PIXLEY and District Parish Council say that Herefordshire Council is sending out the wrong signal over a road where motorists regularly break the speed limit, often by 30mph or more.

Herefordshire Council said last week that the A4172 "does not meet requirements" for action, and that it would be "unrealistic" to expect that reducing the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph would stop the speeding, "given that this is most likely deliberate".

In an official statement, Pixley Parish Council says it is "pleased that Herefordshire Council has recognised that there are legitimate concerns regarding speeding vehicles using the A4172".

But the statement added: "However Herefordshire Council's response is one that gives the message to drivers using Herefordshire roads that there is little fear of prosecution for speeding in the countryside.

"The message we have heard over and over again from Herefordshire Council is 'expecting a simple speed limit change to dramatically alter behaviour is unrealistic'. Once again Herefordshire Council is not listening. Pixley and District Parish Council's request was for a speed limit that is enforced with random, frequent speed checks."

The statement continues: "Even if the speed limit is not reduced, there still remains the issue of the approximately 30% of drivers regularly exceeding the current 60mph limit. Local residents are increasing frustrated by the lack of any action to address the road safety issues. In many other counties in England, for example neighbouring Gloucestershire, large stretches of rural roads now have a 50mph limit, with enforcement.

"If this was a commercial organisation that had conducted a risk assessment which revealed such a high likelihood of an incident with such potentially serious consequences it would likely be prosecuted for failing to implement appropriate control measures, should an accident occur."

"Apart from the human tragedy element, the financial cost of dealing with a fatal collision is far greater than implementing control measures to minimise the risk."

Details and results of the Pixley and District Parish Council questionnaire on the A4172 can be found on the Pixley and District Parish website - www.pixleyanddistrict.org.uk.