An East Devon village’s hard-earned victory to slash speed at an accident black spot is still causing concern for residents who say it is safer to drive than walk to cross their main road.
Residents in an East Devon village have claimed a welcome speed limit reduction still won’t make it safe enough to cross the road to reach their shop and bus stop, writes local democracy reporter Bradley Gerrard.
The drop in speed limit from 50mph to 40mph has been cheered by those living in Kilmington, but many fear that in spite of the move, residents will still struggle to walk to vital local services.
Kilmington is essentially dissected by the A35, a section of which between Honiton and Charmouth has been the focus of multiple changes by National Highways.
Residents in Kilmington, East Devon, have welcomed a speed reduction in their village but claim a pedestrian crossing is still needed to make it safe to reach local services, like the shop and bus stop, pictured here. Photo: Peter Ball.
That’s because the stretch has witnessed four fatal incidents and 100 casualties across the 62 collisions recorded in the five-year period to the end of 2025.
The collision numbers are roughly 55 per cent higher compared to other similar roads, National Highways has stated.
Peter Ball, the chairman of Kilmington Parish Council, said the village was “delighted” by the 10mph speed reduction that would be implemented, but feared it wouldn’t be enough to properly improve residents’ lives.
“It has taken decades to achieve this reduction and whether vehicles are passing at 50 or 40 miles an hour, we still have to try to cross the busy trunk road without a pedestrian crossing,” he said.
“Official traffic counters give the annual average flow through the village at around 16,000 vehicles a day – or one every 5.5 seconds.
“And that’s the average. During the peak holiday periods, vehicle numbers are much higher.
“The A35 literally cuts Kilmington in half, with most of our housing and the school on the south-side, however our village shop and the bus stops to our nearest town, Axminster, and the train station, on the other north-side.
“So we have to cross the A35 and residents feel it’s safer to drive across the road to the village shop rather than walk.”
The drop in speed limit from 50mph to 40mph has been welcomed by those living in Kilmington, but many fear that in spite of the move, residents will still struggle to walk to vital local services. Photo: Peter Ball.
Mr Ball said a proposal in 2021 to withdraw the Axminster school bus from the village was withdrawn once members of Devon County Council walked the route children would have to use without transport and agreed it was too dangerous.
“Their conclusion was that it was not safe for children, even if accompanied, unless the speed limit was significantly reduced or a signal-controlled crossing was installed,” he added.
“And despite the National Highways accident figures, they say a crossing is not a priority, so they have no budget.”
The A35 road cuts Kilmington in half, leaving homes and the school on the south side, and the village shop and bus stops to Axminster and the train station on the opposite side of the road.
Photo: Peter Ball.
Besides the speed reduction within Kilmington, National Highways said average speed cameras would be installed in Kilmington, Raymond’s Hill and Wilmington along the A35 stretch between Honiton and Charmouth.
And other speed limit changes would occur; between Honiton and Widworthy Park, speed limits will drop from national to 50mph; reduce from 40mph-30mph to the east and west of Wilmington; and fall from national to 50mph between eastern Wilmington and western Kilmington.
Jack Mason, National Highways’ South West road safety manager, said: “The Honiton to Charmouth scheme follows a long-term safety review and is part of our ongoing commitment to reduce the number of people harmed on the region’s roads.
“The average speed cameras, speed reductions, improved road markings and signage will reduce the number and severity of collisions, improving safety for both the travelling public and local communities.
“We’ll continue to monitor the safety and performance of the route, and, working closely with our police and local authority partners, we will always look to make any future interventions where needed.”
The phased work will be carried out under overnight closures (between 8pm-6am), weeknights only, with a break during the Christmas holidays, and diversions in place.
The works are expected to be completed by the end of March, when the average speed cameras will be operational and new speed limits enforceable by police.
