Crash prompts calls for new road crossing near park

BBC A woman wearing a blue jumper and brown gilet stands in front of a road. On the other side of the road is an old stone wall and a postbox.BBC
Gill Sibson is one of several local residents calling for safety improvements

Residents have called for more safety measures to be added to a road near a Nottinghamshire park after a woman in her 60s was hit by a car and taken to hospital.

Nottinghamshire Police said a driver was spoken to by officers following the crash at the junction of Arnot Hill Road and Sandfield Road near Arnold's Arnot Hill Park on 17 September.

Local people say the park entrance's proximity to a fast road and the brow of a hill puts pedestrians at risk and they would like to see a new crossing put in.

Nottinghamshire County Council said it was investigating the crash and would consider whether safety improvements were needed.

The brow of a hill on Thackerays Lane with houses and road markings in view
The junction sits on the brow of a hill on Thackerays Lane.

Guy Porter, who has lived near the junction for more than 25 years, says the rising volume of traffic in that time has raised concerns.

“It’s been an ongoing problem, the volume of traffic has increased so therefore it’s come to a point where they need to look at more safety measures," he said.

“Because the corner is blind, there is a reason to extend the double yellow lines further down Arnot Hill Road because vans park and obscure the view.

"If you combine that with the speed of vehicles, it's a recipe for disaster.”

Gill Sibson who also lives nearby, said: "It’s just so busy. You’ve got cars coming from all angles and you can’t see very well because of the hill, so you have to take your chance and dash across.

“I’ve driven along Sandfield Road many times and never even noticed the stop sign, probably because I know to stop, but there needs to be something.

"Perhaps a pedestrian crossing as a lot of families cross the road here."

Sean Panting dressed in a blue fleece top with the collar up and his arms folded
Sean Panting says the junction presents a number of challenges to motorists and pedestrians.

Another resident, Sean Panting, said he would like to see a crossing installed to help pedestrians and encourage drivers to slow down near the park.

"I’d like to see one, just to give people that extra time because it’s been an accident that’s been waiting to happen," he said.

"A zebra or a pelican crossing would be the way to go."

Nottinghamshire County Council said: "We were concerned to hear reports about a recent collision on Sandfield Road in Arnold.

“We work closely with the police who lead on any investigations to determine the circumstances.

“Once the investigation has been completed, the findings will be discussed with our Safer Highways team who will action any recommendations or carry out our own further investigations as necessary.

“They will look for any recurring patterns in the contributory factors relating to the accident and where appropriate, develop new schemes or improvements to reduce these in the future."

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