Speed check call for rat run

A WORRIED mum is calling for a crackdown on speeding drivers who race down a busy residential street in Nailsea.Fed up mum-of-one, Helen Ellison, is pressing community safety bosses to introduce a Speedwatch along Southfield Road in a bid to put the brakes on drivers using it as a race track.Her campaign was heightened after she tried to cross the road with her six-year-old son and narrowly avoided being hit by a speeding car.Mrs Ellison, aged 36, said: "I was waiting to cross the road with my son and we both looked to check the road was clear and started to walk across the road."But within seconds a car came racing out of nowhere and I had to sharply pull my son back to the pavement."If I hadn't have grabbed him, we could have been hit."My neighbours and I both have young children but are frightened to let them outside of the house because of the danger of the speeding traffic."Drivers regularly race down here at speeds up to 60mph."Mrs Ellison said speeding in Southfield Road had initially started when the Stockway North traffic lights were installed.She added: "When the traffic lights went in, people started using Southfield Road as a rat run to avoid them."The problem has continued, and got worse, ever since."Mrs Ellison got in touch with Nailsea Local Action Team chairman John Hunter and volunteered to help set up a Speedwatch along Southfield Road.Mr Hunter took the matter up with the police and a safety audit is now due to take place to assess whether a Speedwatch can go ahead.Mr Hunter said: "People have got used to using Southfield Road as a rat run to avoid the traffic lights on Stockway North."People are driving far too fast down this residential street and a Speedwatch would act as a reminder to them to slow down."North Somerset Police Sector Inspector Steve Date said: "We are keen to extend Speedwatch in other areas."I have spoken to Mr Hunter and a risk assessment will be done shortly.