Since moving to Vicarage Hill, we’ve been taken aback by the speed which motorists seem to be able to get up by halfway up the road, in both directions. We have frequently witnessed speeds in excess of 40-50 mph and have narrowly been missed reversing off our driveway. We recently lost our cat to a speeding motorist, and this petition is in his memory and for the protection of all residents and their families (including pets). 

The road seems to be a very popular cut-through for motorists avoiding Essex Way and the roundabout by Benfleet station which is understandable, however because of the parking restrictions – meaning the road is clear of parked vehicles to slow people down- and the long, straight stretch (including the downhill stretch if coming from the direction of the water tower), it is being treated like a speed-restriction-free road. Motorists seem to forget that for residents, it is home, and not a racetrack.

As I am currently 30 weeks pregnant, we have the additional worry now of raising children on a road which, before we moved, we thought of as very safe for a family. I find walking our dog up and down the hill sometimes very unnerving due to the speed at which cars pass me.

The introduction of traffic calming measures on Vicarage Hill would reduce the speed of through-traffic to the safe and acceptable 30mph which has been set as the speed limit for this road already, but is largely ignored.