‘I warned of dangerous rat run fears … now two people are dead’
A campaigner is calling for action to be taken to end the ‘rat run’ on Shobnall Road and Forest Road. Resident Jason Hanshaw is calling on authorities to make this a priority, claiming to have been paid ‘lip service’ in the past.
The recent fatalities have involved HGVs, which Mr Hanshaw says should be prevented from using the road. In September 13-year-old Hussein Quig-Diop tragically died at Burton’s B&Q roundabout[1] and earlier this month biker Sam Bagley, aged 23 died on nearby Wellington Road[2].
Jason Hanshaw has contacted officials in the past to warm them of the dangers of the road. He said: “The problem has been going on for too long and to everyone I’ve ever contacted – local councillors, local MPs – I’ve always stated in my emails that it feels like nothing will ever happen until there is a fatality on the road. And unfortunately we’ve had two in a very short space of time, both involving HGVs
“It just feels like somebody needs to be held accountable; it’s always felt like I’ve just been given lip service, cut-and-paste responses. Obviously things have got worse and worse over the years. You can’t build the amount of housing estates along this road without putting the infrastructure in.”
An action group was formed nearly 20 years ago called Shobnall Traffic Action Group to try and combat the issue. The group campaigned to get a weight restriction of the road and petitioned for action, but was not successful.
Mr Hanshaw, a Forest Road resident for 30 years, said: “In order to accommodate the lorries as they are coming down here, sometimes in excess of 40 miles per hour, oncoming traffic doesn’t stop, it just mounts the pavement and continues at some speed. This is a road with a primary school down at the bottom and it’s just an absolute joke that everyday I see young kids walking to school and you see this kind of activity going on with car and lorry drivers
“Everybody needs to come together, whether that be the warehouse distribution centres, the local councillors, anybody who has the power and the ability to make things happen and change.”
The 54 year old is calling for lorries to stop using the B5017, and says the authorities should be making this a priority. He said: “It really sticks in the throat that they’ve had these warnings and they’ve not taken it seriously at all but it’s happened and unfortunately now there are two families which have been bereaved.”
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport David Williams said: “Firstly we would again like to pass on our sincere condolences to the families affected by these tragic incidents. We cannot comment on them further until the police investigations and coroner’s reports have been completed and will then act upon the recommendations.
“These incidents took place on the A5121 near Wellington Park and the A5121 junction with Shobnall Road. We are always grateful for input from our communities and for people to raise any concerns with us.
“We agree with Mr Hanshaw on the need to find a solution to safety concerns on the B5017 and have for some time been working on ways we can achieve this with the community in what is a challenging location for a variety of reasons. Safety on the A5121 will need to be investigated separately and in addition to this we constantly monitor road safety issues that affect the whole of the town’s road network.
“Our highways team is in discussions about traffic calming measures on the B5017 and will be in touch with residents as soon as possible to discuss proposals. We hope that as many local residents as possible get involved as their input will be vital in helping to shape the proposals and take them forward.”
Local MP Kate Kniveton has recently with various stakeholders on the issue. In those meetings she secured commitments from local businesses that drivers will follow local diversion routes, instead of Sat Navs to deter HGV drivers from using the B5017.
In a statement the MP said: “I fully understand the issues there are around the sheer number of HGVs using the B5017, and the tragic fatalities we have seen in recent weeks has only added to concerns. I recently conveyed a meeting with Marchington and Draycott in the Clay Parish Councils along with representatives from National Highways and Balfour Beatty, to discuss how this situation is being exacerbated by the A50 closures for maintenance work.
“We discussed what more could be done to minimise the number of HGVs using this route as well as possible changes to the traffic management plans for the A50 closures. As a result, I am pleased that we secured commitments from local businesses to encourage delivery drivers to follow local diversion routes, instead of Sat Navs, and that National Highways would increase the level of diversion signage to deter HGVs from using the B5017.
“I will continue to liaise with all those involved to ensure that safety is remains a priority for highways authorities and those living along the B5017 are not infringed upon any further than absolutely necessary with regard to traffic levels.”
NEWSLETTER: Sign up for free email alerts to StaffordshireLive straight to your inbox here[5]
References
- ^ 13-year-old Hussein Quig-Diop tragically died at Burton’s B&Q roundabout (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ Sam Bagley, aged 23 died on nearby Wellington Road (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ Paedophile gave boy alcohol and unknown substance to sexually abuse him (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ Desperate £5k bid to save life of Swadlincote dog born with serious problem with his privates (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ Sign up for free email alerts to StaffordshireLive straight to your inbox here (data.reachplc.com)