Work to improve pedestrian safety on 'rat run' road outlined
Safety improvements have been outlined for an unlit Shropshire road which is described as a ‘rat run’ for motorists and has no footpath, despite being used by pedestrians.
Dawley Hamlets Parish Council has previously heard concerns from residents about Lightmoor Road being used by motorists from Doseley and Little Dawley to access the A4169.
Problems with traffic on the national speed limit road have been highlighted, after an approved development for 52 affordable houses has resulted in more pedestrians and car users.
Telford & Wrekin Council’s planning committee are set to meet next week to consider an application for the building of nine homes on the former Haven Boarding Kennels & Cattery site on Lightmoor Road.
Dawley Hamlets Parish Council objected to the proposal due to Lightmoor Road being considered ‘extremely dangerous for pedestrians’.
“There are many places on this road that makes it difficult for pedestrians to see oncoming vehicles and drivers to see on coming pedestrians, until the very last minute,” says the parish council in their planning objection.
“The T junction at Lightmoor Road and the A4169 is extremely busy, especially at morning and evening rush hours, this will be made worse by vehicles from the two developments.”
Telford & Wrekin Council’s highways department has supported the development with conditions.
A borough council planning officer has recommended that the development on the former Haven Boarding Kennels & Cattery site is approved by councillors.
The planning officer said that all the nine properties planned would contain three bedrooms and be two-storey homes in a ‘largely linear format’.
The council’s highways department has conditioned that the housing developer provides a footpath link from the site to the existing pedestrian facilities at the junction of Lightmoor Road.
The planning officer says that this should take place even if some of the existing carriageway is ‘encroached’ upon, although the highways authority would ‘ensure’ that the existing carriageway width is ‘maintained where possible’.
The applicant will also need to carry out appropriate resurfacing of the carriageway, where necessary.
Alongside these works the planning officer also outlined the highway improvements which would be implemented as part of homes on the former Concrete Works site.
This includes the creation of a ‘pedestrian refuge’ across the A4169.
The improvement scheme has recently been updated following a road safety audit being carried out.
Highways work will include a ‘more suitable pedestrian link’ around the radius of the Lightmoor Road/A4169 junction, which then leads to a pedestrian refuge island allowing pedestrians to cross the A4169 safely.
A footpath link will be provided from the Concrete Works site development junction, along Lightmoor Road to then tie into the other planned pedestrian facilities.
The existing, ‘unsuitable route’ through the woodland area will be closed off to ‘make sure pedestrians utilise the safer route’.
“Taking all of the above into consideration the local highways authority are satisfied that suitable pedestrian facilities for residents wishing to cross the A4169 would then be available for not only the residents associated to the Haven Boarding Kennels development but the Former Concrete Works development also,” says the planning officer’s report to councillors.
“Officers are confident that these highway works will come forward in the near future and will allow the occupants of these proposed dwellings to utilise them.”