Derbyshire council agrees road safety measures long called for by 'scared' village

After a years-long community campaign Derbyshire County Council has agreed to introduce new road safety measures around the village of Starkholmes.

In the first sign of things to come, dragon’s teeth markings have been painted on the surface of Willersley Lane, narrowing the appearance of the highway to encourage slower speeds.

That will soon be backed by the force of a lower speed limit - reduced from 60 miles per hour to 40 - on approach to the village’s 30mph zone and other planned measures, on a route used by many motorists to bypass the A6 between Matlock and Cromford.

Councillor Charlotte Hill, cabinet member for highways, said: “We’re introducing a series of road safety improvements in Starkholmes which we’ve developed in partnership with the residents’ working group and the local county councillor.

“The measures form part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safer residential environment and reducing vehicle speeds through the village.”

She added: “Additional bollards will also be installed to reinforce existing virtual footways, helping to deter inappropriate parking and provide greater protection for pedestrians.

“As part of the scheme, existing traffic signs will also be repositioned to improve their visibility and a short section of on-street parking will be removed at a key pinch point to improve visibility and safety. These measures build on the improved road markings we’ve already introduced in the area.”

The announcement follows years of campaigning by local residents and their county councillor Sue Burfoot, who first took up the cause almost a decade ago.

Cllr Burfoot said: “Ever since Sainsbury’s and the bypass were built in Matlock, and the bridge over the river going one-way, this has become a bit of a rat run.

“People have been scared and asking for this for a long time. They’ve seen a lot speeding through the village on roads with pinch points, no pavement in places, and houses fronting right on to the road. There have been accidents and so many near misses.

“It’s been slow-moving, partly because county highways officers have to work to regulations and make decisions based on the number of accidents, recorded speed percentiles and things like that - but not all accidents are recorded and it’s harder to measure the fear that someone could be killed or seriously injured.”

She added: “We had another meeting a few weeks ago, and I think officers understand that strength of feeling now.”

Adding to the county’s response, Cllr Burfoot has also persuaded colleagues on Matlock Town Council to fund a speed indicator sign on Willersley Lane as part of the planned works.

The news has been well received in the community, but some residents still hope to go further and implement a blanket 20mph limit in the village itself.

Resident Sarah Parkin summed up that feeling, saying: “It is wild that people think they should/can drive 30mph-plus on this road. Blind bends, narrow, parked cars and so on and yet still overtaking when it is not safe to do so.”

In July, the county council debated the prospect of creating more 20mph zones, in light of local road casualty figures which have risen every year since 2020, with 431 killed or seriously injured in 2025 alone.

Members also heard how 20mph zones created before 2016 - 31 across the county - had produced a 57 per cent reduction in such casualties, but no new zones have been created since that time.

Cllr Burfoot, part of the Liberal Democrat opposition group at County Hall, said: “There seems to be some opposition to that at the moment but I think the evidence is clear that it reduces the number and severity of accidents, and brings health benefits from reduced air pollution.

“I’ve never pushed for 20mph limits everywhere but there are areas where there are specific problems with speeding.

“I do think it’s important for Starkholmes because the roads are so narrow. Even if people saw a 20mph limit on their sat-nav it would act as a deterrent from coming this way.”

At the meeting in July, the county council did pass a motion proposed by the Green Party to “roll out new 20mph limits … informed by local communities, including the views of parish/town councils.”

However, Cllr Matthew Benfield, a member of the ruling Reform UK group, insisted on an amendment that any such proposal will be “prioritised by road safety and public health benefits and taking into account local traffic conditions and community support on a road-by-road basis, in line with current policies.”

That effectively has maintained the status quo at the moment, in Starkholmes.

Cllr Hill said: “Road safety remains a key priority for us and we’re committed to delivering targeted improvements where there is clear evidence of need.

“We’ve introduced a variety of measures to improve safety in the area and having looked at it carefully, we’re not currently considering a 20mph limit.”

Undeterred, Cllr Burfoot said: “A 20mph zone through the village is the next step, and I'll keep making the case for it.”