I have lived in my house overlooking this junction for over 6 years and since I am a hybrid worker, my upstairs window overlooks the road. While sitting at my desk, I have seen a significant number of vehicle accidents, almost daily in some cases, from small bumps to serious incidents requiring multiple services in attendance.
As there is no safe crossing within a reasonable walking distance of this junction and a bus stop on one side, residents will attest that there have been several near misses with pedestrians, cyclists, and children actually being hit by vehicles trying to cross this road. Almost always in the exact same spot.
Additionally, the driving conditions present a danger to pets, particularly cats with many being hit by cars and killed or severely injured around this junction. This not only causes significant distress to the owners of these pets, but also costs them thousands of pounds in vets bills and thousands more again to add pet protection fencing to their properties in a desperate attempt to keep their pets safe.
Finally, we have the noise from speeding cars, off-road motorbikes and quad bikes that frequently speed and race up the hill, and along Walderslade Road. Some residents have been forced to plant plants and shrubs in their front gardens in the hope that they would reduce this noise. The noise at night can be so loud, that we are frequently unable to leave our bedroom windows open.
So, what makes this junction unsafe? I am sure you will have driven along Walderslade Road from Walderslade Village, and the start of this road is a steep hill, the top of which is the Chestnut Avenue turning. This means that cars turning out of Chestnut Avenue do not have an adequate view of the cars coming up the hill, and due to excessive speeds, or limited visibility, people coming up the hill do not always prepare for cars pulling out into the road. The speed limit on this road is a maximum of 30 miles per hour but in reality, cars often drive along at 40-60 miles per hour, sometimes more at night when the road is quieter. There is also a wet fish stall parked in front of the social club, and although they try and encourage their patrons to park safely, some park in such a way that the view of drivers is sometimes obscured.
As there are multiple schools in Walderslade, children leaving and heading to and from school walk this route, and cross here for the bus stop without any safe crossing. Needless to say, any road traffic accident at these speeds involving pedestrians would be horrific and potentially fatal. Children often stop outside our house on the corner of Sussex Drive or Chestnut Avenue, grouping together in an effort to feel safe crossing the road or to get to and from the bus stop.
To sum up, many residents have been affected by this junction, or have seen so many avoidable pedestrian incidents, vehicle damage, and pet loss. We believe action needs to be taken, and some sort of traffic calming scheme is long overdue. We urge you to urgently investigate as to the safety of this junction before someone is more seriously hurt or God forbid, killed. A safe crossing should be added before the bus stop, and either traffic lights, or a roundabout to provide safe access to the junction which would hopefully in turn provide calming measures for speeding, to ensure the safety of our community and families.
Thank you for taking the time to read this petition and we hope
that we have provided you with enough information to compel you to
act and effect change at this dangerous junction.
This ePetition ran from 06/08/2024 to 06/11/2024 and has now finished.
70 people signed this ePetition.