Tower Hill Safety Campaign Update

We've been working with neighbourhood watch representatives and the local police on a project to prove the growing hazards at the Tower Hill/Walsall Road junction following last year's fatal accident.

On Thursday Jon Hunt went with Avril Child, whose daughter Sarah was killed last year, to present the findings to a meeting with senior traffic engineers.

We've been counting pedestrians and cars, checking speeds with police help and counting driver behaviour. All this followed the petition we collected of about 1,000 signatures calling for traffic speeds to be controlled at this junction - and other measures.

Our monitoring shows that in spite of there being two pelican crossings in this neighbourhood, most people cross on the unprotected crossing facing the Co-op. At the busiest time there can be 100 people crossing here an hour and 500 vehicles going through the traffic lights.

It shows that while there is a problem of speeding and illegal u-turns the biggest problem drivers pose is through jumping red lights. Dozens are doing this, especially during rush hour. But there's also quite a lot of evidence of speeding.

There weren't as many u-turns as we expected. That was a good thing because it turned out that every u-turn at this junction is highly dangerous - vehicles invariable are turning into pedestrians crossing the road. Several times our monitors saw elderly people using the pelican south of the junction have to be pulled back as cars u-turned through the green, pedestrian light.

We presented all this to senior engineers and they've agreed to investigate a number of steps to improve safety.

This includes testing a so-called "red" phase. This means that all vehicles would be stopped for a period of about 20 seconds to allow pedestrians to cross the unprotected crossings (and the south-bound crossing) more safely.

They'll also look at measures to deter drivers from attempting u-turns.

Tower Hill safety campaign updates

Karen Hamilton and Jon Hunt with petition outside Co-op

Karen Hamilton asked transport cabinet member Cllr Tahir Ali about progress on the Tower Hill safety petition at the monthly city council meeting yesterday.

Cllr Ali replied:  "I can confirm that following the recent fatal collision at the junction of Walsall Road and Tower Hill, Highway officers have met with West Midlands Police to assist in the course of the investigation. As is the procedure in these cases, the Police will submit a report to the Coroner’s Court, with their recommendations as to potential road improvements that should be considered in light of the circumstances of the incident.

"Whilst we will need to wait until the outcome of the Coroner’s Inquiry, to understand what recommendations will be brought forward, please be assured that Highways officers are in close contact with both the Police and the Coroner’s Office, to ensure that they have our full assistance in reaching those recommendations."

* Other related developments: The city council yesterday backed a Lib Dem initiative to introduce more 20mph zones in residential areas. Ray Hassall got to speak in the debate.

* We're consulting residents about the 952 bus route. Our suggestion is to reverse the direction around the Beeches and Booths Farm estates so it does not have to stop at the top of Beeches Road. This would also help deal with some of the bottle-neck issues around the route. We've put forward the idea as Centro have announced a review of bus routes in north Birmingham. We understand that operator National Express agrees there are problems. At the moment bus drivers have to pull out from the left hand bus lane on the Walsall Road to get into the right filter for Beeches Road. They are then stuck at a bus stop preventing other right turning traffic getting down Beeches Road.

* Karen also presented more signatures from the petition to the council meeting.

SUPER SURGERY PLAN

COLLECTING VIEWS
Local health officials are proposing to request planning permission for a new super-surgery for GP services at 481 Walsall Road (on the corner of Perry Park Crescent). The development would include 58 assisted living dwellings for the elderly. It will also mean three of our local GP practices move on to the one site:

•  Tower Hill Medical Centre
•  Great Barr Surgery, Thornbridge Avenue 
• High Trees Surgery, Walsall Road.

 We've been asking local residents what they think about this and replies have been coming back with a whole range of views.

 Here's some pros and cons:

•  Getting there on foot: harder for many, easier for some; 
• Getting there by car: many people will have to u-turn at Tower Hill and at Rocky Lane;
• Car parking: may be easier than at Tower Hill, depending on spaces ;
• Getting there by bus: about the same as Tower Hill and Hightree. The 51 and 952 stop close by. 
•  Medical services: we're told that some out-patient clinics and other services from hospital may move there - so this may be easier for some ;
•  Assisted living homes: this must be a plus for our community; 
•  Improved premises. Great Barr and High Trees are said to need 'major renovation'. 

 We'll be questioning the developers aat the next Perry Barr ward committee on Thursday October 13th. It's at 7pm at Perry Hall Methodist Church, Rocky Lane and all are welcome to come and participate. We'll be looking in detail at traffic implications and what might be done about them.

Councillor Ray Hassall, chair of the ward committee, said: "This will be a massive change in local GP services, which could deliver big improvements, and until recently only a handful of residents had been consulted. There are many issues to consider, especially making traffic access safe.

"There are also a number of people, especially the elderly and disabled, who are concerned they may now find it a struggle to get to their doctor's. We want to know what will be done to help them."