‘Danger’ road needs safety measures
Councillor says some cars travel at double the 30mph limit
SAFETY improvements must be made to a ‘dangerous’ road before there are more serious accidents, a councillor is demanding.
A total of 350 people, according to Labour councillors, have signed a petition calling for a pedestrian crossing and traffic-calming measures, such as speed tables, in Swan Road, West Drayton.
In 2005, two teenagers died in a drink-driving crash in the road, which connects Station Road with The Green, while in November last year a bus crashed there in a head-on collision.
Calls for a 20mph speed limit on the road had been rejected by Hillingdon Council following a previous petition, which had many fewer signatures, as the council said average speeds were below the existing 30mph limit.
But Labour councillor Janet Duncan, who presented the latest petition to the council on Friday, June 5, said cars often sped down the road at up to 60mph and the average speed was only so low because of heavy traffic during peak hours.
“There are several bottlenecks in the road where cars have to stop, so if the average speed is 28mph it’s clear some drivers are going much faster than that. You get cars going 50 or 60mph outside peak hours, which is really dangerous,” she said.
“Last year there was a head-on collision with a bus, which could have been much nastier than it turned out to be.
“My fellow (West Drayton) ward councillor Jan Sweeting, who is supporting the petition, had a wing mirror knocked off when a car whizzed past. This road can be very dangerous, especially for drivers not familiar with it.”
The petition, which has the backing of Hayes & Harlington MP John McDonnell, was organised by Vladimir Matveev, who owns the Swan Guest House, in Swan Road.
About 100 of the signatures were collected by three children living in The Green – Livinia Stanley, seven, Oscar Stanley, five, and Sriana Bains, eight.
Swan Road is close to St Catherine Catholic Primary School, in Money Road, and is used by many pupils walking there.
Ms Duncan said St Catherine was not currently on the council’s list of schools to get 20mph zones around them but she hoped it would eventually be added and that the zone would include Swan Road.
A council spokeswoman said: “We have received the petition. We welcome all petitions and this one will be considered in the usual manner.
“Regarding St Catherine Catholic Primary School, should information supporting changes to the speed limit around that school come to light the council will ensure this is considered.”