Is that it? That is the question on the lips of residents in Speedwell Road, Old Heath, Colchester, after traffic calming measures were implemented.

Hopes for speedbumps, chicanes, bollards or pedestrian crossings have been dashed though, as a slow sign painted on the road surface is all that has been put in place.

That's all folks - residents in Speedwell Road, Colchester, have called for more traffic calming measures than the 'slow' sign painted on the road Picture: STEVE ARGENT

After years of petitioning to get the section of road made safer people have been left feeling let down by what they have been offered.

Dave Smith, chairman of Old Heath Residents' Association, dismissed the sign as inadequate.

While other roads around Colchester had got traffic calming schemes, he wondered why Old Heath had been left behind.

"It is a disgrace," he said.

"If that is all they were going to do, we could have done it with a pot of paint three years ago."

Three years ago the residents' association put forward a candidate in council elections on a mandate to get safety improved.

Geoff Harris, from the council, said funds for traffic schemes was very tight and criteria were drawn up to see how urgently roads in Colchester needed action.

Among the things looked at were the numbers of past accidents and how heavy traffic flows were.

Using these criteria, Speedwell Road wasn't even in the top 50 to be given calming measures so Mr Harris said its chances of getting any more were "slim".

Published Wednesday, June 18, 2003

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