TAKE ACTION NOW (From Warrington Guardian)

TAKE ACTION NOW

A COUNCILLOR has called for urgent action at an accident black spot that has claimed the lives of two motorcyclists in less than two years.

Cheshire Police have confirmed that 66-year-old Peter Hughes, a retired electrician from Bradbury Close in Winsford, died in Leighton Hospital last Wednesday after his Honda motorcycle was in collision with a white van on the A54 Oakmere Road on Thursday, February 5.

And the news has brought back sad memories for town councillor Peter Gannon, whose son-in-law Hugh Downie died in hospital, aged 45, following an accident on his motorcycle at the same junction in 2002.

The junction links the dual carriageway to the Over and Greenfields estates through Mount Pleasant Drive and St John's Drive respectively but Clr Gannon said: "I want the reservation closed off. This is not a political issue - it's a strictly personal crusade.

"Everything has been tried but the only solution is to

block it off. It's going to cause some small inconvenience to residents on the two estates, but that's worth it if it means one less person dies there."

He added: "My daughter Denise was absolutely devastated by Hughie's death and despite appearances that she might have got over it, I know she never really will.

"With her daughters, Sharlene and Alicia, she leaves a wreath of flowers at the accident spot every year."

County councillor Tony Hooton believes a solution to the black spot could soon be a reality. He said: "County council engineers have done some preliminary drawings and we are carrying out a thorough review to see if they can close some of the accesses.

"The speed limit on that stretch is 70mph and I oppose that - it needs to be 40mph. County councillor Pam Booher and I are talking to the engineers and I think we may have a way of closing some accesses to make it much safer."

rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk