Staple Lane collision in Balderton leads to fresh concerns about road safety

A woman whose husband was involved in a crash has described the street where it happened as the road to hell.

Elizabeth Hanrahan's husband Martin was involved in a collision as he left Bilton Close onto Staple Lane at Balderton to drive to Sainsbury's at around 9am on Tuesday.

The exact circumstances of what happened are yet to be determined.

Police attended the collision, which caused lengthy tailbacks until the vehicles were recovered, but, thankfully no injuries.

Mrs Hanrahan says the residents of Bilton Close often take their lives into their own hands when they try to leave the cul-de-sac.

She said the problem has existed since the new road was built connecting Bowbridge Road with Staple Lane.

The new road is the first stage of the Southern Relief Road, which, if it ever can achieve the necessary funding, will connect the A46 Farndon roundabout with the A1 at Fernwood.

"Staple Lane is the road to hell," she said.

"It is often a racetrack.

"Between 5.30pm and 7pm you just can't get out of Bilton Close.

"All traffic comes down Staple Lane for the A1 and it's bedlam.

"We have all of the lorries. To make matters worse cars park either side of Staple Lane and when the lorries thunder passed, there's nowhere to safely go.

"It is a 30mph (approaching London Road) from Jericho Road from a 50 but nobody slows down because they want to try to get onto London Road and onto the roundabout and the A1 quickly.

"Drivers take a risk and pull out rather than wait at the London Road junction and those coming off the roundabout onto London Road leave their indicators on so it appears as if they are going to turn left onto Staple Lane, but they often carry on down London Road.

"There have been accidents, but how there haven't been many more I don't know.

"Someone will be killed.

"This area was designed as a quiet residential area."

The problem has been exacerbated recently with the closure of Hawton Lane for sewer works.

Clive Wood, team manager for highways development control at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “We are aware of the various issues on Staple Lane and are currently considering suitable and practical measures to deal with these whilst we await the next stage of works on the Newark Southern Link Road.

"This will provide for an alternative means of access to the A1 which will see Staple Lane become a cul-de-sac, with all traffic heading to or from the Balderton/A1 area following the new route.

“As was reported by the Newark Advertiser in early March of this year, Newark and Sherwood District Council is working with the developer to seek the additional funding for this work. It is hoped that they will be successful in the near future as various new Government initiatives become available.”