Anger at “lack of action” to deal with dangerous speeding on Church Hill Road
Mike Doyle, a former chief superintendent at West Midlands Police makes the plea over speeding in Church Hill Road at the Solihull Council meeting(Image: Sam Greenway LDR)
An angry former police chief compared his street to a “race track” because of the number of drivers putting lives at risk.
Mike Doyle, a former chief superintendent at West Midlands Police, said families were choosing to leave Church Hill Road in Solihull because of the “potential disaster unfolding before our eyes”.
Mr Doyle, who has lived in the street for more than 20 years, branded the situation a “disgrace” and claimed not enough action had been taken following crashes in the road, which is near the town centre.
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He told borough councillors: “What we have here, at best, is apathy and indifference and, at worst, a total abbreviation of responsibilities.
“We did not agree to live within the confines of a racetrack and that is what Church Hill Road has become.”
Mr Doyle, who was supported by a number of residents in the public gallery, highlighted three crashes he said showed the “gravity” of the problem:
- A crash in which a car “flew down” the road, lost control and “embedded itself in the home of a resident”
- Another high-speed crash in which a car overtook another into oncoming traffic, lost control, veered and smashed into the pavement at the junction of Whitefields Road. “The tyres exploded due to the power of the impact and the vehicle was catapulted into the carriageway”, Mr Doyle said.
- The third, described as the “most disturbing”, was when a car flipped onto its roof, demolishing two trees and smashing into a lamppost which was propelled into a resident’s garden – all witnessed by parents with young children.
Mr Doyle said he wanted councillors to imagine the carnage and potential loss of life, adding: “This is the potential disaster unfolding before our eyes.”
“I have spoken to a number of residents – they have recounted sometimes multiple incidents of reckless speed,” he said.
“I personally know of residents who have moved away and two families who are seriously considering moving because of the anxiety.
“We need a key stakeholder to champion meaningful change, we need to put in place effective heavy-duty speed ramps either end of Church Hill Road to influence driver behaviour.
“We need a robust enforcement strategy to seize vehicles in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance.
“This is a time to get off the back foot or we see deaths on this road.”
Coun Ken Hawkins, Solihull Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for environment and infrastructure, said: “Obviously the enforcement of speed offences is a police matter.
(Image: Google Maps)
“For local roads I think it is about time local authorities had that in their powers, and leave police to deal with key routes.
“What you say is real but Solihull roads are the safest in the West Midlands, one of the safest in the country.
“That doesn’t make things right when you have people racing recklessly and causing people’s safety to be at risk.”
The councillor said he would raise the issues with police, adding: “We will be taking this further.”
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said the force was “aware of community concerns” and had increased police patrols locally.
Insp Tom Clayton, from Solihull Local Policing Area, added: “We’ve been working with partners and carrying out proactive patrols and operations.
“This partnership approach is vital and involves everyone from local speedwatch groups to the local authority and colleagues from our roads policing unit.
“Anyone concerned about speeding and dangerous driving can report it to us via 101.”
Mr Doyle spoke at the latest full council meeting held at the Civic Suite on April 8.