A LOCAL counciilor has accused colleagues on the council's ruling group of ignoring him in a row over speeding drivers using a rat run.
Coun Simon Huggill said it was unacceptable that Darwen's Pole Lane could not have traffic calming measures installed because the number of injury accidents in the road are below government guidelines.
Blackburn with Darwen Council said that speeding traffic was a concern but no funding could be secured for traffic calming measures.
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The Marsh House ward Liberal Democrat councillor has called for a counter which not only records the number of cars on a particular road but also the speed at which they are travelling.
He said that such a counter would produce figures to show that Pole Lane is a dangerous road for residents.
Coun Huggill said: "I know what the council has said but we have to do a lot better than that on the issue of speeding.
"We need to take a proactive rather than reactive approach.
"We need a counter which not only counts the number of vehicles but one that anonymously records speed as well.
"There have been mobile speed cameras on Pole Lane but motorists flash their lights at each other and this does not give a true representation of the speed.
"A lot of money we get is not already earmarked for use, we are a four star council which means we can make far more decisions on the money and where it can be spent.
"We need to put a priority on this item."
Residents have been complaining to Blackburn with Darwen Council since 2002 about the increase of traffic and speeding motorists along Pole Lane, Darwen, who avoid the busy A666.
The council has so far installed a interactive speed sign which has an intermittent fault, additional Bar and Slow markings and Pole Lane being considered as a community concern site.
There have been two accidents in Pole Lane in 2004 and two at the junction of Priory Drive in 2007 which is too low for traffic calming funding according to guidelines set out by the Department of Transport.
Fellow Liberal Democrat Coun David Foster, deputy leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "Just from my ward I know that this has been a strong point because there has got to be blood on the floor to have improvements.
"How do you chose one dangerous road from another? There has to be figures backing it up.
"We have to prioritise where to spend money. If people's lives are at risk then it needs to be a priority but the council has to juggle other prorities. Do you spend money on a playground or traffic calming measures?"
Posted by: popeye, Blackburn on 5:54pm Thu 8 May 08
Coalition? And these people are running our town? Is Foster stupid or something, I don't see the parallel between saving lives and places to play. If children get killed on this road then they will never play again. For Darwen your better off joining Labour.
Coalition? And these people are running our town? Is Foster stupid or something, I don't see the parallel between saving lives and places to play. If children get killed on this road then they will never play again. For Darwen your better off joining Labour.
we have only just managed to get traffic calming in place on Marsh House Lane, the reason, becuase their had been two deaths in 4 years, the government and not the local state that unless there is a fatality it is not classed as a dangerous road.
havng said that it is like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted, we should not have to wait till someones dies before doing something about, the government should be looking at ways to make our roads safer, before people are killed not after.
we have only just managed to get traffic calming in place on Marsh House Lane, the reason, becuase their had been two deaths in 4 years, the government and not the local state that unless there is a fatality it is not classed as a dangerous road.
havng said that it is like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted, we should not have to wait till someones dies before doing something about, the government should be looking at ways to make our roads safer, before people are killed not after.
Posted by: barneyboy, Darwen on 7:21pm Thu 8 May 08
JH I think if you enquire the money for the traffic calming on Marsh House Lane came from the developer who built the new estate not the Local Authority.There would be no traffic calming there if you left it to the Local Authority.The argument for traffic calming on Pole Lane is right, that is one dangerous road.I do know that a Labour Councillor argued and argued for traffic calming for many years and managed to get an interactive sign. That I suppose was somthing but much more is needed. The traffic on Pole Lane is horrendus
JH I think if you enquire the money for the traffic calming on Marsh House Lane came from the developer who built the new estate not the Local Authority.There would be no traffic calming there if you left it to the Local Authority.The argument for traffic calming on Pole Lane is right, that is one dangerous road.I do know that a Labour Councillor argued and argued for traffic calming for many years and managed to get an interactive sign. That I suppose was somthing but much more is needed. The traffic on Pole Lane is horrendus
Posted by: asif khan, Blackburn on 7:44pm Thu 8 May 08
I travel on Pole Lane everyday.Thank goodness they have re concreated the road,previously there were large potholes.
Road humps cause a lot of damage to cars and increased carbon emissions.
I can truly say I travel at 30 mph on Pole Lane,my car might sometimes go lightly passed the 30 mark but a slight touch on the break puts it back to 30.
Speeders will still speed whether there are road calming or not.
Most of these road humps are too high and cause damage to suspension also petrol tank etc.
There are no speed cameras on Pole Lane.I have seen a mobile Camera once or twice on Marsh house Lane but tend to avoid going that way because of the speed humps.
The mobile unit is normally on Blacksnape Road tucked away in the corner.
There is however a display board which displays the speed a motorist is travelling on Pole Lane but even that hardly works.
I can understand the frustration of residents of speedinig motorist.I myself have been overtaken a few times on that road.
I travel on Pole Lane everyday.Thank goodness they have re concreated the road,previously there were large potholes.
Road humps cause a lot of damage to cars and increased carbon emissions.
I can truly say I travel at 30 mph on Pole Lane,my car might sometimes go lightly passed the 30 mark but a slight touch on the break puts it back to 30.
Speeders will still speed whether there are road calming or not.
Most of these road humps are too high and cause damage to suspension also petrol tank etc.
There are no speed cameras on Pole Lane.I have seen a mobile Camera once or twice on Marsh house Lane but tend to avoid going that way because of the speed humps.
The mobile unit is normally on Blacksnape Road tucked away in the corner.
There is however a display board which displays the speed a motorist is travelling on Pole Lane but even that hardly works.
I can understand the frustration of residents of speedinig motorist.I myself have been overtaken a few times on that road.
Posted by: observer, Hyndburn without Blackburn on 8:38pm Thu 8 May 08
[quote]A LOCAL counciilor has accused colleagues on the council's ruling group of ignoring him in a row over speeding drivers using a rat run.[/quote]
Pole Lane is not a rat run - unless the residents are still on fortnightly bin collections and are cavaliar with their waste disposal.
Pole Lane is a public highway. People have a right to use the road, whether bypassing the A666 or not. I am peed off with here today gone tomorrow wannabe politicians always inferring drivers are rats, just to give the impression to the locals that they are 'doing something'. One of these days the overtaxed much maligned motorist will turn round and bit the bum of these politicians - particularly the ones that tax us - Gordon!
A LOCAL counciilor has accused colleagues on the council's ruling group of ignoring him in a row over speeding drivers using a rat run.
Pole Lane is not a rat run - unless the residents are still on fortnightly bin collections and are cavaliar with their waste disposal.
Pole Lane is a public highway. People have a right to use the road, whether bypassing the A666 or not. I am peed off with here today gone tomorrow wannabe politicians always inferring drivers are rats, just to give the impression to the locals that they are 'doing something'. One of these days the overtaxed much maligned motorist will turn round and bit the bum of these politicians - particularly the ones that tax us - Gordon!
Posted by: Honest Darrener, Darwen. on on 8:44pm Thu 8 May 08
Why do we not have a "POLICE" precincts on Pole Lane surely that would stop these idiots from speeding etc use force to end force to me that this the only way.
Why do we not have a "POLICE" precincts on Pole Lane surely that would stop these idiots from speeding etc use force to end force to me that this the only way.
Were Phil Jones and For Darwen not instrumental in getting the speed bumps on Marsh House?
Anyway the best way of not being killed on the road while on foot is to stay off it.
Were Phil Jones and For Darwen not instrumental in getting the speed bumps on Marsh House?
Anyway the best way of not being killed on the road while on foot is to stay off it.
Pole Lane does NOT need traffic calming! Then again neither did Railway Street. Stop wasting our money and sort out the one way system and get the traffic back on to the A666!
p.s. election over now so stop trying to win votes!
Pole Lane does NOT need traffic calming! Then again neither did Railway Street. Stop wasting our money and sort out the one way system and get the traffic back on to the A666!
p.s. election over now so stop trying to win votes!
[quote][bold]John[/bold] wrote:
Pole Lane does NOT need traffic calming! Then again neither did Railway Street. Stop wasting our money and sort out the one way system and get the traffic back on to the A666! p.s. election over now so stop trying to win votes![/quote] John....I could not agree with you more! I voted against our present council this time because I didn't agree with some of the money wasting projects they've carried out this year. It's as if they become obsessed with one thing and then it's a one-way track after that until they haven't painted the whole town.....at the moment it's speed bumps they're making left, right and centre. I agree, some places they've done a tremendous job but in other areas they just aren't required (Railway road for example). The one-way system has caused havoc for drivers....I'm not surprised if other roads are now being used as 'rat runs' instead of the A666....sort that out and many other problems will automatically sort themselves....but instead, more mistakes are being built to compensate for the initial mistake that was made!!!
John wrote:
Pole Lane does NOT need traffic calming! Then again neither did Railway Street. Stop wasting our money and sort out the one way system and get the traffic back on to the A666! p.s. election over now so stop trying to win votes!
John....I could not agree with you more! I voted against our present council this time because I didn't agree with some of the money wasting projects they've carried out this year. It's as if they become obsessed with one thing and then it's a one-way track after that until they haven't painted the whole town.....at the moment it's speed bumps they're making left, right and centre. I agree, some places they've done a tremendous job but in other areas they just aren't required (Railway road for example). The one-way system has caused havoc for drivers....I'm not surprised if other roads are now being used as 'rat runs' instead of the A666....sort that out and many other problems will automatically sort themselves....but instead, more mistakes are being built to compensate for the initial mistake that was made!!!
There is one simple solution to all this - a policeman. The problem today is that the patrolling bobby has been replaced with speed bumps/cameras etc. Drivers can do whatever they want and be pretty confident that there isn't a police car 100 yards behind them which will stop them and tell them off. I say get rid of all the cameras and calming measures and invest in 4 or 5 panda cars to patrol the streets and arrest the d**keads. Things would soon change for the better!
There is one simple solution to all this - a policeman. The problem today is that the patrolling bobby has been replaced with speed bumps/cameras etc. Drivers can do whatever they want and be pretty confident that there isn't a police car 100 yards behind them which will stop them and tell them off. I say get rid of all the cameras and calming measures and invest in 4 or 5 panda cars to patrol the streets and arrest the d**keads. Things would soon change for the better!
Posted by: sunshine, darwen on 8:35am Sun 11 May 08
[quote][bold]John[/bold] wrote:
Pole Lane does NOT need traffic calming! Then again neither did Railway Street. Stop wasting our money and sort out the one way system and get the traffic back on to the A666! p.s. election over now so stop trying to win votes![/quote] Well said John.
When marsh house lane had the calming measures installed a lot of cars now cut through priory drive and cloister drive at excessive speeds. Also there is a lot a familes that live on priory/cloister one day someone child or children will be serious injured or killed. If calming where to put on pole lane you will still have the same problem. The problem as well you have got now is that people drive in the middle of the road is that these big speed humps do not damage their cars and not only that this is liable to cause more accidents as you are driving up and down the hill and cannot see cars coming. Its not only cars that are doing this, buses as well.
Was cloister or priory taken into consideration I do not think so.
[italic][bold]The council have wasted a lot of time and money on these calming measures[/bold][/italic] and not though about the consquences.
typical council!!!!!!!!
John wrote:
Pole Lane does NOT need traffic calming! Then again neither did Railway Street. Stop wasting our money and sort out the one way system and get the traffic back on to the A666! p.s. election over now so stop trying to win votes!
Well said John.
When marsh house lane had the calming measures installed a lot of cars now cut through priory drive and cloister drive at excessive speeds. Also there is a lot a familes that live on priory/cloister one day someone child or children will be serious injured or killed. If calming where to put on pole lane you will still have the same problem. The problem as well you have got now is that people drive in the middle of the road is that these big speed humps do not damage their cars and not only that this is liable to cause more accidents as you are driving up and down the hill and cannot see cars coming. Its not only cars that are doing this, buses as well.
Was cloister or priory taken into consideration I do not think so.
The council have wasted a lot of time and money on these calming measures and not though about the consquences.
Posted by: Just wondering, Lancs on 8:09pm Mon 12 May 08
Wouldn't a couple of strategically placed speed cameras do the trick? That way, the police can claim back the money they've spent on installing the cameras through the fines racked up. And the council can then stop fretting over spending money...
Wouldn't a couple of strategically placed speed cameras do the trick? That way, the police can claim back the money they've spent on installing the cameras through the fines racked up. And the council can then stop fretting over spending money...
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