Residents call for traffic calming measures on Whitworth Road

Date published: 08/05/2006

Residents of White Hill Close, Healey have called on the Highways of Rochdale Council to install traffic calming measures on a stretch of the A671 Whitworth Road between then mini-roundabout at the foot of Shawclough Way and The Old Healey Post Office, up to Gandy Lane.

Over the past 4 years there have been numerous accidents on this stretch of road from the mini-roundabout to the old Healey Post Office. The road itself, from both Whitworth and Rochdale, widens to two lanes.

Recently, a Subaru Impreza smashed into the garden wall of a property on White Hill Close totally demolishing it and smashing a window, drainpipe and causing damage to the front of the bungalow. (The culprits were not insured and ran from the scene). No one was injured but the residents fear it is only a matter of time, for example, if the owner had been in the front garden instead of the garage then the outcome of the incident could have been a lot worse.

Just two nights after the Subaru incident, a car travelling at speed at midnight smashed into the high retaining wall knocking off its bumper, bouncing around on the pavement and smashing the rear of the vehicle. Again the driver drove off leaving the bumper at the scene. The paint from the vehicle is still visible on the high retaining wall.

In another incident, two girls were nearly crushed to death when a vehicle careered off the road at speed and pinned them through a garden wall on White Hill Close. A year on one of the girls in is still recovering.

Two cars collided with each other racing from Whitworth to Rochdale again totally destroying their cars and damaging garden walls along White Hill Close.

Residents complain that in the evening vehicles can be seen racing each other along the two lane stretch, sometimes in the same direction on both sides of the road.

In an email to the Highways department they put forward the following proposals:

• Speed cameras to ensure cars keep to the speed limit of 30mph
  
  
• Road signs could be installed (similar to the ones on Shawclough Road) to warn drivers to slow down and that the road narrows around each bend.

The Team Leader of Road Safety at the Impact Partnership (Rochdale Borough) Limited - the Impact Partnership is a joint venture partnership between Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, Mouchel Parkman and Agilisys.  The Partnership delivers Highways, Property and ICT services in Rochdale Borough - emailed the following reply:

"Further to your email with regard to the above, each year we carry out an interrogation of all accidents within the borough and identify possible remedial measures at sites to reduce accidents. This stretch of road together with the mini-roundabout has already been highlighted as one of concern and a scheme is currently being drawn up to address the problems.

"The proposed scheme involves the application of antiskid surfacing, introduction of road markings to reduce the road space down to one lane in each direction and enhancement of road signs.

"As mentioned, this is currently being worked on and monies have been set aside to carry out some works this year.

"Unfortunately, any works will not stop the determined 'joy rider' or anyone with a complete disregard to the rules of the road or common sense, which seems to be the main contributory factor to the accidents in this area.

"Due to the adverse publicity surrounding the use of speed cameras, the Department for Transport now requires that any new sites meet strict criteria with regard to the number and type of accidents together with the speed of vehicles. In essence, it now requires that accidents take place before we are allowed to act."