Griffith Drive Ashmore Park

Griffith Drive not only is the major circulatory highway for this estate, it is also at times a very congested highway. It is central to the estates function, supplying highway access to shops, homes, and it provides for the bus routes that serve residents.

It was designed and built in the early 1950’s but it was built with those days in mind - not the days of today. Because of the recent controversy about parking in Griffith Drive. I asked engineers to report on the safety of the current highway lay-out, and how relevant they felt the design is today.

The highway engineers have now responded in the following way. I am hoping that this response will start a debate as to how we can improve the current situation for all its residents and users.

The Wolverhampton City Council Section Leader Network Development, Education & Enterprise, has informed me that -

“The traffic calming scheme was implemented in 2001 and the road casualty history was as follows:
5 years prior to implementation – 20 casualties
Last 5 years – 10 casualties

In terms of the casualty rate, a 50% drop is pleasing. With regard to the Phillips Avenue/Griffiths Drive junction, there were no accidents resulting in personal injury in either the 5 years before implementation or the last 5 years.

With regard to the type of measures that were installed, this physical narrowing/priority and speed cushion type of traffic calming measures are still used nationwide by road safety engineering practitioners.

With regard to parking issues, there have been historical concerns raised regarding Griffiths Drive, in particular regarding grassed verge parking problems. Over recent years there has been a number of on-street parking bays constructed in Griffiths Drive, the last one of these being undertaken in 2013 near to Southall Road.”

The engineers report that the current design is still being used across the nation and is still relevant to safety thinking. There is a recognition to the fact that parking is a problem.

My hope is that we can get a debate taking place as to how we can reduce the 10 casualties that have occurred to an even lower level. Improve car parking and sight lines, and try and deal with the problems of speed in a mature way.

I will be speaking with my colleagues and the City Council officers how we can take this aim forward in 2014. I am also keen to hear what residents of Ashmore Park and Griffith Drive think.

If residents would like to take part in this dialogue they can email me on email@philbateman.com or speak with me at my surgery.