Cheadle residents concerned with speed limits

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Cheadle residents are becoming concerned with excessive speeding beyond the 30 km/h that has been the maximum for a number of years in certain areas.
“A numbers of years ago the speed limit on Railway Avenue in Cheadle between Valor Street and BarBeeJay property was reduced to 30 km an hour,” said Arnold Teunissen, a concerned ratepayer in a letter to Wheatland County.
He believes that now with further development occurring, there should be limits as to where the 30 km/h zone should be.
“I believe that a 30 km/h should be limited for use in playground zones and school zones and maybe in some areas where circumstances warrant such restrictions,” Teunissen. “I do not have a problem with the restrictions between Valor Street and Highway 24 as properties are close to the street and lots of obstruction exists. However, I am asking for restriction between Valor and BarBeeJay to be fully removed or if it seems necessary to upgrade to 50 km/h.”
Wheatland County Chief Administrative Officer Alan Parkin shared his view on the situation.
“Well currently it’s 30 km/h and there is big trucks that go through there and we want to keep the speed limit down. I know there is two sides to the coin, there are some residents that want to keep it at 30 km/h and some that would like it increased,” said Parkin. “Cheadle is not a very long area, you’re not looking at an eighth of a mile, it’s not like you’re going to lose a whole lot of time going 30 km/h in that area and keeps the issues with traffic (consistent).”
He added that it’s primarily a safety concern for the county.
“There’s a lot of families there that have little kids, so it’s a bit of a safety concern for us and that’s why the speed limit is at 30 km/h,” said Parkin.