Road humps proposed to solve village traffic woes (From Warrington Guardian)

Road humps proposed to solve village traffic woes

MOTORISTS will have to reduce their speed when travelling through Burtonwood if, as planned, road humps are installed along four roads in the village.

Proposals to introduce waiting restrictions and install raised junctions and road humps along Green Lane, Chapel Lane, Fir Tree Lane and Phipps Lane mark the end of an 18-month campaign to make the village safer.

There was an exhibition at Burtonwood Library 12 months ago to gauge not only public opinion on different traffic calming measures but also to gather the views of the emergency services and local bus companies.

Clr Terry O'Neill, borough and parish councillor for Burtonwood, said: "We've been looking at different traffic calming measures in Burtonwood for the past 18 months.

"I'm really pleased about the road humps and raised junctions, and while I can understand why there need to be waiting restrictions nearby, I'm a bit concerned about the waiting orders for other parts of the village.

"Hopefully these proposals will reduce the speed of the traffic through the centre of the village."

While councillors are hoping that work can start in Burtonwood in the middle of January, road humps in other areas of Warrington have proved less successful than anticipated, causing headaches for residents living nearby.

Les Kay, who lives on Penkford Lane in Collins Green, believes that there could be a serious accident if lorries continue to mount the pavement in a bid to avoid road humps that were installed by the borough council four years ago.

And road humps have not solved problems on Barrow Hall Lane in Great Sankey, with proposals being put forward to introduce a one-way system.

Great Sankey resident Bob Arkwright said: "Speed bumps are all well and good as a means of slowing down motorists, but there is no doubt that they damage cars.

"Along Barrow Hall Lane, residents and the school campaigned to put them in but now rue the decision because cars speed between the bumps, breaking heavily when they approach them.

"For the cost of putting them in, there must be a better solution to the problem."

l The proposed prohibition of waiting orders are on parts of Chapel Lane, Fir Tree Lane, Phipps Lane, Weymouth Road, Farmers Lane, Alder Lane and Melrose Avenue.