Drivers using village for rat run shortcut

Phil Hall, who is a member of the Roxton Parish Plan Steering Group, has spoken out against drivers on the A1 who avoid the congestion at the Black Cat Roundabout by turning down School Lane into Roxton.

There are signs in place stating that only buses are allowed to enter this road from the A1.

Phil said: “The road is being used as a rat run. I had a meeting with the borough council and the Highways Agency last year and they came out with the plans to half close the junction so it would be no entry for anyone off the A1. Then there were all the cutbacks and it was knocked off the list.

“I suppose we’ve got to wait for someone to get killed before someone does something about it.”

He believes that all entry to School Lane from the A1 should be blocked and a recent village consultation showed that most Roxton residents agree.

Phil has also used a speed gun and discovered some drivers going almost 60mph in the 30mph limit.

A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police said that the speed and entry limits have been enforced periodically by the police over the last 10 years but they cannot by present 24 hours a day and an engineering. They added that a signage solution could only be carried out by the local authority.

A Bedford Borough Council spokesperson said: “The parish council has requested that the road is blocked off at its junction with the A1.

“Bedford Borough Council is considering the proposals in partnership with the Highways Agency. However, both organisations will need to secure funding for this work.”

There will be more speed surveys in September.