Support for road safety campaign

A scheme to improve the safety of a road in Southwell has received unanimous support from residents.

About 75 people attended a meeting at the Bramley Apple pub where the plans were presented by Nottinghamshire county councillor Mr Bruce Laughton and county council highways officers.

The plans would see the width of the pavement on the south side of Church Street widened so safety bollards could be installed.

Double yellow lines would be painted outside the Bramley Apple to prevent parked vehicles obstructing the view of oncoming traffic.

Residents supported the scheme, and the highways officers noted any concerns raised.

The campaigners said they were disappointed that signs advising heavy goods vehicles not to use the A612 through Southwell had not yet been erected.

Residents also raised concerns that the improved 20mph advisory speed limit signs on Church Street and Easthorpe were not particularly effective, but they hoped they would help once the new scheme was implemented.

Residents began working with the county council after a van hit two properties on Church Street belonging to Mr and Mrs Andy Wimble.

A member of the group, Mrs Katy Todd, said: “There have been too many incidents — a woman cleaning her windows was hit on the side of her head and a man waiting for a bus had his hat taken off by bus wing-mirrors on two separate occasions.

“Twice vehicles hit scaffolding erected on the pavement for house repairs and a lorry dragged a car along until it was stopped by a house.

“There are too many incidents of cars and vans being scraped and run into and the speed and weight of lorries, buses and tractors is causing damage to homes.”

Last month, the Bramley Apple sign was damaged. There is a long history of impact by vehicles on properties and, say residents, it is only time before someone is killed.

Mrs Todd said: “This is a medieval road where most of the houses are well over 100 years old and some more than 250 years old and it is not suitable for 21st Century traffic, especially if HGVs are to increase in length by a further 7ft, as proposed earlier this year.

“Towns and villages like Southwell just cannot take it. Enough is enough.”