Traffic concerns rage on after decade of complaints
FORMER LORRY DRIVER SAYS NORTH ROAD IS NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE
A FORMER lorry driver who ten years ago campaigned for change because of traffic problems in his west Hull street says nothing has altered in the decade since.
David Godbold, 59, has recently returned to the home he had built in North Road and claims there is no difference now to when he last lived there.
“I got a petition together ten years ago which was just dismissed by the council,” said Mr Godbold.
“I have just come back in December and still nothing has been done.”
Mr Godbold, who lives near Francis Askew Primary School, said: “There has been a big increase in lorries using the route, which is part of the Hull ring road. It’s not fit for purpose.
“You have to drive on the other side of the road, right across the white line, to be able to pass the parked cars.
“It’s difficult getting past in a car so you can imagine what it’s like when there’s a lorry coming down the other way.”
Mr Godbold said he believes lorries should be rerouted via Askew Avenue, which runs parallel to North Road, because it is wider and more suited to heavy traffic.
“I spoke to someone from highways and all he said was that they were going to contact any lorry firms in the area and ask them not to use North Road, but I am an EX-HGV driver and I know exactly what a lorry driver will do.
“He will put his sat-nav on and he won’t care a monkey’s about what his firm has said.”
Mr Godbold said: “They have put speed bumps in to reduce speeds near the school, but the cars and lorries hit the bumps and it shakes my house. Cracks have appeared in the top of the house.”
Mr Godbold said he was also disappointed about the amount of rubbish that was also now prevalent in the area.
“People don’t seem to have any pride in where they live,” he said.
“I am absolutely ashamed to see how much the city of culture has deteriorated certainly in this part of Hull.
“There used to be street cleaners when I moved away.”
Hull’s Lord Mayor Councillor Lynn Petrini, who is a local councillor for the Newington and Gipsyville ward, said: “I have always been aware of the problems of North Road being part of the ring road because of the narrowness of the road and, being fully tree-lined as well, that does not help.
“It’s something have raised many, many times in the past with the council. It’s an ongoing issue.”
Cllr Petrini said she tried to avoid using North Road herself because of the traffic situation.
“I know they were looking at ways of changing the ring road, but I don’t know how far they have got, things have got put back because of Covid-19.”
Cllr Petrini said: “Francis Askew Primary School is down there as well and, even though there is a 20mph zone there, unfortunately drivers don’t take notice and we can’t have the police there 24/7.”
Options to improve the way traffic moves around Hull away from the city centre were due to be examined by scrutiny councillors in September.
A new outer ring road is considered by some to be the best long-term solution, but likely to cost millions.
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The current route varies from narrow single carriageways passing through residential areas such as North Road and Calvert Lane in west Hull to dual carriageways in Sutton Road between Holwell Road and Stockholm Road in east Hull.
The route is popular with lorry drivers who want to avoid the city or using the A63.
The last review of the route was carried out a decade ago when the city council suggested signposting an alternative ring road route from the A63 at the Humber Bridge to the north-east of Hull via the A164 and the A1079 before reconnecting with the existing route through east Hull.
At the time, East Riding Council refused to support the idea, claiming it was inappropriate due to existing congestion levels on its network.
The traffic concerns raised by Mr Godbold this week were put to Hull City Council.
A spokesperson for the council said: “We have previously carried out traffic management surveys to determine whether there is an issue in this area, however, none have been identified that require any remedial action.”
You have to drive on the other side of the road, right across the white line, to be able to pass the parked cars
Mr Godbold