Urgent calls for Grand Street traffic calming

Councillor Jenny Palmer said she was very disappointed that Roads Service have not prioritised the work after they had meetings with Hilden Community Association and residents.

She said there was also a survey carried out by Roads Service who agreed that traffic calming was needed and ideally two ramps would be the option.

After contacting Roads Service to establish a start date for the work, Mrs Palmer was told it had not been included in the 2011/2012 financial year.

Sharon Gibson, Director of New Horizons Credit Union said: “Most people do not realize how dangerous this corner is. I have witnessed it first hand and our building has been hit by vehicles on numerous occasions. There has been one young man killed and scores of accidents and it is not only when the roads are covered in ice, they are also treacherous and dangerous when they are wet.

“The authorities need to take action now and sort something out before we have another fatality.” 

The Chairman of Hilden Community Association Barry Donaghy also urged Roads Service to install traffic calming measures as a matter of urgency.

“Hilden Community Association has had many concerns raised by local residents about the number of cars speeding and with our recent bad winter this has caused many reported incidents at this location due to icy conditions” he said.

“This is also a hotspot throughout the year and we would like to see ramps in place to help reduce the speed and protect all residents from potential risk and harm.

“I would also urge drivers in the area to take note of their speed as there are many children and elderly people who use this road to cross to the shops,” he added.

A spokesperson for Roads Service said: “Traffic calming measures were provided in September 2008 in the form of carriageway narrowing by providing central hatching, strategically placed central islands, footway buildouts and formalised lay-bys.

“A number of traffic calming schemes within Roads Service were carried over into the current financial year from 2010/11 and it was therefore not possible to consider the provision of any further measures including Grand Street at this time.

“If a traffic calming scheme is considered for this area it would be likely to consist of road humps along the entire length of Grand Street, Low Road and Wesley Street.”

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