West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion has committed funding to try and resolve a road safety issue that has plagued a community in Herefordshire for more than 30 years.
Last month, the Commissioner brought partners together (Herefordshire County Council, Monkland Parish Council and West Mercia Safer Roads Partnership) to discuss issues around the A44 that runs through Monkland, Herefordshire, which has seen a number of crashes including one fatality.
Residents have concerns about the speed limit being too high for a particular section – a bridge that is positioned on a sharp bend.
The group came together again this week, along with Balfour Beatty, Herefordshire County Council’s official partner for highways, to discuss the plans.
The Commissioner agreed to contribute £4,000, with a further £1,000 being provided by Monkland Parish Council. The money will be spent on new signage which will aim to reduce the speed of motorists entering Monkland from the Leominster direction, by highlighting the sharp bend. Balfour Beatty will also look at solutions for other areas within the parish which suffer from speed related issues.
John Campion said: “I am extremely pleased that we have been able to find a resolution so quickly, and that we have had full support from all those involved. This stretch of road has been responsible for too many incidents for us not to act quickly and prevent any more.
“I promised that I would listen to the concerns of communities and be responsive to them. So when a community, that I serve, come to me with an issue they desperately want to get resolved, I want to do all I can to support them. I hope that the new signs will act as a warning to those travelling through Monkland and, as a result, we see fewer incidents.”
Malcolm Weatherhead, from Monkland Parish Council, said: “On behalf of Monkland and Stretford Parish Council, I would like to thank John and his team for the support given for our concerns over the A44. We have been trying to reduce the speed limit for over 30 years, so we hope that the work being done on the bridge will help a great deal.”
Issued on: Friday 24 February
