Work starts on making Walsall road safer after carer died in hit-and-run
Work has started on installing long-awaited safety measures on a Walsall road after a carer was killed in a hit and run incident.
Contractors have begun working on Cavendish Road in Beechdale, where speed bumps and a ramp are going to be installed in a bid to slow down traffic.
It comes after 52-year-old carer Kulwinder Kaur was killed last September, while walking on the road, by a car which failed to stop, leading to calls from all ward councillors and residents for action to be taken.
Driver Lewis Jukes, of Providence Lane, Bloxwich, was jailed for seven years and four months in October. The 20-year-old admitted causing death by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, having no insurance and failing to stop after a collision.
Before Christmas, Labour councillors Lee Jeavons and Tina Jukes spoke out and presented a 659-name petition to an economy and environment scrutiny committee meeting, calling on Walsall Council’s cabinet to carry out a review into road safety on Beechdale estate.
Councillor Gaz Ali, who represents the area for the Conservatives, said he had also handed in separate petitions calling for action.
He said: “They’ve started doing the work on Cavendish Road and I’m very pleased because it has taken a long time for this to happen.
“They’ve started to do some drainage work because there were issues as well and then they are going to put in the speed bumps.
“It’s great to know the work has started and they have given us a plan of what will take place. I’m told it will take around two weeks to complete once they start on the speed bumps and ramp work.”
Drainage issues are currently being remedied and the main scheme will see the speed bumps put in place from around August 18.
A raised crossing point linking to Reedswood Park will also be put in place while road resurfacing will be carried out.
