Summer is here! Hello to everyone to this latest update and we hope that you are all keeping safe and well!
Our local community continues to experience excessively high speeding vehicles using Moorfield Road, witnessing dangerous driving taking place at various points in the road and still getting too many over-sized HGV's using Moorfield Road as a cut through to the local industrial estates. Unfortunately, the two agencies that could do anything about our situation are still not listening or taking any action on our behalf.
Widnes Local Policing Unit & Cheshire Police
Residents living on and around Moorfield Road are increasingly frustrated at the continued lack of support and interest in what we all consider a serious road safety issue for our community by Cheshire Police, despite being classed as a Police Enforcement Area. In 2020 an agreement was reached with the previous Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire Mr David Keane regarding expected levels of service, which are still not being met by Widnes Local Policing Unit. We are not even getting the agreed amount of speed enforcement which was only to cover Moorfield Road for 1 hour of tru-cam once every seven weeks. Anyone living in this area will understand that this level of cover does not have any impact on our community’s safety issues or act as any deterrent to bad driver behaviour.
At the DCBL Stadium Meeting 18th August 2020 Cheshire Police set up a dedicated email address for road traffic issues (only) on and around Moorfield Road for the use by local residents. The email address is as follows:
LPU.Widnes.Moorfield@cheshire.pnn.police.uk
We really need as many people as possible to message this email address to let Cheshire Police know the severity of the issue and show that it is not just a few residents who are unhappy with the level of safety on Moorfield Road. If you see excessively high speeding vehicles, witness dangerous driving taking place or oversized HGV's using Moorfield Road as a cut through to the local industrial estates, please take a note of the registration number (or in the case of oversized HGV's the company name) and send this to the above email address. If you can take a photograph or video to send that would be even better.
Traffic Evaluation Report - 30/03/2021 - 14/04/2021 - 15 day period only
Total over speed limit of 30 mph: 12,216
11322 vehicles between 31-40 mph
827 vehicles between 41-50 mph
56 vehicles between 51-60 mph
8 vehicles between 61-70 mph
1 vehicle between 71-80 mph
1 vehicle between 81-90 mph
1 vehicle between 91-100 mph
This means around 814 vehicles a day above the speed limit one way only (Northbound)
Assuming that the same amounts of vehicles are travelling southbound, this means over 1,600 vehicles a day are traveling in excess of the speed limit and breaking the law. These latest figures clearly show that there are still too many vehicles using Moorfield Road who simply do not appreciate the dangers of speeding. While it may seem like a minor offence to some, the fact is pedestrians and other road users are at extreme risk of being killed or seriously injured on our road because of inconsiderate motorists driving at excessively high speeds. As residents we all witness on a daily basis the high speed of the traffic, dangerous driving and near misses that occur near Moorfield Road Primary school, Moorfield Sports and Social Club, the railway bridge and the junction to Camberwell Park Road. With the evidence contained within the Traffic Evaluation Report and the daily observations of the local residents, there is no disputing the fact that at some point in the near future, a serious accident or fatality will take place on Moorfield Road or its Junction with Camberwell Park Road.
Where does the responsibility and liability fall for the safety of the local residents, drivers and pedestrians? According to Halton Borough Council, they are neither responsible nor liable, stating that they have followed all legal obligations with regards to road safety issues on Moorfield Road. Taking into account Halton Borough Council is bound by its own Corporate Strategy, we all feel that Halton Borough Council have morally failed this community, by ignoring our real safety fears and refusing to undertake any further action. According to Halton Borough Council we have been extremely lucky with the traffic calming measures already provided. As an organisation, Halton Borough Council continues to be unsupportive in relation to the real concerns of the community for which it is designed to serve. Mr Tim Gibbs Operational Director, Policy, Planning and Transportation at Halton Borough Council has stated that traffic flow and saving money are the most important priorities for Halton Borough Council, rather than the safety of residents living on Moorfield Road or our school children attending Moorfield Road Primary School. The latest Traffic Evaluation Report produced by Halton Borough Council continues to show just how bad the situation really is for our community and the excessive speeds which are reached on a 30mph residential Road, sometimes in excess of 90 mph, but they do not care.
In closing, the Moorfield Action Group will continue to highlight the dangers our community face on a daily basis and will not stop until someone in authority with the power to solve our issues takes action to ensure the safety of our friends, families, neighbours and all in our community.
Thank you for your continued support.
In the meantime everyone take care yourselves and each other!
Contact: moorfieldroadactiongroup@gmail.com