Chestfield residents fear tragedy if action is not taken on speeding

SPEEDING will continue in Chestfield until someone is killed, residents have warned.

Speedwatchers claim to have clocked cars travelling at more than double the 30mph limit.

Pensioner Brian Pain, 75, of Chestfield Road, said: "We had one driver doing more than 60mph, and had to jump out of the way.

"We regularly get drivers in the high 40s and 50s.

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"For some reason this does not appear to warrant traffic calming. I guess the council is waiting for someone to die."

The comments come after our report on a video on You Tube which purported to show a driver speeding through the village.

Mr Pain said: "Cars coming from Swalecliffe just take off as soon as they get past Molehill Road.

"It is a mix of people – men and women, young and old.

"I wave my arms at them and tell them to slow down but they just show me two fingers."

Mr Pain, who monitors motorists as part of the village's Speedwatch Scheme, has called for chicanes to narrow parts of the roads.

He contacted us after reading about the YouTube video, which appeared to show driver Lukas Parry of Westmeads Road, Whitstable, speeding through Chestfield and South Street.

Mr Parry insisted the video had been speeded up.

Lyn and George Gadd want a mini-roundabout at the junction of Chestfield Road and Molehill Road.

Mrs Gadd, also of Chestfield Road, said: "There have been three accidents in the past month with cars trying to come out of Molehill, wrongly assuming cars coming from their right are sticking to 30.

"Molehill is now a much busier road. A roundabout would slow everyone down."

Elliot Booth-Adams e-mailed to say he recognised the car in the video and the roads it was driving on.

He said: "I believe it was taken on Monday, April 9 at around 7pm. I do not think the film is sped up as I saw the car fly past. The car sounded as loud as it did in the video.

"It is not the only car that is driven dangerously around here."

Kent Highway Services has installed signs in Chestfield Road reminding drivers of the limit.

Chestfield Parish Council started the Speedwatch Scheme in 2005. Volunteers like Mr Pain use police-approved speed detection cameras. Details of speeding vehicles are passed to the police.

Parish council chairman Steve Bailey said speeding was a particular problem in Radfall Road and that the council was working with Kent Highway Services and police to tackle it.