Safety concerns of Oxhey Avenue and Pinner Road junction

The Oxhey Avenue and Pinner Road junction just by Table Hall Nursery has sparked concerns of potential serious accidents as parents going to and leaving the nursery commonly cross by an unsafe spot near the junction opposed to the pedestrian crossing further up the road.

For the sake of convenience, parents commonly choose to cross the main road at the junction of Oxhey Avenue, as it’s a quicker way to access their parked cars.

The junction’s width prevents people from Pinner Road parking outside their homes, which helps contributes to traffic and cars turning right – opposed to left – at the junction to cut time which people fear could lead to an accident.

Many cars take an unsafe turn at the junction of Oxhey Avenue / Pinner Road

Hertfordshire County Council says that there are no reports of serious incidents by the junction – but Andrew Filer, from Oxhey, worries there is “high potential” for an accident.

He said: “This is a real issue and playing with people’s lives, we need to address this to prevent a parent and toddler being knocked over or a traffic accident as cars are in the wrong place.

“Before lockdown this was getting serious, now with the restrictions being lifted, it can only revert to the high potential for an accident.”

Cllr Maggie Parker, an independent for the Oxhey ward, has been calling for the county council to issue a formal review as a precaution before any accidents take place.

She believes that it is better to look into the issue now, before the junction could possibly claim a life.

The councillor said: “I feel that a formal review needs to take place to review the junction on Pinner/Oxhey Avenue as parents have to cross a very busy stretch of road with babies and young children.

“I am getting nowhere with the county councillor for Oxhey in regards to a review – I have discussed it with the manager of Table Hall and she very much supports a review to see if anything can be done to improve safety.

“Perhaps an island would help, but without a review how do we know what is possible.”

Many cars take an unsafe turn at the junction of Pinner Road / Oxhey Avenue

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst has explained that the issue has been looked at based on criteria from the department of transport that it is not likely that moving a pedestrian crossing would meet the criteria - and if it were to be moved it required the junction to be closed off.

The county council also believes there is no need for a review as no accident has taken place.

A spokesperson said: “We have checked the data provided by the police on personal injury collisions at this junction, and can confirm there have been none in the latest five year period for which data is available.

“Hence the highway authority would consider this location to be ‘safe’, and we would not direct collision reduction budgets to this site, as this budget is prioritised to the sites countywide with the greatest number of personal injury collisions.

“It was noted that vehicles were parking on the footway at this junction, restricting visibility and sightlines between motorists and pedestrians. Highway Locality Budget funding was used to install bollards on the pavement to prevent this pavement parking, hence improving sightlines and making sure road users at the junction can see and be seen.

“After the May elections, the elected county councillor for this area will be able to consider using their Highway Locality Budget to fund a feasibility study to investigate options for making the junction feel less dangerous for road users.”