Community group calls for safer streets in Wilmslow

by Lisa Reeves

Wednesday 26^th August 2015

Wed 26^th Aug 2015

A community group is calling on Cheshire East Council to introduce a 20mph speed limit in residential areas in Wilmslow.

Transition Wilmslow is also calling for additional or improved pedestrian crossings, the introduction of traffic calming and weight restrictions on Hawthorn Street and greater enforcement of speed limits on main roads, in particular Altrincham Road and Knutsford Road.

Speaking about why this important, Kate Okell, a young mother of two from Wilmslow, explained "One day I was pushing my daughter (in a pram) along a one-way residential street when suddenly I was shunted by a van which had veered on to the pavement, 'clipping' both me and the pram. Luckily my baby and I weren't hurt but I was very shaken.

"I asked others if this had happened to them and received a number of responses advising of "near misses" and "problem areas" where accidents could happen if improvements weren't made. Overall there was a strong consensus that road safety needed to be addressed and improved in Wilmslow.

"Incidents such as these are not necessarily picked up in accident reports and therefore the risks to the most vulnerable road users are routinely underestimated."

Transition Wilmslow have previously presented Cheshire East Council with a petition of 150+ signatures and numerous letters but are frustrated that no visible action has been taken on this issue.

Kate added "This is why we're asking to introduce a 20mph limit where people live, as has been done successfully in many villages, towns and neighbouring areas."

The group are also petitioning for improved pedestrian crossings at the following locations: the junction of Hawthorn Street with Altrincham Road; Chapel Lane junctions with South Oak Lane, Buckingham Road, Bourne Street and Nursery Lane and on Knutsford Road close to the junction of Church Road and Upcast Lane.

Kate said "Please sign this petition to bring the speed limit down NOW and to improve some of the more dangerous roads and pedestrian crossings. For maximum impact, please share this request with family, friends and other Wilmslow residents."

Tags:: Transition Wilmslow

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Angie Thorpe

Wednesday 26^th August 2015 at 9:33 am

Also.. Chapel Lane in particular, cars and vans are parking up on pavements on working weekdays.. This has increased dramatically... Especially since the parking restrictions in the Wilmslow Health Centre / Council car park have come into force !! I walk down here every day and often run the gauntlet between traffic on the road as cannot pass by on the pavement .. This is not just frustrating but dangerous .. I am able bodied but what about those with prams, or young children or the elderly who are uneasy on their feet etc!

John Clegg

Wednesday 26^th August 2015 at 9:53 am

Seems like a good idea to me.Some people treat 30 mph as a minimum.
A lot of the time 20 mph is as much as you can do safely.

Sally Hoare

Wednesday 26^th August 2015 at 11:28 am

I have just walked up Chapel Lane and there was a van parked on double yellow lines by the bakers plus 2 vehicles parked on double yellow lines on Buckingham road near the wood
suppliers. Also mayhem along Chapel lane as some drivers gave way and others didn`t, weaving between parked cars. A 20 mile per hour zone is needed here, but also the parking restrictions need to be policed. Parking on one side only would help the larger vehicles to pass. The pavement is very narrow and the cars that regularly drive onto them cause a real danger to pedestrians.

Mark Goldsmith

Wednesday 26^th August 2015 at 12:20 pm

CEC could spend their entire £260 million budget on avoiding the "potential" harm from traffic "incidents" and still never succeed.

And what is the point of more restrictions if the current ones are just ignored?

How exactly would a 20 MPH limit of prevented Kate's brush with a careless driver?

Hopefully, CEC will put this petition in the file marked "Well intentioned, but misguided" and just police the current restrictions a bit better.

Gary Barton

Wednesday 26^th August 2015 at 12:32 pm

Improvements to the pedestrian crossing on Bedells lane are 'in the system' and I am trying to push them through as soon as possible. Visibility on the crossing is poor and there needs to be more advanced notice of the crossing.

I am also working to fund crossing on Knutsford Road near Lindow Primary School and on Knutsford Road, Chorley near the entrance to Upcast Lane.

Improvements will also be made to the pavement on Chapel Lane and elsewhere in Wilmslow.

The crossing pint on Hawthorn Street/Altrincham Road is a problem, but there are no easy solutions. The configuration of the junction needs changing which will be very costly and is challenging to achieve under current budget constraints. This does not mean that I have given up trying, however!

I agree that more parking enforcement action need to happen in Wilmslow and I am looking at ways we can improve the situation. There will also be new parking restrictions introduced in the coming months to ease problems in the area around both sides of Altrincham Road.

Cheshire East has pledged to introduce more 20 mph limits around town and villages in the borough and a policy is currently being drafted.

All of these actions have been under way for some time now so I am glad to see that the issues I have identified are those that are important to local residents.

I can be reached at

Simon Worthington

Wednesday 26^th August 2015 at 1:49 pm

Extension of 20MPH limits (other than those operated by means of flashing lights at school entry and exit times) are on hold in many parts of the country as an increase in "accidents" has occurred. The road mentioned (Chapel Lane) seems to be off the radar of law enforcement officials. Cars are parked illegally continually. Enforce the laws we have before enacting new ones.

Rick Andrews

Wednesday 26^th August 2015 at 5:54 pm

A 20 mph limit would be good in any areas but who would enforce it? In most residential areas there are many cars parked with 2 wheels on the pavement. This is illegal, yet there is no enforcement. I regularly have to walk into the road where narrow payments are blocked by these inconsiderate residents.

Also, many home owners do not trim their hedges and this often reduces pavements to less than half the original width. Just walk around Pownall Park to see many examples. The council also neglect footpaths throughout the area, the path near the Boddington Arms is almost blocked and out in the countryside many pavements are now invisible. it seems that East Cheshire has a policy of taking money from Alderley Edge and Wilmslow to build new facilities in other parts of the borough, and neglects routine maintenance. Sorry this is a bit off topic. Finishing on a positive note the floral displays created by the Town council are a welcome sight.

Mark Russell

Wednesday 26^th August 2015 at 9:37 pm

Sally, commerical vehicles are allowed to park on double yellow lines to make delivery's for a period of time depending on local time limits.

James MacDonald

Wednesday 26^th August 2015 at 10:59 pm

Rick is spot on. There is very little done to support pedestrians. I'd like to see community service as a punishment for parking illegally. This would be a greater deterrent than a fine.

Rehana Hindle

Thursday 27^th August 2015 at 11:22 am

Please don't forget to include Holly Road north, as it seems to be a short cut and speeding lane for most
Our cat got run over a few years ago and they didn't even stop to help! Personally that says it all

Paul Warburton

Thursday 27^th August 2015 at 7:54 pm

2 morons have just flown past our house on nursery lane riding 2 quad bikes.
They should be taken of them , if my little boy myself or anyone had stepped out they could have been killed.
Idiot's like this are not welcome here.
I hope the police catch them and they get banned.

Helga Taylor

Friday 28^th August 2015 at 8:08 am

I am supportive of this. I've frequently seen cars speed and overtake at speed on Gravel Lane and Ashdene Road. These are residential areas with parks and schools, not main roads. I agree some people may not take notice because of the lack of enforcement but they would probably ignore the limit what ever it was. If this encourages a few people to think about the area they are driving through and their speed it will be a success in my eyes. Helga Taylor

Nicole Regan

Saturday 29^th August 2015 at 8:50 am

I fully support this, I believe that the 20mph should be put in place immeadiately, as for the policing of around the bakers chapel lane . should have a traffic warden/officer there permanently, the lack of consideration, to pavements and what they are therefore is quite clearly seen from approx 11am till gone 3pm. yes delivery people can park on double yellows legally whilst delivering, however parking on the pavement and eating is not. daily the entrance and pavements to nursery lane are blocked. moorlane/ gravellane are used as a 40/50 raceway zone even with parked cars, its like running the gauntlet walking to wilmslow with a buggy and people in wheelchairs end up in the road , just because people park and block pavements, a serious look at all pavements in wilmslow, parking, speed limits , crossing etc is required and should be priority, people just need to get behind it, not label it as "well intentioned" .

Nick Jones

Saturday 29^th August 2015 at 10:51 am

Nicole. Extra policing is not going to happen.....the ld bill have their own funding issues affecting their prioritising.....Raised speedbumps and well thought out traffic calming measures can be effective,....and your right, a review should occur.......however outside any meeting it requires funding and action...... which will not be a priority unless there is a serious accident. I suggest you could expand these measures around the whole yellow line daubed town centre as well....

Sunday 30^th August 2015 at 10:29 pm

I agree that a 20mph speed limit is an excellent idea. While it's quite true that some people flagrantly disregard speed limits there are plenty of us who respect the law. By keeping to the limits we will naturally 'enforce' them by slowing down other drivers, especially on roads like Hawthorn Street which are always busy.

Hilary Pinnock

Saturday 19^th September 2015 at 2:05 pm

Shared Space maybe?

Richard Howard

Tuesday 22^nd September 2015 at 1:27 pm

If research has proven that introducing 20MPH zones increases accidents and injuries because drivers spend too much time looking down at their speedometers instead of concentrating on their driving I think this is a bad idea... it may look safer but mask reality

Anthony Harrison

Tuesday 22^nd September 2015 at 4:51 pm

Richard do you have the research to support this claim? I had this argument thrown at me once so went away and read up the statistics myself. It has been proven that a 2mph program is successful at reducing both deaths and accidents.

Perhaps the introduction of regular testing might be a solution though if some drivers have difficulty assessing and monitoring their speeds!

Wednesday 23^rd September 2015 at 12:59 pm

Andrew yes there have been several studies carried out by independent sources and they all draw similar conclusions.
The Department for Transport own report highlighted a 24% rise in injury accidents where 20mph zones had been introduced as do the figures from The Insitute of Advanced Motorists.

There have also been University studies that point to increased pollution levels whithin 20mph zones due extended journey times

Personally I wouldn't want to see a huge 24% increase in accident and injuries to Wilmslow people along with more pollution for no other reason than because its a popular idea within their own ranks of a local pressure group.

http://ind.pn/1NLVgav

http://dailym.ai/1NT2jzC