Fatality fears on ‘race track’ Walsall road
Worried residents fear someone could be killed on a Walsall road that is allegedly being used as a “race track” by speeding motorists.
A petition calling on Walsall Council to take urgent action and introduce traffic control measures on Bentley Lane has been started – and has received more than 150 signatures within several days.
Ward councillors Tina Jukes and Lee Jeavons, who started the petition, said it is only by pure luck there have been no fatalities or serious injuries in the area. They said accidents happen on a regular basis including head-on collisions and vehicles ploughing into walls and fences, adding that debris somewhere along the road is a common sight.
A spokesman for Walsall Council said it couldn’t comment on the petition before it had been submitted, but added road safety is important and measures are reviewed regularly.
The busy road has one of the main entrances to Reedswood Park on it as well as well as Old Hall Special School.
On the online petition, resident Anita Besant said: “Bentley Lane is a race track to many. Cars actually leaving the road when driving over the bridge. I’m surprised there’s not yet been a death.”
Another signatory Lucy Naylor added: My sister lives on Bentley Lane. When visiting with two young children, it is very scary the speed vehicles travel to the point.
“I purposely park so both children don’t have to cross the road or get out of the car roadside. It is only a matter of time before someone gets killed."
Shokt Fazal, vice chairman of the Birchills Agenda 21 group, said there had been an increase in recent incidents including accidents, speeding and aggressive behaviour.
And Carl Bagnall, who has lived in the area for 25 years said: “About time this road was sorted, the speeds reached are ridiculous. Someone will get killed sooner rather than later.”
Councillor Jukes said they wanted to see a traffic management assessment carried out and ultimately measures such as speed bumps, cameras or a reduction in the current 30mph speed limit implemented. She said: “It is used by young kids as a race track and there have been loads of accidents recently. There are bits of car parts, fences all broken along the road, walls and fences damaged.
“It’s just getting to the point where people are sick and tired of it and want something doing about it.
“We are very lucky there haven’t been any fatalities or serious injuries but that’s more through luck than judgement. The fear is something serious could happen soon.
“There is a blind bend on it and other roads which come off it which cars come speeding out of as well.”
Both she and Councillor Jeavons have been taking the petition door-to-door and so far no one has refused to sign it.
Councillor Jeavons added: “Residents are angry and frightened that there will soon be a death on this road and I can see their point, speeding is a real problem here.”
A spokeswoman for Walsall Council said: “Maintaining a safe road network is really important to us, our residents and businesses.
“Traffic calming measures across the borough are based on individual site assessments and any consequent action is based on evidence based priority.
“The council regularly reviews all existing traffic calming measures in the borough as part of its continuing programme of road safety work.”
The online petition can be found by visiting www.change.org/p/walsall-council-speed-reduction-measures-on-bentley-lane/c.
