'Residents are fuming': Anger as Park Lane traffic safety plea rejected

More than 350 people signed a petition calling on Sandwell Council to install safety measures at the junction of Park Lane and Manor House Road, Wednesbury.

Residents want either traffic lights or an island – but Sandwell Council said the junction did not meet the criteria for such measures.

Instead the local authority has proposed to install road signs which display motorists’ speeds.

It comes after a three-car-crash at the junction closed the road earlier this year.

The petition’s organiser, Karen Rowley, aged 49 from Wednesbury, said: “This is unsatisfactory, are we going to wait until someone dies until something gets done?

“They always seem to do something when the horse has bolted, but not before. Residents are fuming about this.” The petition was drawn up in April and passed to council bosses.

Councillors in Wednesbury say they will go the council’s cabinet petitions committee to ask for a re-think.

The council responded to Karen in a letter saying: “I would advise that the funding for road safety schemes such as traffic signals is prioritised where injury accidents are occurring.

“A five-year injury accident analysis shows there have been three recorded injury accidents during this period.

"This is low when compared to other locations that are being considered for major traffic calming schemes.”

Wednesbury North councillor Luke Giles said: “Park Road is a race track and it needs slowing down. I think the response from Sandwell Council is a bit disappointing and residents are certainly not happy.

“This is a dangerous road. I’m surprised there hasn’t been any fatalities.”

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for sustainable transport councillor Jackie Taylor said: “In response to this petition we will be installing highly visible speed activated digital warning signs and in Park Lane and we’ll be improving the road markings.”

“The signs will warn drivers who are approaching the junction at speed of the hazards ahead and make the junction much safer. The signs have proven to be extremely effective at reducing speeds and improving safety across Sandwell.

“We have to assess speeds and road casualty figures when funding road safety schemes and, unfortunately, there are currently sites with more severe road safety problems that need significant investment and engineering work. However, the improvements we will make to this road and junction will make things much safer for drivers and pedestrians.”