Reader's letter: Failing in duty to prevent accidents

Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee approved the application for the retention of a 20 metre monopole and cabinets on Grange Road/Hawton Road junction.

This was despite multiple objections from the community because of road safety concerns.

The pole and cabinets were installed in contravention of the original planning application ­— they are too close to the road and does not allow for the minimum 2.4 metre visibility splay. In fact, it blocks the view completely when turning right out of Grange Road on to Hawton Road, creating an extremely dangerous situation, basically an accident waiting to happen.

I was at the meeting and I was amazed that it warranted all of about four to five-minute discussion with no mention of the many objections to the road safety issues.

It all concentrated on the improvement in phone signal.

I have been checking what the local authorities responsibilities are for road safety.

It is: Local authorities have a statutory duty under section 39 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act to “take steps both to reduce and prevent accidents”.

Based on this, I would invite someone from the Newark and Sherwood to explain how the decision to approve this application demonstrates compliance with their statutory duty.

Do we have to wait until someone gets injured or killed before someone listens?

There is a saying in health and safety which is ‘think what if, not if only’. I really hope we don’t find ourselves using the last two words. ­— D. CARTER, via email.