Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor
Kalari: -
“This council supports proposing a strict limit to the amount of vehicle collisions that can occur on any one road before launching an investigation in regard to implementing road safety or speed calming measures. This council requests that the cabinet member for environment uses his office to initiate this proposal.
Approximately 800 road accidents occur in Sandwell annually. The majority of causes being identified as either speeding, congestion or poor pedestrian safety. Residents across the borough have conveyed severe disappointment, anger and disgust at the current policy regarding taking action to prevent these collisions and in some cases, fatalities. They feel that the council are taking a reactive approach and not a proactive approach to prevent fatalities from road accidents.
It is unacceptable to wait for a life to be exchanged in order to highlight the dangers of a road, which we most often are already aware of. There are innumerable roads and streets which have been, and continue to be brought forward by our residents to be made safe for them and their families.
Unfortunately they’re left with nothing but disappointment as neither police, nor us as a council have been willing to implement measures to make them safe until it suffers a fatality. We must put people’s lives before our budgeting priorities. We cannot justify the loss of a single life in the name of money."
In accordance with Standing Order No.7, Councillor Bostan moved
the following amendment to the motion, which was seconded by
Councillor Piper:-
“This council considers road safety to be of the highest importance for the health and well-being of our residents and it is with regard to this that the implementation of road safety and speed calming measures are introduced.
Approximately 800 road accidents occur in Sandwell annually which is a 55% reduction since the year 2000, during the same period, accidents resulting in people being killed or seriously injured have reduced by 52% and accidents with child casualties have reduced by a significant 72% testament to the excellent work of this Labour council’s highways authority. The majority of causes of accidents have been identified as either speeding, congestion or poor pedestrian safety.
Despite significant progress in our road safety provision, this council recognises there is room for improvement and accepts residents across the borough have requested that the Strategic Road Safety Plan is updated in order to address the growing challenges Sandwell faces including an increasing number of vehicles on the road, climate change, adaptations to public transport and other such imperatives.
This council as an authority that is always listening to and guided by its residents, calls upon the Economy, Skills, Transport and Environment Scrutiny Committee to conduct a review into the current Strategic Road Safety Plan in order to make recommendations for the consideration of Cabinet“.
The amendment, having been moved and seconded, was put to the vote and approved. The substantive motion was put to the vote and, having been carried, it was RESOLVED accordingly.