Speed cut plan 'too little, too late' (From Wirral Globe)

Speed cut plan 'too little, too late'

2:13pm Monday 23rd April 2007 in News By Craig Manning

MEASURES to reduce speeding on a notorious Wirral accident black spot have come 20 years too late say campaigners.

Local people have pleaded with local authority officials for almost two decades to improve road safety at the crossroads of Telegraph Road, Station Road and Thurstaston Road near to the Cottage Loaf pub. They have signed petitions and attended public meetings to voice their concerns about the road, following a spate of speed-related deaths in recent years.

Under new proposals speeds along Telegraph Road and Column Road from Church Lane to Grange Cross Lane will be reduced from 50mph to 40mph. Drivers travelling along Column Road from Grange Cross Lane to Croome Drive will be forced to slow from 40mph to 30mph.

The existing 50mph speed limit in Thurstaston Road from Telegraph Road to the existing 30mph speed limit will be reduced to 40mph.

The measures are part of a road safety improvement scheme that also includes a roundabout at the junction of Station Road and Irby Road and are expected to be enforced later this year.

But nearby residents say action needs to be taken now, before there is another fatality. Among them is Norma Rawlinson, who lives in Station Road and whose partner Bob Ball had campaigned for many years to see action taken on the road until his death in December. She told the Globe: "I'm sure that Bob would have been happy to see this speed reduction imposed, because anything which can help prevent accidents is a good thing.

"Speed restrictions are not enough and the roundabout will add to the drivers' safety. The road is also used by cyclists and horses and their riders need peace of mind when travelling along the road or from out of a side road.

"My main worry is how many more accidents will there be before the speed restrictions and roundabout goes in?"

In 2003, the Globe reported that plans were in place for a roundabout at the junction. A highways department spokesman said plans for a roundabout have been approved and negotiations with landowners on either side of the proposed site are underway. It is believed work could start next year. Welcoming the progress, Wirral's Conservative group leader and Irby ward councillor Jeff Green, who has called for improvements to be made on the roads for many years and was instrumental in the introduction of traffic-calming measures at Caldy crossroads about a mile away, said: "We've been arguing for some time that the speed on these particular roads are unsafe and I'm really pleased that action is now being taken to tackle this problem."