Summer plans for safety work (From Gazette Series)

Summer plans for safety work

ROAD safety improvements in a rural village could start in the summer but a resident campaigning for improvements has told the Gazette the council said same thing last year.

Last week the Gazette reported Stone resident Stephen Burt's frustration at what he called Gloucestershire County Council's stalling on starting £40,000 worth of road improvements on the A38 through the village.

Mr Burt said the problem was lorries using the busy commuter road and parents drove their children to Stone with Woodford Primary School because it was too dangerous to walk.

This week the county council revealed that consultation with the parish council had just finished and work could start in the summer but gave no definite date.

Council spokeswoman Nicola Wood said: "Within the capital programme for the 2005-2006 financial year is a scheme designed to improve road safety by reducing the speed of traffic on the A38 through Stone.

The scheme comprises reduction of the speed limit on the A38 to 40mph, vehicle activated speed limit signs, new pedestrian refuge island and widening existing two pedestrian refuge islands, reduction of available carriageway width by improvements to the white lining and a 20mph speed limit outside the school itself, together with footway widening at the junction with the A38.

"The scheme has been consulted upon with the parish council and the parish council is happy with the content of the scheme.

"If we do not receive objections to the proposed reduction in speed restrictions, I would anticipate that the measures will be implemented during the summer."

In response to the statement Mr Burt said: "It was the same reply as I had last year. What summer do they mean? 2005? 2006? 2007? 2008?

"Last year they said this year, now they are saying next year, and next year they will say the following year. Why can't they say something very simple like work will commence in July 2005? It's not difficult.

"What I can tell you is that they promised the same before. The £40,000 was approved two years ago - so why haven't they started?

"I am not going to disappear and keep quiet. After all it is our tax money they are spending, so I don't think it's wrong for them to be made accountable for where they spend it either."