A WOMAN in Northleach has called for lower speed limits in residential areas after her cat was killed by a man driving too fast.

At around 5pm on Tuesday, February 17, a neighbour noticed a car stopped just outside Claire Goodman’s house on Tayler Road.

A man wearing glasses got out and moved something to the pavement before speeding off.

When the neighbour went over to investigate he found what had been moved was Ebony, the Goodman’s family cat.

Claire said: “My daughter is distraught, we are all distraught.

“I couldn’t believe he just left Ebony there. My daughter could have walked round the corner and seen it or a toddler could have seen it.

“It worries me that it could have been a child. This is an area with a lot of children and elderly people.”

Claire said that Ebony, who was rescued from the Blue Cross two years ago, could have been saved if the man had been driving a little slower.

She said: “Cats do have a habit of not following the green cross code but there have been times when we have seen cars rush by and we have said ‘my god slow down.’”

Traffic can be busy in the High Street so drivers often try to avoid it by cutting through Tayler Road. Bob Skillern, Local Highways Manager at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We’re sorry to hear about the Goodman family’s cat Ebony. We’re not aware of any issues on Tayler Road, but we’d be happy to talk to residents about their concerns.”

Cirencester and Cheltenham both have 20mph zones.

In Stroud, the recent introduction of 20mph zones has been met with some criticism, particularly in steep areas where residents say it’s difficult to climb hills.