Another crash at ‘Russian Roulette’ junction in Littleover leads to urgent calls

Campaigners wanting improved safety on a busy Derby road have called for an urgent public meeting to take place following another accident near a “Russian Roulette” junction^[1]. The North Eastwood Road Safety Campaign group (NERSC) in Littleover^[2] have requested a meeting with Derby City Council^[3] and Derbyshire police^[4] to talk about the dangers of a central reservation located on Manor Road allowing motorists to turn right into Eastwood Drive.

Last week the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported how the campaign group had reiterated their ongoing major concerns about road safety in the area following a serious accident which saw a car collide with a garage^[5] on Sunday, July 30. Campaigners have told the LDRS there was a further accident near the junction on the evening of Saturday, August 5 – almost a week after the garage crash – which has prompted further concern within the community.

The group claimed a car had “lost control” at around 9pm but nobody was hurt. Pictures sent to the LDRS show police at the scene.

Campaigners have written to Derby City Council leaders and police chiefs asking for an urgent meeting to discuss the situation but say requests for previous meetings with the council and police have been “declined”. The email says: “Littleover Residents & North Eastwood Road Safety Campaign would like to yet again take this opportunity to repeat the invitation to attend our road safety meeting made previously by NERSC/residents on April 23, 2022, and June 3, 2022. they were both declined by Derby City Council and Derbyshire Constabulary. We have also made independent requests to a number of other agencies and interested parties.”

Leaders of Derby City Council say a public consultation regarding road safety in the area has been carried out and completed and acted upon. The authority says it has “engaged thoroughly” with the community.

Speaking before the further accident on August 5, Bal Mahal, an Eastwood Drive resident, said many motorists are using the central reservation to make U-turns which he believes is “very dangerous” and that the central reservation was not designed for them. He said: “I’ve lived here for 20 years. I’ve seen the traffic increase and the near-misses. Derby City Council has decided to make a motorway-style right turn into a 20mph zone which has created other problems such as U-turning and visibility problems. Campaigners call it the ‘Russian Roulette’ junction. There is U-turning happening on a 40mph dual-carriageway. There is no room for error. I have been driving for 30 years and I’ve never seen anything like it.”

But Derby City Council said it had no plans to attend a meeting with campaigners. A spokesperson for the authority said: “The council has fully engaged with the community in the Manor Road and Eastwood Drive area. Last year’s public consultation showed the majority of local residents did not support making changes to the junction. Residents are encouraged to raise any concerns with their local ward councillors.”

References

1. ^{^} near a “Russian Roulette” junction (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
2. ^{^} in Littleover (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Derby City Council (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
4. ^{^} Derbyshire police (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
5. ^{^} a car collide with a garage (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
6. ^{^} Gumtree scammer left mum and seven children homeless in rent con (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)