New camera to be installed after series of crashes at notorious junction

This comes after a meeting between ward councillors, Bolton Council highways officers and police officers to discuss accidents on Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge.

Early in October, two crashes were reported on the same evening along Blackburn Road, while several other incidents have been reported since then.

Cllr Hilary Fairclough, of Astley Bridge, said she was disappointed that the junction with Moss Bank Way and Crompton Way was not on a list of priority areas – but now action will be taken with a different type of camera, which monitors drivers behaviours.

She said: “Unbelievably because the number of accidents reported were only caused damage to vehicles and thankfully few casualties cameras were considered too expensive at approximately £500,000 needed just for installation. 

Police at the scene of a crash on October 5 (Image: Newsquest)

“We were told that only accidents that included casualties were included in the collected data, so even crashes that close the road for hours and needed police presence were not included if there were no injuries sustained.

“Residents will be appalled that unless we are scraping bodies off the road it isn’t considered a priority.

“I believe we should be proactive and not reactive, closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.”

Following on from the incident where two crashes happened on the same day on Sunday October 5, further incidents have been reported on Blackburn Road.

On Saturday, October 25, three vehicles were said to have been damaged, including what appeared to be two cars and a utilities van.

The aftermath of a crash on October 5 (Image: Newsquest)

The road was then blocked again at the same junction on Saturday, November 1 after what appeared to be a crash between two cars.

Although the cause of these crashes are not known, they have prompted calls for action to be taken to improve driving standards.

Cllr Fairclough said: “Councillors felt that cameras would be a deterrent and necessary for the safety of the public.

“However, it was agreed that a camera would be installed to monitor traffic and look at the numbers of cars coming through on red, and other poor driving standards.

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“This information may be passed on to the police for action if necessary.

“Once the information has been collected, we will meet again to look at a way forward.

“I asked that the lights sequence be looked at because it had been alleged that they are not always working correctly, however they are set to react to traffic flow, this was agreed.

“I am grateful to our highways department and the police for meeting so quickly and whilst they are hampered by rules and regulations, they were very keen to help.”

Source – INDIA TV