CAMPAIGNERS are hailing victory after the speed limit along much of Coulsdon's bypass was bumped up to 40mph this week.
Since the road's construction in 2007, the limit along the northern half of the bypass was 30mph, leading to complaints the police were using the road to snare drivers with 'unfair' speeding tickets.
Transport for London announced last year they would look again at the limit on the 400 yard stretch of the A23, and the increase was finally put in place yesterday (February 9).
Charles King, chairman of East Coulsdon Residents Association, was delighted with the campaign's success.
"It's a real positive. We got there in the end, and people said we'd never do it," he said.
"It's past time for all the people who have been done for speeding in the years the bypass has been open."
When the Advertiser first reported the campaign to raise the limit in April 2013, Mr King said the plans made sense, as the road was quite wide and pedestrians had no reason to cross, while most vehicles tended to travel at 40mph.
"Of course, they are surprised when they are stopped by the police for speeding," he added.
At the time, local roads enthusiast and UKIP activist Peter Morgan said the speed limit "brought the law into disrepute".
He said: "It is not a sensible use of resources. "It is perfectly sensible doing 40mph from the top of the hill to the traffic lights, and it is bringing the law into disrepute when the police conduct these regular speed traps and catch people."
But Green Party GLA member Darren Johnson objected to the plan.
He said: "This sends a terrible message of tolerance for those who break the rules on our roads."
Earlier today, Steve O'Connell, Conservative GLA member for Croydon and Sutton, greeted the new speed limit via Twitter.
Pleased that the 40mph speed is now in place on Coulsdon By Pass.
— Steve O'Connell (@SteveO_Connell) February 10, 2015
