Safe Speed Forums

A TRAFFIC campaigner has become so disgruntled with Bolton Council that he is going to stand as a candidate in next year’s local elections.

Mark Campion, of Blenheim Road, Breightmet, is taking action because his pleas for extra traffic calming measures on the street have not been successful.

He says existing speed humps are making little or no difference to speeding motorists and has urged the council to install chicanes to deal with the problem.

But Bolton Council has refused and says the humps, which were introduced in 2004, are having a positive effect.

Father-of-three Mr Campion, whose lives with wife Dawn, said a motorist caused £4,000 worth of damage to his Renault Espace last month.

Mr Campion, aged 46, who is training to become a driving instructor, said: “I have been telling the council that something needs to be done but it keeps saying that there haven’t been enough injuries there to warrant doing something about it.

“I could just keep talking about the problems but unless I actually do something, it will come to nothing. So that’s why I have decided to stand at the next election.

“There needs to be a big change in this town. Even if people do not vote for me, I hope that they will still understand that I am standing for a change.

“What needs to happen before someone listens? Does a child have to die or get seriously injured?

“It’s a disgrace because the warning signs are there.”

The Greater Manchester Transportation Unit, which tracks accidents in the region, said there has been six accidents at the spot in the last three years, with one injury.

A council spokesman said: “In the last three years there has been one road injury collision on Blenheim Road. This is a vast improvement, in terms of the number of people injured compared with the three years before the speed bumps were put down in 2004, when 15 people were injured.

“These figures are testament to the effectiveness of the speed bumps.

“In terms of inserting additional traffic calming measures, the council’s priority is to target roads where people are being injured and to do our best to reduce casualties.”

andrew.greaves@ theboltonnews.co.uk

Biker dies after losing control at road hump



« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryPublished Date: 30 September 2002
A young motorcyclist was killed when he lost control of his bike on a speed hump.
David Lees, 20, of Brandwood, Penwortham, careered into a parked car.
Doctors battled to save his life but he died in hospital hours after the accident.
Today, his family were coming to terms with their sudden loss and were too upset to speak.
MrADVERTISEMENTLees had been riding his Honda 400cc along Higgins Lane, Burscough, near Ormskirk, towards the A59, when the accident happened.
Bouquets of flowers today marked the spot where the accident happened.
Emergency services flooded the scene at 11.05am on Saturday and closed the road for some time. No other vehicles were involved.
Mr Lees was taken to Ormskirk Hospital where he died at around 4pm the same day.
Insp Steve Samlesbury, Lancashire Police force incident manager, said: "Early indications are that he was travelling over a speed hump and lost control of the vehicle and collided with the stationary vehicle.
"It was a very, very sad accident."
The speed humps were put down around 10 years ago after a series of accidents involving speeding vehicles.
Coun John Draper (Lab), who covers the Burscough West ward, said: "We put the speed humps in originally because at the bottom of Higgins Lane is an industrial estate and there were big heavy lorries coming down.
"It was the speed and the weight of the traffic going down there, it was absolutely horrendous.
"We'd had quite a few really horrific accidents – nobody killed but cars ending up in gardens. It has been a lot better but the speed is still a problem.
"I don't know how he could have come off because they are proper speed humps, flat-top ones."
An inquest was expected to be opened and adjourned later this week.
A pedestrian was critically ill in intensive care today after being hit by a double decker bus.
The woman, 26, was involved in the accident in Adelphi Street, Preston, at the junction with Hawkins Street, on Saturday evening.
She was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital. The woman, who has not been named, is from the Avenham area of Preston.
PC Dave Taylor said: "She sustained very serious head injuries."
"Police ask anyone who saw the accident or who can offer any information of relevance to come forward."

Mr Campion, aged 46, who is training to become a driving instructor, said: “I have been telling the council that something needs to be done but it keeps saying that there haven’t been enough injuries there to warrant doing something about it.