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‘Bournemouth rat-run road is lethal’ claim protesting mums

11:00am Saturday 6th February 2010 in


RESIDENTS fear someone will be killed unless action is taken to stop motorists using their road as a rat run.

Mums Catherine Sidney and Lisa Holes told councillors Chesildene Drive, Bournemouth, is “lethal” for parents and children who have to cross it. They say they would ideally like a crossing to be installed on Chesildene Drive somewhere between the Seagrim estate and Harbeck Road.

In a joint deputation to the environment and transport scrutiny panel the pair said there had been a “series of near misses” on the road and a four-year-old boy knocked down.

Mum Catherine said although there are islands in the road they are too narrow for wheelchair users and mums with pushchairs.

She added: “Because of the bends along Chesildene Drive visibility is poor. A car can often come round a bend at speed and be upon you while you’re still in the middle of the road and if you’re crossing with bikes, scooters, pushchair and young children you can’t get everybody across that quickly.

“A couple of weeks ago a car lost control on the bend and hit the lamppost on the island opposite Hungerford Road. Thankfully there was nobody stood on the island at the time.

“I’ve witnessed several near misses involving either my own children or others.”

Lisa Holes of Ampfield Road, said: “I can only hope that next time there won’t be a fatality. We need a pedestrian crossing so that traffic can be brought to a standstill in order for us to cross the road safely.

“Or a zebra crossing would be a suitable compromise or some kind of traffic calming measures such as speed bumps.”

Cllr Ron Whittaker, ward member for Throop and Muscliff, who also wants the 20mph zone to be extended into Chesildene Drive on the approach to Hungerford Road, said the road was “a rat run”.

Chairman Cllr Mark Anderson said the matter would be referred to the appropriate member of the council’s cabinet.

Comments(15)

Bormuf Boy says...
11:17am Sat 6 Feb 10

It's the drivers not the road that's dangerous.Blanket 20 mph zones are a comin'.

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ben111 says...
12:42pm Sat 6 Feb 10

we have speed cameras on most main roads ,, this is ware they should be with a 20 limit near the school

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tt52 says...
2:24pm Sat 6 Feb 10

Take the speed cameras off roads such as castle lane and Barrack road where the traffic hardly ever gets above 20mph and locate them on roads like this, if the camera partnership really is about saving lives rather that raising money then prove it before someone gets killed, move them to sites where speed is an issue all day and not just at night when theres no body about, as is the case with Castle Lane and Barrack Road cameras.

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Henry Bear says...
6:43pm Sat 6 Feb 10

tt52 wrote:
Take the speed cameras off roads such as castle lane and Barrack road where the traffic hardly ever gets above 20mph and locate them on roads like this, if the camera partnership really is about saving lives rather that raising money then prove it before someone gets killed, move them to sites where speed is an issue all day and not just at night when theres no body about, as is the case with Castle Lane and Barrack Road cameras.
Stupis idea to put cameras here, it will just be another money spinner...we all know women cant drive so does not seem fair to put a camera where there are more of them to catch

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jeremy klaxon says...
6:47pm Sat 6 Feb 10

Chesildene and Shillingstone Drives are currently made for those bankers who insist on driving too fast in urban areas. Both roads should have pedestrian crossings plus frequent speed camera patrols, or better still, average speed cameras. I am also in favour of 20 mph zones near scholls.

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Rikthe sweep says...
9:37pm Sat 6 Feb 10

jeremy klaxon wrote:
Chesildene and Shillingstone Drives are currently made for those bankers who insist on driving too fast in urban areas. Both roads should have pedestrian crossings plus frequent speed camera patrols, or better still, average speed cameras. I am also in favour of 20 mph zones near scholls.
May be if they taught driver ed in schools along with spelling people would drive sensible on residential roads and city planners would not allow things like castle point to be built. It is because of the traffic system there that people use Chesildene as a "Rat Run" Mind you if yellow buses told there drivers not to use it off service when running empty back to depot that would keep some of the traffic off the road.

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ta2 says...
1:19am Sun 7 Feb 10

For me, personally, a speed camera would detract from me looking at the road, as I'd be looking at my speedo instead. Especially if it was a 20mph limit as I can't "feel" how fast that is without checking the dashboard.

Speedbumps, traffic lights are the way to go.

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liliana says...
5:13am Sun 7 Feb 10

PS Henry Bear is a stuffed toy with no sense, reason or literacy techniques.
Just ignore him.
I agree with those who say it is the inadequate drivers who are at fault.

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sandrahj says...
7:28am Sun 7 Feb 10

As a user of both Shillingstone & Chesildene to take children to Barbara Rose Pre-school & then onto Epiphany School often by bike, I am in favour of pedestrian crossings on both & a speed limit of 20mph. It is especially a nightmare by the islands as cars often try to pass us whilst on bikes which causes both myself & son to wobble, surely these drivers can wait a few seconds before insisting on speeding past us a breakneck speed!

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Gastines says...
9:42am Sun 7 Feb 10

An occasional road-sweeper might curb the regular speeders and also clean the streets up as well as proving a novelty in the area. Do any of the local Councillors ever look what state the roads are in their locality? We see the same speeders and the same rubbish strewn around each time we are there.

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TinyLegacy says...
9:55am Sun 7 Feb 10

They wont put cameras up as A) there wouldnt be enough profit and B) there hasnt been the 'required' number of accidents to warrant it. 20mph limit will just be ignored, much like the 30mph one in place. The best bet is proper crossings, and even to widen the road in places, the pavements are more than wide enough.

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Rikthe sweep says...
2:59pm Sun 7 Feb 10

Gastines wrote:
An occasional road-sweeper might curb the regular speeders and also clean the streets up as well as proving a novelty in the area. Do any of the local Councillors ever look what state the roads are in their locality? We see the same speeders and the same rubbish strewn around each time we are there.
Bournemouth Council cant sweep every road in town with only one sweeper especially as they have to sweep the roads of the council top knobs everyday so they dont get there wheels dirty.

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jeremy klaxon says...
4:47pm Sun 7 Feb 10

Dear Rikthe sweep, grammar is important, as is spelling. Its particularly important to me that a person is able to distinguish when to use "there" and "their" (as in "their drivers"). Unfortunately the "o" and the "l" keys are close together on my keyboard, and after a glass of wine.... well you know. So I humbly apologise for typing scholls in place of schools. Still, I wouldn't want anyone driving too fast close to my sandals either, or is it neither?

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ghawkins says...
9:45pm Sun 7 Feb 10

I no longer live in Bournemouth, but this road has been a problem for a while. Some drivers have no consideration for anybody else - whether they be chav trash in escorts, fat businessmen in BMWs, the schoolrun mum in her 4x4 or middle class Marcus Symthe in the Golf that mummy and daddy bought him. I quite agree that some of the speed cameras should be moved to areas like this, as at the moment they are a free for all for every antisocial driver.

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mikey2gorgeous says...
8:30am Mon 8 Feb 10

ta2 wrote:
For me, personally, a speed camera would detract from me looking at the road, as I'd be looking at my speedo instead. Especially if it was a 20mph limit as I can't "feel" how fast that is without checking the dashboard.

Speedbumps, traffic lights are the way to go.
Perhaps you shouldn't be driving then?
.
If you feel you can't stick to a speed limit without putting people in danger you're obviously not capable of driving safely.
.
Talk to a Traffic Policeman about it - they will confirm what I'm saying. You pretended to be in control while taking your test - what's changed?

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DANGER ZONE: Catherine Sidney and Lisa Holes with their and other local children plus parents who are calling for a cut in the speed limit along Chesildene Drive. Picture: Sally Adams DANGER ZONE: Catherine Sidney and Lisa Holes with their and other local children plus parents who are calling for a cut in the speed limit along Chesildene Drive. Picture: Sally Adams

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