Campaign to make Denshaw Road safer gathers momentum
The campaign is the most recent in a series of road safety petitions started by concerned locals
Pic: Clare Grainger and her family where children get the bus
Submitted by Clare Grainger
A campaign to reduce the speed limit on Denshaw Road/Delph Road has been launched by a concerned Delph mum.
Clare Grainger has witnessed several near misses on the road in only a few months on the road which is currently marked as the national speed limit.
Clare Grainger believes the road would be safer for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists if the speed was reduced to 40mph, particularly as there is no safe place to cross close the bend near West View, where schoolchildren use the bus stop daily.
She said: “I’ve seen near misses and pets killed, so other residents must have witnessed lots of dangerous driving over the years. It’s a longstanding issue that many people are worried about.
“Because of the bend in the road, high walls and lack of pavement on one side, it’s very tricky to see the cars, and terrifying trying to cross with young children. Local residents and schoolchildren use the bus stop there, and it’s on a hiking route.
“I understand Highways England might be reviewing it soon, so it could be our chance to have a say on how the speed affects us, and make it safer for everyone.”
There have been many incidents on the road over the years – including fatalities, serious accidents, several minor crashes and pets killed. The danger can be amplified in winter, with locals parking on the main road when the side roads are too icy or snowy.
There are also more residents and visitors in the area than there were when the limit was set, including parents and staff using Swan Meadow Cottage nursery.
Local councillor Pam Byrne said: “Many things have changed since that speed limit was put in place and we should re-examine when circumstances change. There are more people living in that area than there used to be.”
The campaign is the latest in a series of road safety campaigns started by locals concerned about speeds on the roads. There has been a petition for speed cameras and signs warning ‘Drive like your kids live here’ in Denshaw, and a successful campaign to reduce the speeds through Dobcross to 20mph, among others.
Clare added: “There seems to be a mental trigger that makes some drivers go as fast as they can when they see ‘national speed limit’, and sometimes overtake or drive aggressively if the cars in front are slower.
"I guess you can never completely stop these people, but most people do abide by the laws, and if the road was slower, it would make us feel safer.
“At 40mph, it gives pedestrians and people pulling out of side roads that bit longer to make a decision, and more chance for drivers to see them. I think authorities can say these things depend on the number of crashes, but there have already been fatalities on the road – and who wants their child to be the next victim?”
The petition can be found here.
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