Rugby Lib Dems Councillors call for urgent action at accident black spot following another car crash

Rugby Lib Dems Councillors, Neil Sandison, Noreen New and Bill Lewis have called for urgent action on the Gyratory System in Rugby, an accident black spot, following another car crash.

Yet another collision has taken place outside Rugby Methodist Church on Rugby's notorious Gyratory System. The most recent collision, which destroyed a large section of pedestrian hand railings, occurred on Friday evening around 10.00pm when a motorist appears to have lost control while turning into Russelsheim Way. The collision left the hand railings severed and buckled beyond recognition and pushed them across onto the footpath. Thankfully, the driver was unhurt and there were no pedestrians passing at the time of the collision but the car was written off.

There was a similar incident at the same location in March 2014, well before the gyratory was 'improved'. Despite protests from local councillors and members of the Church, the railings along the footpath were removed during the improvement works. Subsequent further protests from Rugby Borough Council Councillors and members of Rugby Methodist Church convinced the County Council's Portfolio Holder to instruct the contractor to reinstate some of the handrail, but not to install a vehicle crash barrier.

Immediately adjacent to where the crash occurred is a section where the hand railings have not been replaced and there are only plastic barriers after a similar incident which occurred over six months ago in March 2016. If the vehicle had left the road on Friday night just a few metres sooner, where the barriers are of the temporary plastic type, then it probably would have gone on to collide with the church building.

Councillors Neil Sandison, Noreen New and Bill Lewis are calling on Warwickshire County Council not only to replace the two missing sections of pedestrian hand railings but also to install a vehicle safety crash barrier and hazard warning chevrons. If nothing is done to highlight this accident black spot and to install additional safety measures then pedestrians, cyclists or motorists will continue to be at risk of seriously injury at this location.

Cllr Neil Sandison, Eastlands Ward Councillor, said, "This is the second collision this year which has damaged the hand railings and which the county have failed to repair despite our requests and their promises to do so. Warwickshire County Council now need to take urgent action to improve this accident black spot."

Cllr Bill Lewis, Rokeby & Overslade Ward Councillor said, "Even before the county spent considerable amounts of public money on 'improving' this traffic pinch point, collisions there were a frequent problem that we had highlighted to the county council."

Cllr Noreen New a local Hillside and Rokeby resident said, "The speed that motorist take this corner is far too high. The reduction in vehicle speed once traffic lights were installed promised by the County Council has not materialised. Drivers need to be encouraged to slow down to navigate this corner or someone will be seriously injured."