A CAMPAIGN to reduce a speed limit on a stretch of road in the Cotswold Water Park has received cross-party support.

The Standard is supporting a call by watersports centre, Waterland Outdoor Pursuits, to persuade Gloucestershire County Council to reduce the speed limit on Spratsgate Lane from the national speed limit to 30mph.

Waterland’s request follows a number of accidents on the stretch of road, including three serious injury collisions and the death of Waterland sailing instructor, Robert Hoy.

So far the campaign has been supported by Conservatives, Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and county councillor Shaun Parsons – now Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, leader of the district council Lib Dems is demanding action is taken to reduce the speed limit.

He said: “I totally support the call to get the speed limit reduced. There is a number of roads in the water park area that are fairly dangerous and that is one of them. I am absolutely one hundred percent behind residents who want the speed limit cut down.

“I would like to see a bit more flexibility from the council. I understand people feel strongly about this and the council should be looking at all the possibilities we can to get the speed limit down.”

Recently, highways manager at the county council, Richard Gray said that a speed reduction would not be looked at until after the inquest into Robert Hoy’s death.

Cllr Hodgkinson added that this is an unsatisfactory course of action to take on the issue of the speed limit.

“Surely we shouldn’t have to wait for an inquest to hear that it is a dangerous road,” he said.

Last week, the A419 Noise Action Group, which is calling for noisy on a stretch of the A419 near Latton to be reduced also pledged to support the campaign to cut the speed limit on Spratsgate Lane.

No progress has been made on the campaign so far, apart from Waterland being granted permission to maintain the verges and hedges outside the centre this month.

If you wish To support the Standard’s campaign, then tell the county council your views by e-mailing gcchighways@amey.co.uk.