News : RAPID ACTION TO PROTECT LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOODS

Residents in Blackburn with Darwen can now nominate roads they think are dangerous and up to four will get speed limit enforcement by a mobile camera within weeks.   

 

Fixed safety cameras can only be installed after a history of accidents, however, the use of mobile cameras as a preventative measure is much more flexible. However, despite the recent expansion of the popular Sites of Community Concern scheme, where residents nominate roads to be assessed for mobile safety camera enforcement, the demand from residents to slow traffic down on local roads is still at an all time high, says Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety.

 

There are currently 15 approved Sites of Community Concern in Blackburn with Darwen which are reassessed every couple of years to ensure enforcement is directed where the need is greatest.  But this has still left communities living in fear of a tragedy on other stretches of road and they want action to prevent an accident.

 

To help, Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety is inviting attendees of Neighbourhood Board Meetings* to nominate sites. These will be assessed straight away including measuring traffic speed, potential conflict between vehicles and other road users and records of any collisions where people have been injured.  Every month, new sites will be enforced using a well signed mobile van parked in a safe and visible place. Details of the new sites to receive spot check enforcement will be posted on www.safe2travel.co.uk and also given to the local media.

 

Councillor Alan Cottam, Executive Member for Regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council welcomed the initiative saying: “This is not about catching and fining people. This is about being able to quickly respond to and address the real fears of local residents and avert disaster on the roads. The greatest success would be no one getting caught at all!”

 

Said Linda Sanderson, Communications Manager of Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety: “Rat runs, outside schools and close to community centres are often high on the public’s list for action and providing these spot checks will hopefully jolt drivers into considering local residents and other road users and make them slow down. We hope that seeing a mobile van even just once in these places will have a positive impact for a long time afterwards.”

 

Residents can suggest sites that they want to be considered by attending their local Neighbourhood Solutions Meeting held monthly. Details of dates and venues are posted on community notice boards and at www.blackburn.gov.uk 

 

The first four sites to receive spot check speed enforcement as part of this new rapid response initiative will be:

1. Whalley New Road, Blackburn
2. Phillips Road, Blackburn
3. Bull Hill (A666), Blackburn
4. Stopes Brow, Blackburn

 *Neighbourhood Board Meetings are an action based approach to tackling problems which matter to local residents of Blackburn with Darwen. The meetings include Blackburn with Darwen Council, Lancashire Police and local residents such as street ambassadors, local councillors and community group representatives.

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