Northwood residents unite in fight to stop speeding cars on Keelings Road
FED-UP residents are uniting to put the brakes on speeding motorists.
They say 30mph Keelings Road has become a rat run and fear there could be a fatal accident.
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SLOW DOWN: Alan Wrench on Keelings Drive.
Led by Malcolm Hughes, a member of the Northwood Residents' Association, they have started a campaign to get speed cameras installed or a 20mph limit set.
Mr Hughes, who lives in Mount Street, said: "We are absolutely sick of this and feel as though we're being ignored.
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"This is a serious issue and I don't feel like anybody's going to pay attention until something serious happens.
"There are speed indicator signs up, but nobody takes a bit of notice."
The 71-year-old has been consulting the road safety charity Brake to see what options are available, including a 20mph speed limit.
He added: "The problem with this road is it needs policing and the best way to do that is get some speed cameras in."
Treasurer of the association, Alan Wrench, called on anyone concerned to get in touch, or attend their next meeting at Northwood Parish Hall.
He said: "We've got to get together on this and get something done."
Lollipop lady Helen Fletcher, who works outside Northwood Broom Community School, said: "I indicate that I'm going to step out and so many drivers don't bother to reduce their speed or stop. I've had two nasty frights when I've thought, this is it, I'm going to get killed."
The 57-year-old has been in the job for five years but says previous attempts to reduce the speed have not worked.
She added: "The council narrowed the road and said it would stop the problem, but it didn't change a thing.
"There are crossings further along the road, but the point is that this is where people are crossing to get to the school."
Headteacher, Stephanie Moran, said: "Throughout the year we take part in walking bus days, and the children design banners which they wave at speeding motorists. We try to make the drivers aware, and the children conscious of the need to cross at a safe place."
Flo Melbourne, 79, said she is unable to cross Keelings Road.
She said: "The other morning I was trying to cross the road for so long that a man had to come along and help me across. It's absolutely terrible."
Councillor Ruth Rosenau, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transportation, claims a range of road safety measures have been implemented over the last four years.
She added: "The work included narrowing the carriageway, creating pedestrian islands and installing pelican crossings. Speed indicator signs were also put up, to electronically flash motorists' speed."
'Forgotten' park needs £116,000: Page 25
Comments
by fiat128
Friday, September 07 2012, 6:16PM
“Almost every house in this country has its frontage on a road, whether it be a main road, side road, cul-de-sac or whatever. Where-ever you live you must expect some traffic to be passing your front door. I can't see the point in making traffic calming measures that only make it more dangerous for the motorist. Road narrowing makes the road more dangerous by putting vehicles into each others' path. Sleeping policemen and road humps are totally impractical for emergency vehicles - also it doesn't stop the idiot drivers. I can live with speed cameras, but surely the only solution is to enforce whatever trafiic laws are being broken and imposing the appropriate punishment in the courts.”
by Lammy55
Friday, September 07 2012, 2:14PM
“Just to point out I keep to speed limits on all roads.”
by Lammy55
Friday, September 07 2012, 2:13PM
“I always keep to the speed limit when I go down Keelings Road, but there are idiots behind me, who want to go faster, so I put the foot on the brakes.
Mr Hughes, get in touch with your local police about speed guns for residents.
I have applied for this, because I live in a 20mph zone, but there is people who think that the 2 is an upside down 5”
by sausagelord
Friday, September 07 2012, 1:46PM
“"The council narrowed the road and said it would stop the problem, but it didn't change a thing."
Actually it did change something. It made the road more dangeous. Instead of motorists being able to turn into the sidestreets and keep well over to the left to allow other traffic to pass, it now forces all traffic to slow down and causes problems for larger vehicles as they now need to use the opposite side of the road in order to swing their vehicles around into the sidestreets.
Rather than spend more money on more pointless tinkering, why don't they have a couple of cop bikes there some mornings to pull over those who are driving like idiots? Or is getting the police to perform one of their responsibilites too obvious? Maybe we need to narrow the road so only thin bits of card can use it and install a giant lava lamp by the school to entice drivers to slow down.”
by fiat128
Friday, September 07 2012, 12:01PM
“"They say 30mph Keelings Road has become a rat run "
How can this be a rat run? It's the main route, the A5272 from Weston Coyney all the way through to Chell.”