Hundreds sign petition to have speed limits in Mirfield cut to save lives

Over recent months several communities in Mirfield have launched campaigns against speeding drivers.

Residents reported a marked increase in speeding when roads were quieter at the start of lockdown in March - and the problem has persisted.

Residents in Hopton Lane, Sunnybank Road and Upper Hopton are calling for action to reduce the speed of drivers. A petition over Hopton Lane was signed by more than 500 people.

On Sunday evening officers from Dewsbury and Mirfield Neighbourhood Policing Team set up mobile speed checks in Hopton Lane at the junction with Waste Lane and Sunnybank Road at its junction with Portal Crescent.

Mirfield Tory councillors Martyn Bolt and Vivien Lees-Hamilton are supporting residents across the town and say they are looking at making the whole of Mirfield a 20mph zone.

Mayor of Mirfield Coun Bolt said: “Residents are increasingly concerned about the speed of cars and other vehicles in various parts of the town and we are looking at what can be done.

“Nationally the 20’s Plenty campaign is growing and I know Leeds City Council have been rolling out 20mph zones for some time now.

“These zones can be introduced without the need for speed bumps or other engineering works. All that is needed is signage, road markings and a traffic regulation order.”

Coun Lees-Hamilton, also a driving instructor, backed the 20mph zone and urged drivers to slow down and consider other road users.

“We want to educate drivers and change behaviours,” she said. “Your car only goes over 30mph if you let it.”

At the Contact Point police checks local residents were given the chance to operate the pro-laser speed device.