00:00It's quite frightening sometimes when you stand out there and see the kids just run across the road.
00:04Residents of Newtown Green and Ashford say it's not a question of if, but when,
00:08as concerns continue to grow over speeding on the road that runs between a pub and a popular children's play
00:14area.
00:15Locals say animals have already been killed by speeding motorists,
00:18and fears are now rising for the safety of the children who use the nearby park,
00:23which is opposite the Alfred Arms, where the owner, Gary, is now calling for the speed limit to be reduced.
00:28Gary has said that this stretch of road has become a danger zone during certain hours of the day,
00:33with speeding motorists coming down and children playing in the field opposite.
00:37He says that it's only a matter of time before a child gets knocked over.
00:41It's been going on for a few years.
00:44The speed of the cars coming up past the pub, there's a park on the field,
00:50so we put a petition in to get speed bumps put in, but not heard anything back.
00:56I understand that it's been rejected.
00:58There's not even no signs up for children playing either, so that does recognise,
01:04drivers do recognise that, they see children playing, but there's nothing at all.
01:10It's quite frightening sometimes, because some kids don't know to look, they're only young.
01:15Kent County Council is responsible for managing public roads across the county.
01:19The authority says those wishing for a speed limit reduction should build local support,
01:24before a decision is made whether there is clear evidence a lower speed limit would have an impact on reducing
01:30casualties.
01:31However, many residents believe meaningful action will only be taken after someone is seriously injured or killed.
01:38We did go to KCC, and they were very supportive, and we asked about a speed indicator device actually outside
01:46the Alfred Arms,
01:47so there flashes up at you how fast you're going.
01:50Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, because of the number of parked cars on that road,
01:56the speed indicator device wouldn't work effectively, so we've gone back to them and asked what else we could do
02:03to work together
02:04to investigate traffic calming measures there, because it is serious and it does need to be addressed.
02:09Kent County Council has said that they were not aware of Gary's petition,
02:13and they work with local councils through their Highway Improvement Plan process,
02:18which allows communities to put forward priorities such as speed at certain locations.
02:23As the debate over road safety continues, so do residents' fears that it may take more than a collision before
02:30a change is made.
02:31Maisie Walker for KMTV, Ashford.
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