Residents are tired of speeding drivers using their village as a "cut through" to avoid roadworks on the A52. Neighbours say areas of Ambleside in Gamston had always been known for speeding, but said the problem had become worse recently with the work at the Gamston roundabout.
On Tuesday, November 8, the neighbourhood policing team for West Bridgford visited parts of Ambleside to conduct speed checks in the area for local safety. The move was widely welcomed by residents.
Mum, Paula Harvey, 56, said: "It just gets busier now because there is more traffic and more people know they can use it as a cut through to avoid the island when it gets busy, so there's a lot more cars and a lot more traffic. I've been here 18 years and it's so much busier now.
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"My children are grown up now, but if they were younger I would be worried as the cars do come down quite quick. They could put up perhaps more speed signs as perhaps people don't know."
When asked about Ambleside, a 39-year-old woman who did not wish to be named said: "Yeah they always speed down there. It's busier now, and when they had the road closed for five days last week it was really busy.
"In general the roads are busier for anyone going anywhere, and there's the speed signs on the road going this way, but there's none going that way. I always walk the dog at lunchtime and I see them come flying down."
Business development director, Ian Widdowson, 50, said: "It can take a while to cross the road and you never know how fast cars are going. We can often hear motorbikes going by."
When asked about the number of cars on Ambleside, Geoff Prett, 71, said: "We just see the odd person doing about 40mph. You can certainly tell the time of day it is worse with the traffic and a bit of speeding, it's usually earlier in the morning.
"It's always been a 30 here. About 2 or 3 years ago they had a speed sign up on the road and they did a survey and said there's not much they can do about it. When they use the road going that way it sort of goes down and they pick up speed unknowingly, so they don't always realise." He added that more signage reminding drivers of the speed limit would be "a good idea."
Nottinghamshire Police targeted two areas on Tuesday as they carried out their operation. A statement from the Rushcliffe Police Twitter page read: "West Bridgford neighbourhood policing team were out conducting speed checks earlier today as part of the local priority for road safety. Officers conducted speed checks on Walcote and Greythorn Drive with further checks completed on Ambleside in the Gamston area."
When asked about her views on Ambleside, Jill Smith, 60, of Gamston, said: "Cars do go fast down there, I think some cars sometimes use it as a cut through. There are busy times on there when you can't speed but at night you can hear them going."
A retired 68-year-old man who did not wish to be named said: "Speeding has become a bigger issue than it used to be in previous years, but with those roadworks it's become a much busier road. Speeding is particularly noticeable after 10 o'clock at night.
"I think late evening is the problem and I suppose it's because people are coming home from the pub so it's not just speeding but what I expect to be some drink driving as well." He explained that the roadworks has cause more traffic to come through the village, including heavy goods vehicles.
Dad, Patrick Hanmer, 48, said: "To be honest I don't really notice people speeding here. When it was the roadworks going on for four or five days last week it was bad, but a bit better now, but considering what was happening it wasn't too bad."
When asked if he thought more signage was needed for the area, he said: "I don't think so as that (pointing to a nearby sign) is a crafty one, that's on a dip but I don't really see it."
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