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Spate of crashes in three weeks at traffic calming measures ahead of NDR opening
Chairman of Drayton Parish Council, Graham Everett inspects the new traffic calming measures on Drayton Hall Lane. Picture: Dominic Gilbert - Credit: Archant
Five collisions in the space of three weeks in the village of Drayton are being attributed to the ongoing construction of the Northern Distributor Road.
Traffic calming measures on Drayton Hall Lane. Picture: Dominic Gilbert - Credit: Archant
Although the NDR is not yet complete, traffic calming measures were installed on Drayton Hall Lane before the last fiscal year ended on March 31.
Money had been set aside in Norfolk County Council's budget and had to be spent by the end of the year or it would be lost.
And in the three weeks since chicanes were introduced and the speed limit reduced from 40mph to 30mph, five collisions have occurred on the stretch of road. Drayton Parish Coucil have called for an urgent onsite meeting with Norfolk County Council to resolve the issues.
MORE: Aerial footage shows progression of Norwich's Northern Distributor Road
Traffic calming measures on Drayton Hall Lane. Picture: Dominic Gilbert - Credit: Archant
Chairman of Drayton Parish Council Graham Everett said they had been 'fully supportive' of traffic calming to avoid turning the village into a rat run, but the lack of signage was concerning.
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'One of the requirements of the NDR insisted on traffic calming in three areas, including Drayton,' he said.
'The measures are there to discourage rat-running through Drayton - all linked up to when the NDR opens.
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'Now we are seeing accidents happening again I will be speaking to county council on Monday to get them out on a site visit.
'It is unbelievable we are seeing so many collisions there. There is a history of bad accidents on Hall Lane, and the whole speed limit has been brought down from 40mph to 30mph.
'Whether people are disregarding the limit or don't know it has changed, I don't know. The residents are saying there is no right of way so nobody knows who has got priority.
'I am concerned this is happening regularly now. We definitely wanted traffic calming measures - the question is whether this is particularly the ideal scheme. It has to be safe.
'There aren't signs warning people about it at the moment and maybe it needs to be revamped.'
The work, which took five weeks to complete at a cost of approximately £75,000, involves the construction of chicanes, junction alterations and a mini-roundabout. Sections of road have also been narrowed to discourage lorries and HGVs using the route.
Tony Adams, county councillor for Drayton and Horsford, said he is aware of the issues and has been in contact with the project manager.
