Residents fear fatality at accident black spot
ASIGN labelling a busy Birmingham junction ‘‘crash corner’’ has appeared in front of a smashed wall in Moseley.
Neighbours say the wall at Mark House flats in Wake Green Road has been rebuilt several times over the past few years – only to be knocked down again and again.
Locals claim there have been eight serious crashes over the last ten years at the junction with Anderton Park Road, which is approached via a blind bend.
With speeding also reported to be an issue on the road, neighbours fear the next collision could be fatal.
The resident who painted the sign asked to remain anonymous. The man said: “Over the last ten years there have been eight major crashes into these walls – two this year.
“We don’t know whether anyone has been seriously injured because the majority of crashes happen at night. By the time we wake up in the morning, somebody has towed the cars away and it’s just glass and broken bumpers left.
“It’s a blind bend so cars coming out of Anderton Park Road can’t see if cars are coming round the bend on Wake Green Road. It’s very dangerous to cross over the road there.
“We’ve had the telephone exchange box knocked over and the street sign knocked over. The walls are supported by solid earth so if these crashes can cause this much
damage to a wall, they could definitely kill a pedestrian.
“We have a gardening club which does all of the flower beds along the wall and make it look lovely, then someone crashes into it and ruins it again. Every time we have to wait for the management company to make a claim to get it fixed and it takes three to six months every time.
“We have a problem with speeding along Wake Green Road as well, which makes it even more dangerous. People are fed up, we need someone to do something about it; perhaps a mirror on the bend so drivers can see who’s coming, or a sign that flashes to tell drivers when they’re going over the speed limit.”
Another resident, Paul Chaplin, said: “I’ve lost count of the amount of crashes on that corner. Every time, the wall gets knocked down, someone rebuilds it, and then it’s knocked down again.
“I see someone has put a sign up – good on them. Something needs to be done before someone is hurt.”
Moseley councillor Izzy Knowles said options were ‘‘limited’’ to resolve the issue due to council funding, but added that a site visit was being requested with the city council highways department.
She said: “St Bernard’s School in Moseley has also written to me about speeding and safety issues on Wake Green Road so I have requested a site visit. There are certainly discussions to be had and a site visit would allow us to look at what can be done to make this junction safer.”