Council to investigate possible roundabout to make busy Kenilworth road safer

By James Smith 7th Dec 2021

A roundabout could be the solution to speeding traffic on Warwick Road according to a Kenilworth councillor.

Residents on the new Pavilions estate have raised concerns about the speed of cars along the road from Leek Wootton, especially near to the children's play area.

A petition has called on Warwickshire County Council to move the 30mph speed limit further down the road to slow cars down.

But town and county councillor Rik Spencer said moving the speed limit or putting in speed cameras would not fully fix the problem.

"You would think that it is dead easy to dig a hole and move a 30mph sign down the road – but its not," he said.

"The problem is how do you enforce it? Are drivers going to obey it? The answer is probably not.

"And if you put a speed camera up, you just fine people but you don't slow them all down. Maybe it is a cheaper option, but it doesn't slow them all down."

But the Conservative councillor said a roundabout could be the answer to the problem, as it would actually force cars to slow down.

And with Kenilworth Rugby Club moving across the road from the Pavilions, he said it was the perfect time to start investigating.

He added: "If you put in a roundabout it makes everybody slow down. Just look at Leek Wootton, you come in from Warwick and slow right down, it really works.

"So why not have something like that near the Pavilions? And with Kenilworth Rugby Club moving, the obvious thing is reduce it to 30mph and enforce it with a roundabout."

To start the process Cllr Spencer will ask Kenilworth Town Council for £5,000 for a feasibility study of the area so plans can then be discussed.

Once a plan is agreed he can then source funding for the project.

"For the feasibility study, to have those plans approved by the Department of Transport and then to have it built we are looking at around two years," he added.

"It is certainly not going to happen next summer, so let's get the ball rolling."

Whilst the road may not seem dangerous on paper he said a change was needed to reduce residents' worries.

And if plans go through it could become a template for other busy roads in Kenilworth.

Cllr Spencer added: "Whilst the data may say that the road is safe, that doesn't take away the fear factor. It doesn't take peoples' worry and fear into consideration.

"I think if this went through and went ahead, you could use the same strategy to calm traffic across Kenilworth.

"That is what I personally think is the answer."

More Kenilworth news stories:

- Town council objects to planning application for 620 houses and primary school in Kenilworth

- 20mph speed limits in Kenilworth could cost over £260k according to county council research

- 'Callous' conmen jailed after posing as builders to defraud £13.5k from vulnerable man

     

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