February 5, 2001 9:59: OUTRAGED residents have criticised the county council after appeals for speed restrictions outside a school were quashed.

Calls by the Little Kingshill Society and residents for a blanket speed limit of 30mph through the village and a reduced limit of 20mph near the village school in Windsor Lane were turned down at a meeting of the Chiltern Local Area Committee on Tuesday.

There are currently no crossings on the road and the speed limit is 40mph.

Dennis Sluman, chairman of village society, said that he was very disappointed with Buckinghamshire County Council's decision.

He added: "The council said they will check over the white lining and signs at various junctions and see what improvements can be made. It does not reflect the desires of our ratepayers and parents."

"These big organisations seem to move very slowly and I do not suppose we will see a great deal of change five years from now."

Speaking to the Bucks Free Press in October, Jan Treharne, a member of the society, said she feared there could be a serious accident if the council do not react to the residents' appeals.

She said: "I don't understand their criteria for choosing the places that receive lowered speed limits."

A spokesman for the county council said: "Following investigations and national guidelines the county council feel it is not appropriate at the present time to carry out all the requests of the Little Kingshill Society.

"However, we will be improving road signage at the approach to the school and our road safety team will try and fill the school patrol position currently vacant."

Matthew Harris