Villagers fear child death on 'dangerous' roads

Residents of a village fear its roads are so dangerous a child could be killed on their way to school after “a dog was hit on the pavement and died”.

People living in Cam, Gloucestershire, said they were worried about road safety issues that had resulted from the opening up of new roads around a housing development in Littlecombe.

Jo Kendall, of Cam Community Action Group said: "Cam has been left with dangerous roads where residents regularly get hit by car or van wing mirrors."

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) said it had been working with the developer to ensure it delivered the necessary infrastructure.

Villagers said the problems arose after the opening of Lister Road from Drake Lane to connect through traffic to Kingshill Lane, Church Road and Everlands.

It opened despite planning permissions for St Modwen Homes requiring traffic management to be in place before it opened, explained the community group.

Ms Kendall added: "A dog has already been killed even though it was on a lead and on the pavement.

"What’s next? A child killed on their way to school? Is this what it’s going to take for proper consultation and action to be taken?"

A spokesperson for St Modwen Homes said it would be "providing a range of road improvements in the immediate surrounding areas".

The development's planning conditions require measures to reduce traffic speeds on Everlands and Hopton Road to be implemented in full prior to the opening of the spine road linking Long Street to Lister Road.

“We are aware that the spine road has been opened in the absence of these measures, however this is a planning enforcement issue which falls under the remit of Stroud District Council as planning authority to enforce,” a county council officer said.

They said they had been "in regular dialogue with St Modwens, reiterating the need for these works" and had been "provided with a set of plans showing a number of measures", including speed cushions.

“Please be assured that GCC, as Highway Authority, are working proactively with the developer to deliver the required works, and that the consultation period of the current planning application process allows interested parties to have their say on the proposals.”

The Modwen Homes spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "In accordance with the planning permission, we will be providing improvements to nearby Everlands, Hopton Road and Church Road, with these works having already been approved by Gloucester County Highways."

They said they aim to begin these works before the end of 2024, and will also be providing "further improvements to both Kingshill Lane and the junction with Kingshill Road".

"As our Littlecombe development moves forwards we will continue to work closely with the local authority and Gloucester County Highways to provide the best possible experience for residents in the area," the spokesperson added.

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