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EPPING FOREST: Speed reductions to come into force

8:00am Tuesday 21st February 2012 in Epping Forest News By Clare Hardy

EPPING FOREST: Speed reductions to come into force EPPING FOREST: Speed reductions to come into force

SPEED limits are to be slashed on main roads through Epping Forest next week, motorists have been told.

Stretches of the B1393, A121 and A104 and several other roads through the forest will change from 60 mph to 40 mph zones from next Friday (March 2), when Essex County Council’s reductions are due to come into force.

Earl’s Path, which runs from the Robin Hood roundabout to Forest Road, Loughton, and a 50-yard stretch of Wake Road starting from Woodridden Hill will go from 40 mph to 30 mph zones, while Rat’s Lane and Wellington Hill in High Beech will have 20 mph limits.

Lodge Road and Queens Green, Waltham Abbey, will be closed to all traffic except farm and forestry vehicles as part of the changes.

The council, which has advertised the new restrictions this week, hopes they will make the forest safer for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, reduce pollution and encourage more people to visit beauty spots.

Adrian Liddle, of the Epping Forest Riders’ Association, welcomed the change, but said riders would have preferred larger reductions on the major roads.

“We did ask for the main roads to be 30 mph, but the council said that was not possible,” he added. “We’re hopeful it will bring speeds down, which is desperately needed.

“I know one or two people who won’t cross the road because of the speed of the traffic and it cuts off half the forest for people.

“Epping New Road (A104) is a racetrack at times and there are a lot of crossing points, not just for horses, but for cyclists and dog walkers.”

Jamie Goodman, of the Epping Forest Taxi Association, questioned whether all drivers would stick to the new 40 mph limit on the A121, B1393 and A104.

“They’re fast roads because they’re open roads,” he said. “Cars go far above the actual speed limit anyway.

“But you do get a lot of people on bicycles and pedestrians trying to cross the road, so I can see it being a good idea.”

He said he did not know whether having to travel more slowly would affect cab drivers.

“Obviously, 20 mph less is going to slow you down, but it’s just one of those things where you’re going to have to go with it. It’s going to be the same for everyone.”

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Comments(13)

hursthill says...
9:01am Tue 21 Feb 12

Driving down Epping New Rd this morning I saw another accident involving a deer & car. Should Essex Council wish to save lives they must sort out this "deer problem", before innocent people are killed.
This is nothing to do with speed limits.

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fjl says...
1:29pm Tue 21 Feb 12

hursthill wrote:
Driving down Epping New Rd this morning I saw another accident involving a deer & car. Should Essex Council wish to save lives they must sort out this "deer problem", before innocent people are killed. This is nothing to do with speed limits.
The deer are not the problem. They have been in the forest much longer than the cars have. The problem is drivers who do not pay attention and therefore don't give themselves time to avoid them.

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dtmgables says...
4:04pm Tue 21 Feb 12

Having lost a very close friend last year due to a reckless driving in this area, this is very welcome news. Whether this will actually deter speeding needs to be seen however. Hopefully the police will ensure the speed limits are enforced through random speed checks.

Ridiculous comment above about the deer being the problem...

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Nickja says...
5:00pm Tue 21 Feb 12

With regards to the deers its not as though they are waiting to cross and we don't see them. They just dart out from between the trees as a matter of there course. So weather I am doing 40, 60 or anything inbetween its a matter of timing and inevitable either way.

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fjl says...
12:58pm Wed 22 Feb 12

Nickja wrote:
With regards to the deers its not as though they are waiting to cross and we don't see them. They just dart out from between the trees as a matter of there course. So weather I am doing 40, 60 or anything inbetween its a matter of timing and inevitable either way.
You mean dart out in front of you just as a young child might do! Drive more carefully, don't speed and pay attention.

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hursthill says...
1:25pm Wed 22 Feb 12

fjl - What a stupid ignorant comment !
Children are under the LEGAL control of adults.
If like dtmgables you had lost a close friend ,after a deer had darted out at night in front of a car, driving within the speed limit, you would show some compassion. Be more careful with your comments.

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fjl says...
3:40pm Wed 22 Feb 12

Please read comments properly before commenting. If you actually READ the comment dtmbales left he states that he lost a close friend due to a reckless driver. It had nothing to do with a deer. Things can and do dart out in front of vehicles and this is why reckless drivers need to be pay attention, slow down and realise that speed limits are limits and not targets!

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dukes of hazzard says...
4:29am Thu 23 Feb 12

There is no such thing as an accident. They are a serious of controllable events occurring at the same time. Given they are controllable, we should look to educate and inform how to manage them. Deer or children, doesn't really make any difference. If one had calculated the associated risks and how to mitigate them, then this series of events would not occur at the same it. So perhaps a reduction in the speed limit would help.

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fjl says...
8:53am Thu 23 Feb 12

dukes of hazzard wrote:
There is no such thing as an accident. They are a serious of controllable events occurring at the same time. Given they are controllable, we should look to educate and inform how to manage them. Deer or children, doesn't really make any difference. If one had calculated the associated risks and how to mitigate them, then this series of events would not occur at the same it. So perhaps a reduction in the speed limit would help.
Exactly...well said!

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dtmgables says...
9:19am Thu 23 Feb 12

flj - thanks for clarifying my earlier comment. Reducing the speeds in this area will reduce incidents, be it related to animals or humans. Lower speeds improve response times.

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dukes of hazzard says...
12:40pm Thu 23 Feb 12

Wow, some agreement.

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The Villiers says...
2:04pm Fri 24 Feb 12

In a different part of the county I was driving at a mere 30mph when a deer came shooting out of the trees. I avoided it but could well have been killed by the driver aggressively tail-gating me. These three roads desperately need speed enforcement as accidents are always happening on them - whether through reckless/careless driving or poor visibility and or road conditions. It is very hard for a careful pedestrian to cross at one of the crossing points let alone a horse & rider, dog walker, cyclist, wild beast etc etc.

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antony492 says...
7:13am Sun 11 Mar 12

This is rubbish! Epping New Road at 40?! I would have accepted 50, but 40 is pathetic. Not once, have I ever seen a deer there so don't even give that as an excuse.

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