Problem doesn't exist

Firstly, a couple of facts. The speed limit signs eastbound on King Offa Way are 30mph not 40mph and at the eastern end of De La Warr Road there is a large red “New 30mph speed limit in force” sign, so the motorist is informed at both ends that it is a 30mph road.

Cllr. Kenward’s Blairism: “In all honesty the average motorist gets on the road and doesn’t realise there is a 30mph limit”, is both extremely insulting to the “average motorist” and factually incorrect. The article states that the Highways Agency etc. conducted a survey that “demonstrated a high level of compliance with the speed limit”. This indicates that the “average motorist” does not only realise that there is a 30mph limit on the road but also complies with it. The “average motorist” will also be fully aware that all urban well lit roads have a 30mph limit unless signed otherwise.

There have been a few accidents on this stretch of road, and the unfortunately fatal one involving the pedestrian, according to the police, as reported in the Bexhill Observer, excessive speed was not a contributory factor. Was it in the others?

I agree that there is a tiny minority of drivers who excessively exceed the limit on De La Warr Road, but these drivers are not going to take a blind bit of notice of any Kill Your Speed signs. I applaud the Highways agency in their refusal to allow the signs and deplore the Bexhill Observer Comment column for supporting something that would add yet more unnecessary eyesore signage such as the circus advertisement like Bends Dead Ahead sign by the Ravenside roundabout.

As it seems, from the Highways Department’s evidence and my own observations, that De La Warr Road is not being used as a race track, perhaps Cllr Kenward could put his expertise and time into a more constructive project, and stop wasting my money and Mr. Barker’s time trying to find a solution to an “elf-n-safety” problem that does not exist.

TJ Thomas

De La Warr Road

Bexhill