LONG-RUNNING calls for action to be taken on a ‘dangerous’ road have finally been answered.
Sandy Bridge Lane in Shafton has been made a priority by the Royston Neighbourhood Team after concerns with speeding and high crash rates on the road were lodged with council and police bosses at a recent PACT meeting.
It means more police patrols will take place on the road to deter incidents, while speed gun operations will be scheduled to catch out speeding motorists.
Dave North, who chairs both Shafton Parish Council and the local crime and safety group, said: “We’ve been asking for action for a long time and have even had meetings with Barnsley Council on Sandy Bridge Lane to express our concerns.
“Unfortunately we’ve had weekly collisions for a long time, yet no-one has wanted to do anything about it. It seems Barnsley Council won’t act until there’s a death which to me is ludicrous.
“Everything we have asked for, whether it’s better signage, an electronic speed indicator or chevrons, has been rejected. We’re not asking for the moon, we’re asking for essential measures to be brought in to save lives.
“It’s all speed-related there and you often see people doing double the limit. The 30mph signpost is still in the ditch and there was another accident there last week.
“Everyone is in agreement that action needs to be taken - apart from the council.”
Although the council ruled out traffic-calming measures following a site meeting with Shafton Parish Council earlier this year - where highways bosses said it wasn’t on the ‘worst-first list’ - Acting Sergeant Darrell Needham instated Sandy Bridge Lane as the area’s PACT priority due to demand.
He said: “It’s clear a lot of people want to see some police presence to deter speeding and hopefully reduce the likelihood of further crashes.
“We will see how it goes for the next few weeks and report back to the next meeting on December 6.”
