St Alban’s Ward residents demand action on speeding.

Today, Jack Dobson-Smith, a Labour candidate for St Alban’s Ward writes in the Havering Daily to highlight the growing concerns from residents over speeding in the area, calling on Havering Council to take urgent action following survey results and a community-led petition.

Every time Cllr Jane Keane and I speak with St Alban’s ward residents, the issue of speeding inevitably comes up. Brentwood Road, Park Lane and Victoria Road are notorious, but Manor, Albert and Princes Roads are also hotspots for irresponsible driving.

So earlier this year, we asked people living in the area to share their views on road safety. With dozens of responses, the results should leave no room for complacency. 93% said speeding is a problem they have noticed, with more than two thirds reporting that it happens every single day, and 95% believe changes are needed to make their road safer. In fact, virtually everyone who responded agrees that Havering Council must act.

This matters because breaking the speed limit isn’t a victimless act. It affects whether parents feel confident letting their children walk to school, whether older residents or those with mobility issues feel able to cross the road, and whether some of our neighbours feel safe simply stepping outside their front door. Our streets are shared public spaces, not racetracks.

Armed with the survey evidence, we worked together with local residents to push the council to act. A petition, signed by over 100 people living on some of the worst affected streets was formally presented to the council on 18 March by Cllr Jane Keane. It sent a simple message: people are fed up, and they want action.

Since then, traffic monitoring cables have been installed on local roads. This is a welcome step. These cables can measure traffic volumes, vehicle types and, crucially, speeds.

Cllr Jane Keane and I are committed to keeping this issue firmly on the agenda in St Alban’s Ward and beyond. Safer roads are not a luxury; they are a basic expectation of our residents. If we are serious about protecting children on their way to school, ensuring people with mobility issues can travel without fear, and making our neighbourhoods places where residents feel as safe as possible, then preventing speeding is essential.

Unfortunately, many I have spoken to feel that it is only a matter of time before we see another life-changing accident in the ward, with Havering Borough Council continuing to fall behind on its own road‑safety commitments. The Council has a target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) on Havering’s roads to 19 by 2030. However, the latest Authority Monitoring Report shows that in 2024 there were 98 KSIs across the borough—an increase of 30 from the previous year. In total, Havering recorded 715 road accidents in 2024. It shouldn’t take a death to prompt action. The message from our local residents is clear: The council must tackle speeding in St Alban’s ward.

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