Road safety schemes on agenda

SAFETY schemes totalling £101,000 will be added in four areas, under plans going before councillors next week.

The A and B roads were the scene of one death and 145 injuries between 2007 and 2009, records show.

Proposals for improved warning signs, marker posts and high-friction surfacing at Treeton Lane and Wood Lane, Treeton, will make up half the total cost.

In Wath, vehicle-activated speed signs will encourage drivers to keep to the 30mph limit on West Street.

No waiting regulations added further east, on Doncaster Road, will prevent parking at junctions reducing visibility.

Speeding is also a problem on Church Street and Rowms Lane, Swinton, which is the only one of the areas to have seen a fatality.

New signs here will display the speed limit, a slow down message or the speed camera logo.

The last of the four schemes will see improved signings and road markings on Blyth Road between Maltby and Stone.

But collision data shows the road is still a blackspot, especially in summer during daylight and more warnings of bends will be added.

Rotherham Borough Council engineer, Nigel Davey, said: “Each year an investigation of the previous three years worth of injury accident data in Rotherham is undertaken.

“The locations that feature highest on this list are then investigated further to establish whether there is a pattern of treatable injury accidents.

“Based on the budget allocation, a programme of remedial schemes is produced.”

The works would be paid for through the Local Transport Plan pot for 2011/12.

Consultation and detailed designs will begin if the proposals are passed by Cllr Gerald Smith, Cabinet member for economic growth, on Tuesday.