Petition demands improved safety on South Shields road

Michelle Walters hands in a petition calling for Wenlock Road to be made safer to Coun Michael Clare. Also pictured are Rachel Moreton and Jack Moreton, aged five.

Michelle Walters handed in the near-1,000 name petition at a meeting of the Riverside Community Area Forum.

The mum, who lives in Simonside, was prompted to call for change after a couple were hit at the crossing on Wenlock Road, Simonside, on December 11 by a van which did not stop.

The man was left with life-threatening head injuries and was treated at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary before later being transferred to South Tyneside District Hospital.

His wife also received hospital treatment but was later released.

The family of the couple backed the petition – which calls for the road to be made safer, including changes to the road layout near Simonside Metro station.

It is the second time the issue of road safety in Wenlock Road has been raised by residents.

In 2010, local people, backed by the police, called for action and the consolidation of the two zebra crossings outside the station.

Miss Walters says she is “optimistic” that, this time something will be done.

She said: “I feel relieved the petition has now been handed in and I’m grateful to Councillor Michael Clare for accepting it.

“I spoke with the traffic manager at a previous Partners and Communities Together meeting in Simonside and feel quite optimistic that something will change.

“The residents, with the help of the police, have done all we can to call for improvements on this road – now its in the hands of the council.”

Police confirmed at the meeting that a man has attended the station as a volunteer and has been interviewed by officers in connection with the collision.

Councillor Clare, who is also a councillor for Simonside, said: “The form has formally been accepted.

“It will now be passed to the officers to look at it and take the best course of action.

“There has already been lost of work carried out in the area since the collision.”

A spokesman for the traffic department at South Tyneside Council told the meeting the introduction of a 20mph speed limit “was being looked at” along with a consolidation of the two zebra crossings.