AN EAST Cornwall residents’ association is asking people to officially record any incidents of speeding or accidents on a busy stretch of road in a bid to get some traffic calming measures installed.

Members of the Kelly Bray Residents’ Association (KBRA) are asking for community support in getting some traffic calming measures installed along the straight section of the A388 which passes through the village.

Resident Michael Iannantuoni recently wrote a letter to Cornwall Council’s highways department highlighting the issue. In it he wrote: ‘The A388 is the main trunk road connecting the A30 to the A38 and therefore is a busy road. It passes through Treburley, Kelly Bray, Callington, St Mellion, Hatt and Carkeel. Treburley has a flashing speed sign at the outskirts of the village. St Mellion has flashing speed signs at both ends of the village with an addition of an elaborate average speed camera system through the length of the village. Hatt and Carkeel have flashing speed signs at both ends of the village. Callington has a major junction/roundabout at its southern approach and winding roads at its northern end together with flashing speed signs at certain times for school safety. Kelly Bray only has one standard speed limit road sign at its northern approach along a straight road before a bend and junctions at the Swingletree pub.

’It then has the longest, straightest section of the A388 that runs south of the Swingletree to Callington with no repeat signs, flashing speed signs or any other traffic calming measures despite being a residential area.

‘Is it any wonder therefore that excessive speed on this section of road is a common occurrence and that residents feel that their many complaints to date have been ignored?’ Mr Iannantuoni wrote.

A response from the highways and environment manager at Cormac highlighted that any request for additional traffic calming measures would need community support and support from the town council and local Cornwall councillor.

At the last meeting of the residents’ association, lively discussion took place on the way forward with this issue. It was agreed that it would be useful for residents to put any concerns in writing, citing specific instances of speeding wherever possible.

Member of the association Susie Iannantuoni said: ‘Speeding traffic has been a permanent fixture on KBRA’s agenda for far too long and if the solution lies partially in our hands then surely we must follow the advice of Cormac’s manager and start putting our complaints in writing.’

She said that this would then hopefully provide a proper record of their concerns and help to build up a picture of how bad the situation actually was.

‘Many of us will have anecdotal evidence of this blight on our village and it is now time to fight back and show that we find the situation unacceptable,’ she said.

‘Both Launceston Road and Station Road have suffered a number of accidents — thankfully no fatalities — not to mention any number of near-misses.

‘Both roads are fairly busy with pedestrians and Launceston Road has a large number of schoolchildren using it to walk to school.

‘The main problem with Station Road is that many properties are built very close to the road and children playing in their own front gardens are at significant risk, should a car veer even slightly off the road.

‘The speed limit is 30mph on Launceston Road but that is routinely ignored by cars and, more recently, by tractors and and other heavy farm machinery.’

The residents’ association is asking anyone who has strong feelings on the subject, to write to Callington Town Council, Cornwall Council or Callington police with their concerns.

A meeting of the Kelly Bray Residents’ Association was due to be held last night (Wednesday), as the Times went to press, with the subject of speeding on the agenda.