Residents call for measures to make dangerous junction safer

CONCERNED residents are calling for measures to make a notoriously dangerous junction safer after the latest crash saw a lamp-post nearly cut in half.

Those living near the junction of Victoria Road and Sidmouth Drive in Ruislip Manor say accidents there are a regular occurrence and something desperately needs to be done.

Their calls come after a serious accident on October 10 in which a car coming down Victoria crashed after the driver tried to avoid hitting a car pulling out of Sidmouth.

Michael McGlinchey, who lives next to the junction, said: "I never turn right onto Victoria from Sidmouth because it's almost impossible.

"There needs to be traffic controls of some sort there. There's space for a mini roundabout or failing that, I think traffic lights should be installed before someone is killed."

Mark Alden, 45, who lives opposite the junction, said: "People turning right out of Sidmouth have to pull out virtually into the middle of Victoria to see if there's anything coming because of the parked cars.

"The cars coming along Victoria are also regularly doing more than 40mph and because of the parked cars, they don't know Sidmouth is there so they don't slow down.

"Victoria is also used by children attending Ruislip High School and if the accident on October 10 had happened at 3.30pm in the week there would have certainly been school children casualties or even fatalities.

"The council have known about this black spot since at least April 2004.

"We, the residents, would like to see either Sidmouth blocked so there is no exit to Victoria or the speed between the Black Bull pub and Bessingby Road reduced to 20mph and enforced by speed cameras."

The Gazette ran a campaign to make Victoria Road safer last year after a pedestrian was killed.

The council put up speed activated signs. but they were taken down a few months later to be moved somewhere else.

Manor councillor, Mike Cox, said: "I have reported the Sidmouth Drive junction to the council on a few occasions in the last few years and I've basically been told that they won't do anything about it.

"It's very difficult for people to turn out of Sidmouth, but it's also dangerous if you are turning right into it because you are almost sitting facing on coming traffic. "

Mary Worrall, head of highways and green spaces at the council, said: "The council has installed 'route alert' signs on Victoria Road, which have shown to contribute to a decrease in the number of accidents.

"We have also recently extended the 20mph zone in Sidmouth Drive as far as the junction of Victoria Road to reduce speeding."

What do you think? Email charlenemitchell@trinitysouth.co.uk or call her on 07795 811 367.