Safety plans over 'hazardous stretch' of road

A road near a town centre will be looked at as a "special case" for safety improvements after a crash in which teenagers were injured.

Former senior West Midlands Police officer Mike Doyle urged Solihull Council to take action on Church Hill Road, after previously warning that speeding was so bad residents were selling up.

There had been two extremely serious incidents this year alone, said councillor Samantha Gethen, who represents the ward, describing the road as a "hazardous stretch."

The authority's head of highways management, Paul Tovey, told a council meeting there was an "emerging trend" in the road which was why action was being considered.

Repainting of white lines, new signage and periodic traffic enforcement by police had been welcome steps, but more needed to be done, Gethen said.

In response to a question from other councillors about what made Church Hill Road a special case, Tovey said it was partly down to the number of pedestrians in the area heading to school and college.

Drivers did not always slow down approaching the two bends, as you would expect, he added, with some driving above 45mph in a 30 zone.

Cabinet member Ken Hawkins, who brought the special case for the road forward, agreed to approve the development of a traffic calming scheme and seek funding for it.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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