Worried residents are calling for the speed limit on a country road in Marlow to be lowered, with one branding the current national speed limit in the road “insanity”.

Neil McDougall has launched a petition for Bucks County Council (BCC) to lower the speed limit in Marlow Common from an “astonishing” 60mph to a “more reasonable” 30mph.

He wrote: “The limit is 30mph on Chalk Pit Lane and Frieth Road but as soon as you turn onto the single track road through the common itself, the limit increases to 60mph.

“Given the usage of the common itself, children running free, dogs, horse riders not to mention the wildlife, a 60mph limit is clearly vastly inappropriate.”

He said he regularly takes his dog out for a walk and has seen some “very dangerous” driving on the road, adding: “I use the common on a daily basis as do many others. I have witnessed recently some seriously reckless driving through the common.

“The police are powerless to act as the limit allows such insanity.”

So far 190 people have signed the petition and Mr McDougall says he needs 250 signatures for BCC to consider it.

He said: “It’s the danger that is posed to people, wild animals, children and dogs that are passing through there that scares me.

“It’s so dangerous there. There have been accidents there in the past.

“The majority of people treat [the road] with respect and slow down but many others race along it.

“The main fear is that someone could get seriously injured. It could be a child, a dog or even a driver.

“If a vehicle loses control and hits a tree there’s not much chance for that driver either – those are big trees and they don’t move out of the way.

“It is an accident waiting to happen. It’s just insanity.”

To sign the petition, go to www.change.org/p/bucks-county-council-reduce-the-60mph-speed-limit-in-marlow-common.