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Updated 30 March 2008
Update on Road Safety Group Activities
As a result of pressure
from the Parish Council, LCC Highways have recently made an effort to
carry out some long overdue repairs including replacing damaged fences and
missing signs, investigating flooding from blocked drains and ditches on
Ulnes Walton Lane. They are also looking at dropping some kerbstones on
Wymott Estate to make it safer for prams and wheelchairs to cross the
road.
Some time ago the Road
Safety Group produced a leaflet to be given to non residents who had
occasion to travel through Ulnes Walton. Whether this had an effect we do
not know, but it would be nice to think so. However, as part of the Parish
Plan review and the provision of information to the community it was
decided to make this leaflet available to all households and you will find
a copy in the forthcoming newsletter. Please read it and although it seems
blatantly obvious to most motorists, and other road users, it may just
revive old memories and make our roads a little bit safer.
Finally PLEASE don’t
forget to report any accidents you see with as much or as little
information you can. If we want to influence LCC we must have evidence.
Report them to me or any member of the Parish Council.
If you are interested in
learning more about the activities of the Road Safety Group, please
contact Brendon Pickthall on Tel: 01772 600232.
The Ulnes Walton Road Safety Group was formed in March 2006 by
residents to address concerns expressed in the Parish Plan about road
safety in the parish. The first project will concentrate on Ulnes Walton
Lane and it aims to make the road safer for all users including pedestrians;
cyclists; equestrians as well as careful motorists. The group is not exclusive
and meetings are open to anyone who has concerns about road safety in the Parish
and is willing to take some action through collecting data and lobbying those
who hold the purse strings. The aim of the group is to present a feasible
action plan via the Parish Council to Lancashire County Council to encourage
them either by reason or pressure to take some action. To ensure maximum
impact is achieved we need help from all residents of Ulnes Walton through feed
back from questionnaires; attendance at meetings; reporting of accidents etc.
PLEASE HELP US TO IMPROVE THE
ROAD SAFETY FOR THE VILLAGE
Recent News....
26 February 2007
Ulnes Walton Lane Weight Limit breach - HELP US TO HELP YOU
Following complaints from residents about vehicles breaching the 7.5t
weight limit along Ulnes Walton Lane contact has been made with two local
businesses whose vehicles are associated with operations in the area.
Below are extracts of their responses, their help and co operation with
this matter is much appreciated, if residents are able to note the
registration of any vehicles they feel are in breach of the weight
restriction please advise Brendon Pickthall, Chairman of the Road Safety
Group so the companies concerned can be notified.
1. Veolia better known as Cleanaway the refuse disposal company.
Letter received from Paul Rea, Veolia Municipal Operation Manager –
Chorley
The depot here at Leyland Operates four vehicles within the 7.5t category
all other vehicles are outside the weight limit. We must however take into
account the services we have to provide to the residents in terms of
removing the waste products from the properties on Ulnes Walton Lane.
Taking this into account we have implemented instructions to the entire
workforce that no vehicles are to use Ulnes Walton Lane unless to remove
waste products. This means that on each Monday there will be one vehicle
carrying out the collections and on a Friday one smaller vehicle to access
properties that have access restrictions.
As a company we are proactive in supporting the community and portray very
large policies in safety not only for the workforce but also the
residents.
The company have asked that any registration numbers of vehicles clearly
breaking the restriction be reported to them.
2. Interserve is the company overseeing the new build at HMP Garth
MEMORANDUM ISSUED BY SIMON WALTON, PROJECT MANAGER - INTERSERVE PROJECT
SERVICES LIMITED.
We have been advised by Ulnes Walton Parish Council that there are a large
number of HGV’s utilizing Ulnes Walton Lane and which could be (though not
proven) destined for this contract. It was made clear in our contract
documents that Ulnes Walton Lane has a weight restriction of 7.5t and is
for access only. Whilst it’s appreciated that you require materials for
your package, we instruct you to inform your delivery companies not to
break the Highway Code. We have also been advised that if this continues
the Parish Council will ask the Police to enforce the Law, a matter that
will be beyond our control. However, to assist you, The Parish Council,
the residents and Interserve, your help will be much appreciated.
Brendon Pickthall can be contacted on – 01772 600232 or
e-mail.
27 September 2006
Villagers Take Action To Curb Traffic Nuisance
Sick and tired of having to run the rigours of speeding vehicles and
inconsiderate road users along the country lanes, a group of residents
have decided it is time to take action. With the backing of the Parish
Council, the Ulnes Walton Road Safety Group, has been was formed to
address concerns intially expressed in the Parish Plan about road safety
in the parish.
The aim of the group is to present a feasible action plan via the
Parish Council to Lancashire County Council and to encourage them by
either reason or pressure to take ac¬tion. The first project concentrates
on Ulnes Walton Lane and its aims are to make this road safer for all
users in¬cluding pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians, as well as careful
motorists.
The group is representative of all sections of the community including
Officers from HMP Wymott and Garth so it can present a comprehensive view
of the overall problem and monitor any action taken. This is not just
about targeting speeding motorists but also all those who are selfish, or
careless about the needs of other users. It is not only motorists who fall
into this category!
To make sure maximum impact is created with the appropriate authorities
support is needed from all residents. ¬A questionnaire has recently been
distributed to household on Ulnes Walton Lane which has seen a 90% return,
with residents making many comments about their concerns for safety on the
local roads.
A grant has been awarded by the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety
to compile a leaflet highlighting the road safety issues and dangers for
traveling on the parishes roads which will be distributed to all business
and employers in the area, and placed at strategic points around the
village in the hope it will encourage road users, in particular those
passing through the village on a regular basis, to take more care and give
consideration to others.
Further details can be obtained from
Brendon Pickthall Chairman of the Road Safety Group on 01772 600232
22 June 2006
The County Council's View On Parish Road
Maintenance
The Parish Council have for some time been lobbying Lancashire County
Council to replace the warn out cats eyes along Ulnes Walton Lane, as it
is considered to be a fundamental part of the road safety measures along
the Lane. Having been told that there is no money in the Lancashire County
Council budget to replace cats eyes anywhere in the County the matter was
referred to County Councillor Whittaker, below is an extract from his
reply.
"In relation to your query regarding cats eyes on Ulnes Walton Lane, as
with most things these days, the answer lies in budget constraints and the
necessity to prioritise items.
Faced with a less than adequate grant settlement from Central Government
and faced with ever–increasing inflationary pressures on the Highways
budget, and also being aware of the Government’s clear advise about
Council Tax increases limited to 5%, many desirable activities have had to
be curtailed.
The provision of cats eyes on Ulnes Walton Lane, which is a “C” road, is
just one example and, being totally frank, I cannot hold out much hope for
this work being undertaken in the near future.
Mr Taylor, to whom you refer, is the Area Surveyor and he has
responsibility for some 1300 kilometres within the South region. He is
obviously aware of priorities within this area and he will make those
recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, County
Councillor Tony Martin, who, to be very specific, in response to your
letter , is the County Councillor responsible for the budget within the
Environment Directorate.
I understand that white lines have been painted and that work has been
completed."
If you have any views on this matter please make them known to the Parish
Council by writing to or emailing the Clerk to the Council or the Road
Safety Group Chairman, Brendon Pickthall, Lostock Brow Farm, Ulnes Walton
Lane, Ulnes Walton, Nr Leyland PR26 8LT.
21 June 2006
Accident Statistics For Ulnes Walton
Lancashire County Council operate a very useful data base called Mario,
which is open is public access and may be used for research and
statistical purposes. One area covers road traffic accidents and below is
a summary of the accidents statistics for Ulnes Walton as recorded by the
reports to Police etc.
The County Council use these statistics to programme the road safety
schemes to it is important that accidents are reported.
The Ulnes Walton Road Safety Group is keeping a log of accidents in the
Parish, no matter how small, so it important that residents feed this
information either directly to the Group or via the Parish Council, to
enable the community to lobby for improvements.
Click here to see the
statistics.
Questionnaire
You may have seen in the parish newsletter the above group was set up
earlier this year
to address the concerns of the many people who have genuine fears of the
lack of safety on the roads of Ulnes Walton.
As a first project we are concentrating on improving the situation on
Ulnes Walton Lane.
All the members of the road safety group actually live on the lane and we
have first hand experience of the dangers it poses to residents.
We intend to raise all our concerns and propose any practical solutions
with all relevant authorities with a view to formulating an action plan.
In order to obtain maximum effect, especially where publicity is
concerned, we need to have the backing of all residents on Ulnes Walton
Lane. It is vitally important, therefore, that you take just a few minutes
and complete a questionnaire.
We appreciate that some people do not like having their address on
anything that looks official but it is important for the analysis of
specific concerns on each part of the lane. Please be assured that the
paragraph relating to the data protection act on the bottom of the
questionnaire will be strictly adhered to.
The anonymous results will be published in the parish newsletter so you
will be kept informed every step of the way.
Please do not ignore this as if everyone replies the authorities including
LCC, Chorley Borough and the police will have to listen and if they listen
we have a chance of making a change.
We look forward to receiving your opinions.
Click here to view the
questionnaire. Please forward them by post or email to the Parish
Clerk.
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