WE were enjoying our round of Golf at Broadway Golf Club two weeks ago, when the tranquillity of the morning was shattered by the now familiar sound, first of police and ambulance sirens followed by the drone of the air ambulance, attending yet another serious accident on Fish Hill.

After our round, we sat discussing this latest tragedy and recalled many such similar accidents which have occurred over the past years. There are often other contributory factors but in almost all the cases we could collectively remember there was one common component - excessive speed, either for the road, or road conditions. As regular users of this road we are often alarmed by vehicles using Fish Hill in either direction who, though possibly within the legal speed limit for the road, in our opinions seem to be travelling at well over the limit of safety for negotiating the bends, steep incline and camber.

We believe that had a speed limit of 30 miles per hour been imposed on the stretch before the bends above the Broadway Roundabout to the top of the incline near the turnoff for the picnic area, that some people would still be alive today and others would have escaped the severe injuries which have subsequently impacted drastically on the quality of the rest of their lives. It would also free up all the services used in these incidents and the resultant avoidable costs, allowing them all to be used more productively.

We suggest that such a speed limit should be imposed and supported by a couple of fully operational speed cameras and warning signs clearly identifying that Fish Hill is an accident black spot. Speed cameras usually have a sobering effect on most drivers and we feel their installation as suggested, would greatly reduce both the risk and severity of any further incidents. In the case of the recording of an excessive speed for these conditions then the camera evidence could be used to support a prosecution of the offender for dangerous driving. Accidents on Fish Hill have claimed the lives of many people over the years and desperately affected the full enjoyment of life of others, through injuries sustained. Surely we have now reached a stage where drastic action should be taken to reduce the danger and help eliminate the needless risk to those many sensible drivers who use Fish Hill and who do show due consideration to their fellow road users.

HARRY ROBERTS, BOB SMITH, JOHN SEARSON, JEREMY RYAN BELL, Willow Road, Willersey.