Lib Dems fobbed off over death road as it claimed another life (Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@cambslibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems fobbed off over death road as it claimed another life

May 26, 2010 2:08 PM

Fiona Whelan

Cambridgeshire highway chiefs delayed taking action at an accident blackspot where two people died only to see another killed within 24 hours.

They told the county's Lib Dems that they should not react until all the paperwork was completed on the crashes on the A1303 Madingley Road.

But on Tuesday afternoon, while they waited for the police to produce their report, a motorcyclist was killed in the same location, bringing the death toll to three in three days.

Lib Dem County Leader, Fiona Whelan (who also represents the area) was astounded at their attitude over the stretch of road which saw 25 injury accidents between 2005 and 2007 - 24 of them in which speed was a factor.

She reacted with fury at being fobbed off and has been granted a meeting with two council officers and a leading Tory councillor tomorrow (Thursday).

Now within 24 hours of the latest casualty, signs have been put up stating that the road is due to be dug up to allow work by Anglian Water to go-ahead.

Councillor Whelan said: "I couldn't believe the county council's attitude. What are we waiting for? People are dying on this road and we are expected to wait for the relevant paperwork to be drawn up. This is bureaucracy gone mad.

"I drive on this road everyday and I am distraught at having to pass the floral tributes that are laid for the victims of road crashes.

"Residents are terrified and some parents are too scared to let their children ride to school. There will be more deaths on this road unless we act now. We cannot afford to lose any time on this. Now the road is going to be dug up adding to the risk."

Councillor Whelan is demanding that officers and Tory councillors meet residents from Coton and Madingley who are fighting for action on the road.

They want to see a further reduction in speed limits, improvements to the Coton/Madingley Road crossroads and better signage.

The road is used by 13,000 vehicles a day - seven per cent of which are heavy goods vehicles - and is one of the 14 approved motorcycle test routes used by the county's motorcycle test centre in nearby Hardwick.

Kilian Bourke, Lib Dem highways spokesperson said: "Why are we not listening to the people who live on this road and see first hand, the carnage? How many people have to die before the county council takes action?

"We had two accidents in 24 hours which claimed three lives over the weekend; but we had to wait for another death before the county council would take this seriously. We don't need a police report to know that people are being killed and we have to do something about it."