Residents fed up of dangerous driving through Milnrow and Newhey

The meeting at the Moon Spinners in Milnrow

Local residents of Milnow and Newhey are calling for action as they are ‘fed up’ of continuous levels of dangerous driving throughout the villages.

Ann Taylor, a pedestrian who is unhappy about the dangerous driving and speeding of traffic in the villages, called the community together at a meeting with councillors to address the issues on Wednesday (4 July).

25 people attended the meeting at the Moon Spinners in Milnrow, where councillors Irene Davidson and Andy Kelly both gave advice and listened to the residents’ concerns of speeding, traffic jumping red lights at pedestrian crossings, plus dangerous overtaking.

Councillor Davidson said: "I have been receiving comments, complaints and stories over many months both in person and on social media about some of the dangerous and sometimes scary driving that has been going on through our two villages.

“Listening to some of the stories at the meeting were shocking: some of the culprits have been identified and will be dealt with through the correct channels. Others, we will need proof, so we are looking at setting up some groups of local residents, who after training, do some speed checks to gather information.

“From the feeling at the meeting, residents have had enough of these mindless individuals who are making our villages into their own personal race tracks: it’s time to take action.”

Sue Hancox, who helped arrange the meeting, commented how she witnesses bad driving and speeding “almost every day” near both her home in Newhey and also the RSPCA shop in Milnrow where she works.

It was mentioned that residents could be trained by the police in the use of speed guns wearing high viz jackets to record the speed of the traffic and record incidents to present evidence to the council and police that action may be needed.

Other suggestions were also made such as adding ‘sleeping policemen’ or road humps and bring the speed down to 20 MPH in the area.

Residents were advised to attend the next Forum meeting on 27 September, and the next Pennines Township meeting on 16 October.

Councillor Kelly has also been contacted for comment.