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Campaign to stop Kimberley drivers from flouting one-way rules
A CAMPAIGN has been launched in Kimberley to stop drivers flouting the one-way system in High Street.
Residents on High Street have been complaining about drivers going the wrong way and at high speed for almost 15 years but nothing has ever been done.
They are now calling for cameras to be installed to catch motorists breaking the law.
Residents on High Street submitted a petition to highways officials in 1995, but nothing was done. Over the years resident Jim Haddon has also written to the town, borough and county councils and Broxtowe MP Nick Palmer over the problems. In 2005, he compiled a log of how many cars passed his house the wrong way and handed it to police. He recorded dozens, he said.
The 88-year-old said: "Last week, it was like Piccadilly Circus. It's dangerous. Someone will get killed. If anybody comes to my house I have to tell them to look both ways."
Drivers flout the one-way system to avoid Main Street and get out of the town quickly when it is busy. The problem has worsened over the last couple of weeks because of the roadworks and temporary traffic lights in the town centre.
More drivers travelling from Swingate are turning left onto High Street, where there is a no entry sign, to avoid the long queues down Greens Lane.
Barbara Wheeldon, who lives on Knowle Park in the Swingate area of Kimberley, said: "It's very annoying, and it's so much worse now because of the roadworks. I saw three people turn on to High Street when I drove past at the weekend alone."
Broxtowe borough councillor Richard Robinson, who is backing the fight, sent emails out to residents in the area asking them what they would like to see happen after he started receiving complaints earlier this year and several people suggested putting cameras up.
He now plans to meet with the new area police inspector Craig Nolan to get police backing for the move in a bid to pressure the county council to install the cameras.
He said: "We need to catch and prosecute the culprits because the residents are incensed by it. It's dangerous.
"It's a very narrow one-way street that is clearly signed one way. There are serious safety issues and potential for serious accidents to happen."
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire County Council said: "We have specific criteria for the installation of cameras which are laid down by the Government. If any member of the public would like to write in and ask us to look into it we will do so.
"Any residents who wrote to us in the mid-90s will have to do so again because we didn't have safety cameras back then."
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Weather for Eastwood
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
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