'ENOUGH is enough' — that's the cry from residents who are calling for action to be taken to make a road safer before someone is 'killed or seriously injured" following a major crash which shut the carriageway for two hours.
Residents living on Stand Lane believe they have been forgotten by the authorities because they live close to the Radcliffe and Whitefield border — but following the five car smash on Tuesday last week, they are determined to have their voices heard
Emergency services were called to the multi-car collision, which included parked cars, at around 5pm
The cause of the crash is not known, but following the collision neighbours have renewed their long standing call for simple traffic calming measures to be put in place to make the road safer for pedestrians and tackle anti-social driving before 'there is another incident with truly devastating consequences'.
Immediately after the crash, they penned a letter to local councillors and this week gathered near the scene of the latest crash to show the strength of feeling in the neighbourhood.
Resident Victoria Bumby said: "I heard two to three screeches and a very loud bang, I ran down and how nobody was killed I don't know.
"Everybody ran down to help, there was a petrol leak but it is what you do.
"People came out and dug up soil out of gardens to put on the oil.
"There was one person with a gash on the head and the first thing the paramedics said is everyone breathing."
Marian Peacock, local resident, said: "It seems to us that it was simple good luck that no-one was killed or suffered life changing injuries and that it is only a matter of time before there is another incident with truly devastating consequences.
"Had this happened just a couple of hours earlier there would have been large numbers of school students from Chapelfield Primary and Philips High in the area.
"This is a red route, which is used by the emergency services, so we can't have speed bumps.
"There could be chicanes and road markings to narrow the road and speed signs which display the speed. We would want signage telling people there is a school and that other people use this road, it is a shared space between pedestrians and children and cars. It would not cost a fortune and could make a huge difference very quickly.
"It would reduce pollution, make it safe, reduce noise reduce anxiety and stress and it is a matter of time before it happens again and next time someone will be killed or seriously injured and we don't want that to happen.
"The environment could easily be very nice and now causes stress and real fear for people's safety."
Dr Peacock also called for signage to divert HGV's to more suitable roads as they cannot go on Dales Lane because of the weight limit.
Neighbours say that speeding and dangerous driving, such as overtaking without care, wheelies, and driving on the wrong side of the road, has been an issue on the road for many years, but worsened since lockdown.
There is also a fear that some vehicles, particularly motorbike and trail bikes, which use the road, use Stand Lane as part of a circuit taking in Ringley Road and Radcliffe New Road. And a PCSO has been called to help a school crossing patrol because of driver behaviour, say residents.
Neighbours say that as well as risk to life, their quality of life is being impacted on through stress and anxiety caused by the noise, pollution and for those walking, particularly for parents or older people about safely crossing the road.
Dr Peacock said: "We already know that intermittent speed traps have very localised and narrow impacts — it is permanent change that we need and that means the sort of traffic calming measures we have suggested."
Sue Clayton, has lived in the area for more than 20 years
She said: "I do not walk up Stand Lane I get in my car and I drive to go for my walk because of the traffic it is too frightening and a car could come up on the pavement. I feel a fear for the schoolchildren."
Dr Peacock believes funding to improve the quality of life could be accessed through the Greater Manchester Walking and Cycling Fund.
She said: "I think there are ways you can make this into a walking cycling space that slows traffic, does not exclude traffic, discourages speeding.
"What you have is a culture of impunity people know that they will not get caught for speeding. If you change the visible layout of the road, to constantly trigger all those things about schools, walking and cycling and consult properly get a dialogue between Transport for Greater Manchester between our councillors and local people to see what could be brought out of that and would work for the whole area. "After the crash people are genuinely concerned and worried that it is a matter of time that someone is killed or seriously injured.
"There have been accidents involving people which have been logged and speed was a factor in four out five of those. It is a matter of time someone is killed or injured."
Cllr Alan Quinn said he understood the concerns of residents and had called for the speed on the road to be monitored.
He said that cuts had meant millions being taken of the budget for road schemes, and Bury was short of 100 officers, making enforcement more difficult.
Cllr Quinn, said he would meet with residents.
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