what to budget for it next year."

He added: "I stress that local people will always have a say with any scheme that is put forward."

The town council agreed to defer a decision on supplying any funding for a traffic calming scheme for Nelson Road until the costs have been discussed with CCC.