Anti-skid surfacing is to be painted on a dangerous stretch of the ring road in Watford town centre after a two-year battle between worried residents and the county council.
Herts Highways has confirmed the corner of Exchange Road, between Watford High Street station and Vicarage Road, will now be treated with a high friction surface to stop cars skidding out of control.
The news follows a 24 month fight by furious residents who have continually asked how many more crashes they have to witness before road improvements are made.
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Residents in Lady's Close, whose houses back onto the corner, say they live in constant fear of a car ploughing into their gardens.
They say too many vehicles spin out of control as they speed around the ring-road - especially late at night - and have asked for concrete crash barriers and a speed camera to be installed on the bend.
However, Hertfordshire Highways has previously said it cannot install a speed camera on the bend because there have not been enough accidents resulting in driver injuries.
Furthermore, because of the often stationary traffic on the ring-road it does not qualify for a speed camera because motorists do not clock up an average speed to match the Government's criteria.
Herts Highways has also previously ruled out installing stronger crash barriers on the bend, saying they could contribute to more serious accidents.
This week, however, it emerged that work to improve the surface was being planned and that Herts Highways are now waiting for funding to be agreed with Hertfordshire County Council.
Once that funding has been approved work should begin immediately.
Roy Hayes, of Lady's Close, said he welcomed the news - even if it took a long campaign.
He said: "I've been voicing my concerns about the road for almost two years now and at times it has felt like you are banging your head against a brick wall."
Last October, a car smashed into a wall at the bottom of Roy's garden sending concrete blocks crashing onto his drive.
Roy added that he would still like to see efforts made to reduce the speed of vehicles on the road but admitted the new surface would be "a step in the right direction".
Ward councillor Sheila Smillie said the corner becomes a "race track" in the evenings and said it was about time something was done about it.
She said: "It is now becoming a bit of a joke because there is an accident there every week.
"There are so many ways an accident can happen there and it won't be long before someone dies on that corner."
It's interesting that Fib Dem Cllr Smillie lives in Lady's Close - nothing like looking after your own interests. Pity she doesn't work anything like as hard for the rest of Central Ward. For example why are all the gigantic buildings on the far side of the ring road blocking out the sky and nowhere near Lady's Close? I guess that's because we're all considered plebs! As far as an anti-skid surface goes that will just encourage all the Kevins to go faster!
It's interesting that Fib Dem Cllr Smillie lives in Lady's Close - nothing like looking after your own interests. Pity she doesn't work anything like as hard for the rest of Central Ward. For example why are all the gigantic buildings on the far side of the ring road blocking out the sky and nowhere near Lady's Close? I guess that's because we're all considered plebs! As far as an anti-skid surface goes that will just encourage all the Kevins to go faster!
Posted by: users.co.uk, Watford on 11:02am Fri 18 Apr 08
Modify the right-turn filter lane into Cambridge Road to start a little later and build a police layby protected (and conveniently obscured) by a crash barrier. Traffic cops can get their Dunkin Donuts and assume the position!
Modify the right-turn filter lane into Cambridge Road to start a little later and build a police layby protected (and conveniently obscured) by a crash barrier. Traffic cops can get their Dunkin Donuts and assume the position!
this has been a dangerous area for ages - esp since that car went into the near by wall. So 'IGLOO' does your comment mean no councillor can take on issues from residents who live near them !! ha I dont think so ...thank goodness you're not a councillor !!!
this has been a dangerous area for ages - esp since that car went into the near by wall. So 'IGLOO' does your comment mean no councillor can take on issues from residents who live near them !! ha I dont think so ...thank goodness you're not a councillor !!!
[quote][bold]Mr Elliott[/bold] wrote:
this has been a dangerous area for ages - esp since that car went into the near by wall. So 'IGLOO' does your comment mean no councillor can take on issues from residents who live near them !! ha I dont think so ...thank goodness you're not a councillor !!![/quote] Nothing like looking after your own - it only took 2 years - mores the oity that SS is ineffectual in all the rest of Central Ward. Of course "Mr Elliot" is pleased as punch and obvouslt doesn't care mich about the rest of our town
Mr Elliott wrote:
this has been a dangerous area for ages - esp since that car went into the near by wall. So 'IGLOO' does your comment mean no councillor can take on issues from residents who live near them !! ha I dont think so ...thank goodness you're not a councillor !!!
Nothing like looking after your own - it only took 2 years - mores the oity that SS is ineffectual in all the rest of Central Ward. Of course "Mr Elliot" is pleased as punch and obvouslt doesn't care mich about the rest of our town
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