| New Barriers on Order After Call From Residents Over Near Misses |
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The mini moped menace is set to be minimised thanks to calls from the residents of all areas of Peasedown St John to their local councillors, Gail Coleshill and Sarah Bevan. One resident reported that on several occasions, cars have driven down the pedestrian pathway next to his house and turned round on his lawn, and many local residents fear for their children's safety as well as their own as the paths around the Beacon Field, a designated recreation area, become almost no-go areas for pedestrians. Cllr Coleshill said: "This problem is on the increase in the village. Our local police Inspector with whom we recently had a meeting lasting a couple of hours, has confirmed the illegality of some of these bikes and has confirmed that action is shortly to be taken to encourage the parents of the youngsters riding them to stop buying them. Retailers are also to be warned of the dangers to local people." Mothers pushing buggies and people with disabilities are particularly at risk. Cllr Bevan said: "I was made aware of the increasing anxiety throughout our village about these bikes and the way they are ridden through the many residents who visit our advice surgeries. Some residents feel as though they are prisoners in their own homes, because when they venture out along the many pathways in Peasedown St John, they are taken by surprise and almost run down on occasion. I am very pleased with the commitment of officers from the council's Highways Department who have come out with us on several occasions to plan the exact location of the barriers with us." .jpg)
The barriers will be of a specific design such that wheelchairs and buggies will still be able to go through, but there will be no through way for motorised two wheel vehicles.
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