Electric cars add to hazards in busy Paignton street

'Only dogs can hear them'

Anti-social parkers, high walls and ‘electric cars that only dogs can hear’ have left people living in a Paignton street anxious to cut traffic speeds.

A petition from people living in the Roundham area was handed in to a Torbay Council meeting, calling for a 20mph limit and parking restrictions.

They say that with no pavement on one side of the road and a continuous line of parked cars on the other, traffic builds up around nearby junctions. Elderly and infirm residents have problems crossing the road safely.

Badly parked cars block sight lines and stop wheelchair users from getting to dropped kerbs, while residents have to exercise ‘extreme caution’ when pulling out into the road.

The petition says that the high walls of some of the properties also mean sight lines for people coming out of road junctions are limited.

Presenting the petition, resident John Matthews told the council the road had first been laid out in the 19th century, but had now become dangerous.

He said almost-silent electric cars increased the danger for pedestrians trying to cross the road with limited visibility.

“We are an ageing and increasingly vulnerable community,” he said. “We can’t scurry across the road.

“Only good can come from approving our request. There is no downside.

“It will lower vehicle speeds and increase road safety for all users, including pedestrians.”

The petition will now be considered by council officers and cabinet members.