Safety's the top priority for Stoke-on-Trent's infamous accident blackspots
FIVE accident blackspots which have seen more than 50 collisions in just three years are to be targeted with new safety measures.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has revealed it plans to make a number of improvements to junctions around the city as part of its Local Transport Plan for 2012/13.
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Hanley Road / Leek New Road in Burslem, which has seen nine collisions.
The proposals will help make the roads safer for both motorists and pedestrians, and include the installation of a new pedestrian crossing.
The initiative comes after the authority revealed how 54 road traffic collisions have been reported at the sites since 2009 – with four involving pedestrians.
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The areas earmarked for improvements, including the Hot Lane/Sandbach Road junction in Burslem, and the Leek Road/Victoria Road junction in Joiners Square, have caused concern among motorists and residents for years.
Now action is set to be taken to curb the dangers, although funding for the initiatives, which will be rolled out over the next three years, has not yet been revealed.
Motorists today welcomed the long-awaited proposals.
Forty-year-old Denise Clowes, of Tunstall, is a lollipop lady in Victoria Park Road, Tunstall.
She said: "It is a terrible road, it is always really busy and the cars go so fast. There are four terrible junctions in that area and we have wanted something done for a while.
"Cars constantly go onto the pavements because they struggle to get around and it is dangerous because there are schools nearby."
John Butler, aged 72, of Victoria Park Road, Tunstall, added: "The Little Chell Lane junction is a nasty one but it is difficult to say what could improve it because it is a busy road and people just generally drive too fast.
"It is dangerous because of the schools in the area and cars always park on the pavements.
"Something needs to be done to improve things, but it's a little more difficult making sure people slow down."
The city council has already announced plans for improvements at a chaotic set of roundabouts as part of the Local Transport Plan. The three roundabouts in Smallthorne have seen 69 collisions over the last four years.
Improvements include changing lane priority in Hanley Road and removing an approach lane.
The authority has also outlined plans to introduce an extra lane at Cobridge traffic lights as part of the initiative, following 20 years of complaints.
Nicola Craggs, of Austin Street, Joiners Square, wants to see improvements to the Leek Road junction.
The 42-year-old said: "It is atrocious, I know a lot of people who have had bumps at the roundabout.
"People don't use the lanes properly and it has a knock-on effect on the surrounding streets.
"No matter what time of day it is, you get stuck in traffic. So anything that helps relieve those issues will be an improvement."
City councillor Ruth Rosenau, left, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transportation, added: "We have identified priority sites for further investigation and possible safety measures, specifically targeted at reducing road traffic accidents.
"We have successfully completed a safety scheme in Sandon Road in Meir this year and will be working to deliver further schemes across the city, subject to public consultation and council approval."
Comments
by FFDP1
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 6:26AM
“The Death Punch knows the fact that not all bikers are innocent Pack dude. There are some right fools on two wheels. Fact is even a fool gets hurt if you knock them off a bike, and people should lookout even for fools.”
by stevenweiss
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 11:13PM
“I notice that most of the junctions mentioned actually used to work great until they were last 'improved' by the council. Stoke really do fiddle and mess with junctions all around the city, don't they, mainly making them worse. Perhaps someone who's actually seen and used the junctions should come up with a solution rather than what appears to be the case, which is that the modifications are the product of a high-brow seminar involving lots of fresh coffee, expensive biscuits and Powerpoint presentations? Or is that a cynicism too far?”
by Packmovaliant
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 7:11PM
“by FFDP1Monday, January 07 2013, 10:07PM
"The Death Punch thinks the main problems on some roads are the dudes that sometimes use them. Look out for bikes to, car hits a bike, its bad news for the rocker on the bike every time."
Click to rate Rating 2 Report
Not all Bikers aren't innocent”
by Backdoored
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 10:59AM
“by mowcopman
"So will the council pay for suspension damage to cars when they've finished installing the speed humps in Hot Lane/Sandbach Road?" -unquote.
Of course they won't. That's the idea.... you have bigger repair bills when the MOT comes round. Instead of fines as the penalty for speeding -you get big bills instead. That way everyone wins and the local economy benefits in the way of it being 'good for business' -the Garage Repair Business.
A 'win-win' scenario all round. Negotiate the speed bumps at the correct speed -and your bills stay the same -unless you can prove otherwise. There'd be no speed-bumps if people obeyed the speed limit in the first place. Give me a red.... and get it off yer chest.”
by FFDP1
Monday, January 07 2013, 10:07PM
“The Death Punch thinks the main problems on some roads are the dudes that sometimes use them. Look out for bikes to, car hits a bike, its bad news for the rocker on the bike every time.”
by PlayboyLeaLea
Monday, January 07 2013, 8:16PM
“since when is that bridge in burslem??? i live on dairyfields for god sake!! x”
by amartinone
Monday, January 07 2013, 7:13PM
“I didn't know this until recently, but speed bumps are designed for cars to go over them much slower than the speed limit. They are then spaced so that, short of flooring it, it's impractical to go over the speed limit between them. This explains why you get a nasty shock if you go over a speed bump in a 30mph zone at 30mph. If you go over the speed bump at 20, you'll find it difficult to go much faster than 30 before you reach the next one. If councils explained this, and put a recommended speed below the speed bump sign, they'd get far less bad press.”
by Tinsdills Solicitors
Monday, January 07 2013, 4:11PM
“So will the council pay for suspension damage to cars when they've finished installing the speed humps in Hot Lane/Sandbach Road?”
by grippo
Monday, January 07 2013, 2:59PM
“Is this the 3rd or 4th "improvement" scheme for Smallthorne Roundabouts over the years? Why can't they get it right first time?”
by bobentilee
Monday, January 07 2013, 2:03PM
“backdoored
not much chance of seeing the enforcers they are too busy up hanley booking motorists for minor traffic infringements instead of ones that put lives at risk”