LADYBROOK: Petition to rip up ‘rollercoaster’ speed bumps

The petition has already been signed by 200 local people who use the local shops that include a hardware store, a post office, a chemists and a bakers.

The traders say the introduction of speed humps has drastically reduced their income and threatened their livelihoods.

They also insists their effect is minimal, while those who regularly drive up and down the road face increasing repair costs on their cars.

“It’s not just seven or eight shopkeepers that aren’t happy with the speed bumps, I think it’s most of the estate, judging on the response to the petition,” said Terry Cook, who runs Morestore Discounts.

“I’ve asked about 100 people to sign it and only one has said ‘no’.

“The county council say it will cost thousands to do it, but it would cost them more than that in compensation if all the estate’s car users send claims to them for their repairs.

“They have taken speed bumps back up in other countries and in other parts of this country, so why not here?

“We feel a slow down sign would be much better. People who want to speed do so anyway, regardless of the bumps.”

Alka Bhatt, manager of the post office added: “We have screamed about this, but no-one seems to listen, but hopefully if we all scream together, something will get done.

“You might as well be on a roller coaster as a road when you drive through Ladybrook.

“We have had a terrific response from the local community on this, getting behind us, as I think they appreciate the service we give them.

“We don’t want to take away all the safety measures, especially around the schools, but we would prefer other measures than those humps.”

And Donna Evans of P. H. and M. Rawson, Bakers and Confectioners said: “There’s no doubt it’s killed a lot of trade.

“People used to drive here to use these shops but they have told us it’s because of the speed bumps that they have stopped.

“We’re all in it together and we’ve had a very good response to it.”

Kate Allsop, who lives on Beck Crescent and regularly uses the Ladybrook shops, said: “Just about everyone I have spoken to on the estate - whether pedestrian or motorist - wants them removed and it crackers they were ever put in.

“My ex-sister-in-law has had to pay about £1,000 for work on her car and I know the taxi drivers I use aren’t happy about them.

“It doesn’t stop people speeding anyway - Mount Everest wouldn’t stop some of them.

“And it wouldn’t be very good if you had a heart attack in the middle of the estate because the ambulance wouldn’t get to you very quickly. Surely speed cameras would be better.”

Motorist Michael Groom, of Ladybrook Lane, added: “I think speed humps are a waste of space and I’m 100 per cent behind the campaign to remove them.

“I have had three sets of new arms on my car and I have no doubt why that is.

“It makes me think twice every time I go to the Ladybrook shops because I know how bumpy the journey is and I would much rather see sleeping policeman or something like that.”

Mansfield District councillor Sharron Adey has emailed Nottinghamshire County Council Darren Langton, who represents the Mansfield West division, on the shopkeepers’ behalf voicing their concerns.

She said: “It’s good that people are taking ownership of their own community and I have passed on their views.

“Darren wrote back saying that the road bumps were essential because they have cut the number of accidents and I have relayed that information to them.”

Nottinghamshire County Council first introduced the bumps across the Ladybrook estate in 1997 on road safety grounds.

“In the five years leading up to their introduction there were, on average, 21 reported injury accidents per year. Of these, half involved either pedestrians or pedal cyclists,” said Andy Warrington, the council’s service director for highways.

“Since the scheme has been in place, reported road injury accidents have fallen to an average of just over 11 per year – a drop of 45%.

“Significantly, the number of pedestrian and pedal cycle accidents has dropped from 10.4 per annum to 4.4 – a reduction of more than 58%.

“Removing the speed cushions on Ladybrook Lane alone could cost as much as £250,000 and there is currently no provision in the capital programme for such works nor any plans for them to be included, especially given the clear demonstration of a reduction in accidents since their installation.”