The truth, the whole truth - or nothing like the truth?

An earlier posting (6th August) contains the following statement - The problems lie much closer to home than most people realise. Just to expand upon this a little we have dug these nuggets out of the archives:

LCC Spokesman's comments - in response to an article in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Wednesday 22 February 2006, about the concerns and the activities of LAWRRAG (see also 'Royds Russian Roulette' posting) - 1) "....the group's concerns were being taken extremely seriously but major traffic problems had yet to be found." 2) "We have asked police to carry out enforcement measures to combat a small element of speeding along the road."

Letter to LAWRRAG from Councillor Steve Smith 24 August 2004 - in response to complaints about HGV traffic - "Please be assured that I will be monitoring the situation on an ongoing basis with a view to achieving a significant reduction in HGV movements along the A639/A642 corridor."

Letter to local MP from Highways department 27 January 2006 - in response to concerns about increased traffic resulting from Aire Valley development link road proposal - "It is not anticipated that the A639 will increase in volume due to the construction of these roads". The writer of this letter had been present and a meeting held on 13 January 2006, with LAWRRAG representatives and senior council officers, where it was confirmed that there would be a higher volume of all types of traffic using the A639/A642 as a result of the Aire Valley development and link road!

Speed monitoring - In November 2004 the council carried out speed monitoring on the A639 and came to the conclusion that there was no excessive speeding! It was pointed out to the council that positioning the monitoring equipment within yards of a set of traffic lights would not give a true indication of average speeds. After much pressure and many months delay monitoring was again carried out, at a spot suggested by LAWRRAG. The results from this monitoring, on the same road, showed that in excess of 80% of all vehicles were speeding, this resulted in the council stating that there was a serious speeding problem!

Police liaison following speed monitoring - It was stated at a meeting held with senior council officers in December 2005 that although it was acknowledged that there was a serious speeding problem, there was only the police that could do anything about it. The council confirmed that they would liaise with the police which they eventually did in August 2006!

LAWRRAG 2004 petition - In the summer of 2004 70+ households signed a petition supporting the campaign for speed control, an HGV ban, and a crossing for Royds School, the petition was presented to the council, through the councillors - that petition was simply ignored!

Sensibly minded people might presume that council members, officers, and ward councillors would be doing everything that they could to help the community, the rate payers.

Royds Russian Roulette

September and the start of another school year, another school year without a pedestrian controlled crossing point on the A639 or A642 for Oulton and Woodlesford students walking to and from Royds School.

Following complaints from parents, supported by the School, and the Oulton Society, Leeds City Council carried out a survey and in February 2002 (yes, 2002!) confirmed that a pedestrian controlled crossing was needed and that consideration was to be given to installing flashing slow down signs close to Pennington Lane. The location of the pedestrian controlled crossing and the source of funding was confirmed to ward councillors in March 2002 - Nothing happened.

A key concern covered in the initial LAWRRAG campaign was the safety of Royds School students having to cross either the A639 or the A642, both roads acknowledged by the council as having speeding problems! LAWRRAG had the full support of the school headteacher, parents, and the local MP, however in January 2006 the council stated that following a recent survey there were insufficient numbers of people crossing by the school too satisfy the criteria for a pedestrian controlled crossing. It was pointed out to the council and the councillors that the vast majority of students cross the road before the Sports Centre, and not close by the school - this was ignored.

In response to an article about the LAWRRAG campaign in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Wednesday 22 February 2006, a council spokesman was quoted "Young people at Royds School are working with us to produce a traffic plan to identify any traffic problems that they experience on their journeys to school. We will look at all results and take any action we think is necessary." (As the parent of a 'young person' at Royds at that time the writer nor the 'young person' ever heard anything about this supposed co-operation!). Over time it was 'suggested' that LAWRRAG shouldn't involve itself with the school as the Education department and the ward councillors, Governors at the school, were working with the relevant council departments to sort this out.

In 2002 a crossing was needed, 7 years on, with a higher traffic volume and higher speeds there is still no safe crossing point. School students are encouraged to walk to and from school.