Urgent review on road safety ahead of community centre opening in Dudley
Urgent safety measures are needed on a notorious route into Dudley ahead of the opening of a new community centre, it has been claimed.
Ward councillor Ken Finch insists action is needed on Priory Road in Dudley, where two people have died in the last year.
A new community centre is set to open within weeks opposite Aldi at the busy junction with Birmingham New Road, sparking fears more traffic could put safety at risk.
Councillor Finch, who represents the Castle and Priory ward, said that the road was getting 'more and more dangerous by the day'.
Speed calming measures were called for on the stretch earlier this year, but still nothing has been done.
Now, a speed limit enforcement is being asked for in the wake of the community centre opening.
"It is impossible to cross the road at peak times. We need to remember that there will be more traffic turning into the road and heading towards the community centre when it opens in the coming weeks," he said.
"It is getting more and more dangerous by the day.
"We need to the trees pruned for more street light and we should put a speed limit in place and properly enforce it.
"We need highway bosses to come up with some ideas, and quickly. It seems that the road has just been left alone now but this is a problem that will not go away.
"Every week when we have our community surgeries we are asked by residents 'what are you doing about the road?' and we can't answer them. We are talking to officers and highways people but nothing is coming out of it.
"We are in fear of another tragic accident, especially with more people coming to the area."
Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environment, said that work was 'prioritised where needed'.
"Ensuring our roads are safe is important to us and we continually review our highway network, prioritising work where it is needed. We carried out a safety review of Priory Road last year and no additional measures were required," she added.
In October last year, teenager Georgie Ann Evans was killed in a crash on the road, while pensioner Arthur Fletcher died when hit by a car in December.
Polish immigrant Kuba Oles was jailed for six years after his Audi A6, travelling at up to 100mph in the 30mph zone, struck Miss Evans’ car.
