Police FOI road statistics '˜shocking and appalling'

Campaigners are fighting for safety measures – such as a crossing – on Stanifield Lane.

They are angry Lancashire County Council has rejected their calls.

But they say their objections are further suppported following a Freedom of Information request to Lancashire Police earler this month.

South Ribble councillor Paul Wharton, who represents Farington East ward, made the FOI asking: “Please provide details of the number of recorded traffic offences for Stanifield Lane, Farington, broken down into individual offence categories betewen January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2016.

The reply included:

* Eight for not wearing a seat belt.

* One for a diver not in a position to have proper control.

* 97 for exceeding the 30mph limit.

* Four for driving while using a mobile phone.

Councillor Wharton, who highlights that there were 10 accidents last year, on a 30mph section of road less that one mile long, with a primary school, park and children’s playground off it, said: “Lancashire County Council are still defiant in their response that Stanifield Lane does not justify for any extra road safety measures, for example a fixed enforcement camera.

“The results are really shocking to read, and show a significant ongoing issue that plights the residents I represent.

“I urge them to rethink their approach, and listen to local residents and councillors prior to a serious incident taking place.”

He was supported by Lancashire County and South Ribble Borough councillor Michael Green, who said: “I was appalled to read the figures which show the large number of drivers that have been recorded speeding along such a short stretch of a built up area.

“This reflects the many accidents that have taken place on this road in recent times, and in my view this issue should be taken more seriously, particularly given the presence of a well used park and play area in the locality.”

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “As part of the Lancashire Road Watch Programme, we work with the police to identify places where communities are particularly concerned about speeding, and Stanifield Lane is a site where mobile speed enforcement is carried out.

“We have investigated safety on Stanifield Lane, and found there is no record of injuries to pedestrians, or pattern of other incidents, which suggest there is a need for safety engineering measures.”

John Fillis, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transort, previously replied following campaigners’ request for a crossing.

He explained that highway officers had reviewed the pedestrian count data last March and that the senior traffic engineer was consulted and there was no change in the previous response.

He said: “The pedestrian count shows that only a total (counting pedestrians on both sides of the road) of 72 pedestrians walked down Stanifield Lane within a 12 hour period, equating to six per hour.”