Speed bumps to be installed in Portsmouth road where drivers go 'hell for leather'

Portsmouth City Council's cabinet member for transport gave the green light for speed cushions to be installed along its length after data revealed most people were exceeding the 20mph limit.

'I'm sure the residents [of Langstone Road] will be absolutely ecstatic that something is coming to cut down on the speeding,' councillor Lynne Stagg said at her decision-making meeting on Thursday (October 20).

'It's mainly in the evenings when there are parked cars and nowhere to pass,' she added. 'They go hell for leather because there are very few roads off it.'

A week-long survey carried out in March found the 85th percentile speed of motorists in Langstone Road was 32.2mph eastbound and 31.7mph westbound.

Accident data has recorded five crashes on the road in the last five years, leading to three slight injuries and two serious injuries, four of whom were cyclists.

Of the 50 roads surveyed by council transport officers, Langstone Road scored highest in terms of the need for intervention to tackle speeding.

‘Due to the severity of the speeding issues noted, and the presence of on-street parking, it has been determined that the installation of rubber speed cushions is the most adequate solution at this location to address the speeding issues,' a report said.

Funding for the work will be taken from the council’s parking reserve and its transport budget for the year.