Motorists accused of ignoring Holme Wood road closure by driving on pavement

7:00am Monday 7th January 2013 in News

Richard Rushworth with the vandalised temporary roadblock and bollards in Holme Wood Richard Rushworth with the vandalised temporary roadblock and bollards in Holme Wood

Some vehicles, including a fire engine, are being driven on to the pavement to negotiate a way around a temporary road closure aimed at stopping rat-runners through a Bradford housing estate.

A six-inch-high plastic barrier has been installed by Bradford Council in St Margaret’s Road, Holme Wood, just off Knowles Lane and Tong Street, with roadside signs warning of the closure.

But vehicles, including a fire engine, have been spotted taking to the pavement and a grass verge to get round the barrier.

And at least one motorist has complained that he damaged his car after trying to drive across the barrier, which he said he had not noticed because vandals had torn reflective warning bollards from it.

The road closure started last September as an 18-month experiment to dissuade drivers from trying to avoid rush-hour snarl-ups in Tong Street.

But Richard Rushworth, 30, of West Bowling, has complained to the Council after he said he unwittingly drove over the barrier at night, damaging his car. He has argued that the Council is responsible as the vandalised warning bollards had been replaced.

“My car is not safe to drive and I haven’t got the money to fix it,” he said.

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“We were stuck on this bump for about six minutes with the wheel spinning and it gave me bald tyres on the front.

“Just imagine if you live on that road and you have a fire in your house and the fire engine gets stuck on that bump. I filmed a fire engine driving around it on to the pavement “The Council told me it was a temporary road closure which is going to be made permanent to stop people using it as a rat-run and it has bendy bollards, but the bollards have been ripped out.

“It has caused damage to my car and the road was not lit up so I didn’t know it was there. I have lived around here for 30 years and it has always been a road you could go down.

“A resident told me the bollards have been ripped out four times and people are driving on the pavement to go over it.”

Darren Badrock, Bradford Council's principal engineer, said: “Following complaints from residents and local councillors about motorists speeding on St Margaret’s Road and using it as a rat-run, Bradford South Area Committee decided to close the road last September for 18 months as an experiment.

“This was widely publicised in the Telegraph & Argus and there are signs advising motorists of no-through road at both Knowles Lane and Broadstone Way.

"We are aware that the bollards were vandalised before Christmas and our contractors will be coming back to install stronger ones this month.”

Watch Commander Matthew Goodall, of Odsal fire station, confirmed that his crews were aware of the restriction, but he said appliances could get over the access bump without any problem when required.

“In relation to the appliance mounting the kerb we do not advocate it and are conducting an internal investigation about that,” said Mr Goodall.

Comments(32)

Shipleyvegas says...
7:17am Mon 7 Jan 13

If you're stuck on a bump and keep spinning the wheels enough to make your tyres bald, then that is your own fault. Driving without due care and attention maybe?

It didn't cause that damage. You did.

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angry bradfordian says...
7:48am Mon 7 Jan 13

Shipleyvegas wrote:
If you're stuck on a bump and keep spinning the wheels enough to make your tyres bald, then that is your own fault. Driving without due care and attention maybe?

It didn't cause that damage. You did.
Agreed. How many minutes should it take before you would realise that spinning the wheels wouldn't work- you'd hope it wouldn't be 6 minutes!
I also don't understand how you'd get stuck on a hump that size unless you were driving a Formula 1 car. It's only 6 inches high!

I don't understand why these 'safety' measures were taken anyway. We're all paying for the upkeep of this road so as long as people aren't breaking the law why shouldn't we be using it if it's quicker?

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Joedavid says...
9:16am Mon 7 Jan 13

An 18 month experiment?
After a couple of weeks the answer the Council etc. looking for should be known.
So take it away or make it permanent blocking off right now.

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Cooperlane2 says...
9:36am Mon 7 Jan 13

Every time there's a picture story, the T&A always seem to highlight a complete and utter muppet. How out of control of a vehicle do you need to be to scrub your tyres like that? Driving without due care, driving with bald tyres...use his own evidence to prosecute him...mea culpa

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bradfordgirl says...
10:16am Mon 7 Jan 13

Whilst I do not agree with the bollards being vandalised or people using the causeway to get around them the point remains that this should never have been put there in the first place. I am not sure what good it has done as all the traffic that flowed smoothly on St Margarets Avenue is now gridlocked on Knowles lane meaning that people who live on St Margarets Avenue now have to endure up to 15 minutes queueing for a journey into and off of the estate that they live in. I have lived on St Margarets Avenue for many years and am a car owner but i have never experienced any problems until this so called soultion was introduced.If the road needs to be blocked off (although i can't see why ) then it needs to be done at the Knowles lane end of St Margarets Avenue so that the people who live here can get round the estate easily.

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tyker2 says...
10:31am Mon 7 Jan 13

unwittingly drove into a bollard. By my reckoning that is driving without due care and attention. There could also be an offence of damaging street furniture and not reporting such an offence.

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Avro says...
10:45am Mon 7 Jan 13

What else do you expect in Holmewood and would you rather Fire engines take the long way round??

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beardedclam says...
11:37am Mon 7 Jan 13

Typical behaviour from a cesspit estate, Bradford's very own underclass.

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Albion. says...
11:38am Mon 7 Jan 13

Cooperlane2 wrote:
Every time there's a picture story, the T&A always seem to highlight a complete and utter muppet. How out of control of a vehicle do you need to be to scrub your tyres like that? Driving without due care, driving with bald tyres...use his own evidence to prosecute him...mea culpa
And he had fifteen passengers who all suffered whiplash and trauma ;-)

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thingybob68 says...
11:42am Mon 7 Jan 13

beardedclam wrote:
Typical behaviour from a cesspit estate, Bradford's very own underclass.
their not an underclass - their non working class. And they seem to enjoy draining the public purse.

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ertnec says...
11:50am Mon 7 Jan 13

What a joke, living on St Margarets Ave yes something needed doing regarding cutting through the Estate unfortunately many people were not happy with the bollards put up. But it would have been better if they had put in large concrete blocks as the ones at the moment have been vandalized that many times and a waste of money. As for the guy in the story I'm sure if he had a problem going over it why carry on its his own stupdity that he did it. PLEASE look at the blocked and change it or take it away as at the moment its a waste of time.

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wobbley-bob says...
11:59am Mon 7 Jan 13

I still 'Rat Run' through Holmewood, using public roads, in a completely legal car, only I now go the full length of Knowles Lane & turn up Broadstone way to Tong Street. It's no problem to me doing that. Still much quicker than sitting in the afternoon car park that is Tong Street.

Blocking public roads off for so called rat running, has never solved anything, it just shifts the problem onto another public road.

Sort out the cause, & the symptoms will disappear on their own.

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Roadkilluk says...
12:20pm Mon 7 Jan 13

1. The driver mentioned in the article is an idiot, he span his tyres for 6 whole minutes, how long does it take to realise it's not going to work.
2. The driver isn't watching where he's going, there are signs that state it's a dead end.
3. OK, it's a 'rat run' but it's also a public road ... for the public ... to drive on. If the council doesn't like it, improve the alternative.

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kellyh1981 says...
12:44pm Mon 7 Jan 13

It hasn't solved any problems at all.
Drive down Knowles Lane, turn right, up Broadstone Way and it brings you out at the same place.
The distance isn't much further but could save you at anywhere between 10-30 minutes on Tong Street.
Unless you are going to close all extrances and extits to teh estate and only have 1 in and 1 out you'll never solve it.

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Lillian76 says...
1:09pm Mon 7 Jan 13

kellyh1981 wrote:
It hasn't solved any problems at all.
Drive down Knowles Lane, turn right, up Broadstone Way and it brings you out at the same place.
The distance isn't much further but could save you at anywhere between 10-30 minutes on Tong Street.
Unless you are going to close all extrances and extits to teh estate and only have 1 in and 1 out you'll never solve it.
It has made things worse, now we have cars driving on pavement, over the bump, speeding down denbury mount which is too narrow for 2 cars to pass and extended my journey time if I want to leave the estate via tong street. It will now stay there because not enough people complained to stop it happening (5) and no one will complain when the trial is over.

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ANY WHERE BUT HERE says...
1:13pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Roadkilluk wrote:
1. The driver mentioned in the article is an idiot, he span his tyres for 6 whole minutes, how long does it take to realise it's not going to work.
2. The driver isn't watching where he's going, there are signs that state it's a dead end.
3. OK, it's a 'rat run' but it's also a public road ... for the public ... to drive on. If the council doesn't like it, improve the alternative.
IT did work after six minutes? Iv'e been driving for twenty years and have never seen a road block such has that. It would just look like a speed bump in the dark, there were no signs so how would he know. Which ever muppet down at the council thought by putting that in the way would discourage drivers, when a third of Bradford is covered in speed bumps is destined for great things. (at council)

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bradfordlad says...
1:43pm Mon 7 Jan 13

wobbley-bob wrote:
I still 'Rat Run' through Holmewood, using public roads, in a completely legal car, only I now go the full length of Knowles Lane & turn up Broadstone way to Tong Street. It's no problem to me doing that. Still much quicker than sitting in the afternoon car park that is Tong Street.

Blocking public roads off for so called rat running, has never solved anything, it just shifts the problem onto another public road.

Sort out the cause, & the symptoms will disappear on their own.
totally agree, all it has done is push drivers on to another shortcut which is just as quick. Typical crappy council and its daft ideas

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Lillian76 says...
3:20pm Mon 7 Jan 13

ANY WHERE BUT HERE wrote:
Roadkilluk wrote:
1. The driver mentioned in the article is an idiot, he span his tyres for 6 whole minutes, how long does it take to realise it's not going to work.
2. The driver isn't watching where he's going, there are signs that state it's a dead end.
3. OK, it's a 'rat run' but it's also a public road ... for the public ... to drive on. If the council doesn't like it, improve the alternative.
IT did work after six minutes? Iv'e been driving for twenty years and have never seen a road block such has that. It would just look like a speed bump in the dark, there were no signs so how would he know. Which ever muppet down at the council thought by putting that in the way would discourage drivers, when a third of Bradford is covered in speed bumps is destined for great things. (at council)
There are signs at each end of St Margarets Avenue clearly marking it is blocked off.

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wobbley-bob says...
3:41pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Lillian76 wrote:
ANY WHERE BUT HERE wrote:
Roadkilluk wrote:
1. The driver mentioned in the article is an idiot, he span his tyres for 6 whole minutes, how long does it take to realise it's not going to work.
2. The driver isn't watching where he's going, there are signs that state it's a dead end.
3. OK, it's a 'rat run' but it's also a public road ... for the public ... to drive on. If the council doesn't like it, improve the alternative.
IT did work after six minutes? Iv'e been driving for twenty years and have never seen a road block such has that. It would just look like a speed bump in the dark, there were no signs so how would he know. Which ever muppet down at the council thought by putting that in the way would discourage drivers, when a third of Bradford is covered in speed bumps is destined for great things. (at council)
There are signs at each end of St Margarets Avenue clearly marking it is blocked off.
Maybe he came up Rushmoor Rd or Knowles Ave...No signs on those roads.

Bottom line is, it shouldn't be there, it serves no reasonable purpose & legal cars should be able to use any public road. You're taxed enough to use the roads as it is, without making some of them in effect 'private'.

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hortonite says...
4:33pm Mon 7 Jan 13

another non news story from our wonderful local rag. OK i accept it's about a blocked road, but let's be honest driving on the pavement to avoid traffic jams or simply pass one car is an everyday occurence on virtually every major road in bradford. before anyone get's on their high horse, i'm definitely not condoning the practice but simply stating it happens.

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istanbull-bantam says...
5:00pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Ladies/Gentlemen,

Whilst I'm aware this post does not relate to the article, I'd like to raise awareness of the fact that our city has been attacked in an article on Yahoo, "12 pcs of wages spent on work expenses", and is even said to be in the North East, by some ignoramus.

Please raise your voices against this bigoted fool whoever he/she may be.

Happy New Year to all.

A Bradfordian in China.

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karl steeton says...
5:14pm Mon 7 Jan 13

I feel sorry for the Bloke who damaged his car as a result of driving over this stupid obstuction. Having lived in the area for 5 years now, I agree it does get a litle busier along St Margrets Rd in the evening as a result of drivers trying to avoid the tailback along Bradford Rd. However, this particular road is already spread restricted due to the narrowing of the road along its length at certain places. So there is no argument that traffic drives along it at excess speeds. Quite the opposite infact! To my knowledge there has never been an serious accident or fatality (God Forbid) along this stretch of road. I'm sure we have all seen bad drivers all over the city dong a lot worse than taking a 'short cut' perfectly legally through a built-up suburban estate. The issue here seems to be the inability of the council to find a satisfactory resolution to the concerns of the Tax Paying Public. Rather than pandering to the wishes of half-witted , selfish neanderthals insistant that the road should be closed- perhaps a little creativity, consultation and lateral thought should be given to finding a better solution. I am sure some of the thoughtless comments made by certain individuals here, would soon be retracted if the emergency services vehicles were delayed from getting to them in an emergency!? Grow up and address the issues rather than attempting to belittle people raising a serious issue affectig the community. Rant Over !

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Popeye1914 says...
5:30pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Ok it's me in the photo. It was dark, no posts on the road closure, and still not and the happend on 19/12/12. What a great council we have. The signs are all in the wrong place and so is the hump. It's much higher than the ones on Broadstone way. It can't be seen in the dark. I had my 2 children in the car. We didn't know what had happend until I got out and looked. Traffic was building up behind us. It was raining. So just for you keyboard warriors, what would you have done. I went backwards and forwards trying to get over it, eventually I did and my children stopped crying and we went home. Should I have got out and left my car on the bump and got a taxi home to only come back in the morning to find my car either towed away by the police or burnt out by the vandals? Wot would you have done? I suppose you would have got out and lifted your car over the bump you big boys. Get a life. If your willy ever got used properly apart from in your hand you would have even botherd to write such crap.

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WayneRouke says...
6:28pm Mon 7 Jan 13

A link to this article is on

facebook.com/Bradfor
dsWorstParking

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Billy big balls says...
6:34pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Alright Popeye, you tell them lol, are you still driving that 3 wheeler these days ....come on city.. Gav k

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Popeye1914 says...
6:47pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Who's this? Gav K? As in old curly haired Kondri? I'm on a unicycle now thanks to the council!

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georget says...
10:19pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Ok So It You In the picture and it was dark? well you can see the block very clearly in the picture, and 6 mins scrub your tyres bald? then to carry on driving you were breaking the law!!!! and to get over 6 inches, Lmfao
maybe the tyres were as bald as your head when you went out, did you not see it then,as for the fire engine, An experienced driver Gets in trouble for doing his job? His job and would be on his mind, Get From a to b as quick as possible, What if it had been a Police Car, that drove on the pavement, Oh thats ok, he was on an emergency call, As usual!!!
The council Are Idiots, Make a mess of tong street, Then Block roads to Cause more delays, Typical,
They are Just A Set Of ****, I Like To Prove It
Shift the block you idiots, & put it on YOUR ROAD

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georget says...
10:22pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Should Say **** Holes And Like To Prove it

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Ashxxxx says...
10:56pm Mon 7 Jan 13

I work for Tong & Euro Cars (AKA Euro Cars) and use the roads in Holmewood almost everyday, everyone who live in Holmewood or drives in Holmewood including taxis, bus, delivery drivers ect will agree the problem is not Saint Margarets Avenue the real problem is Tong Street!!
I wish they would stop blocking roads off or putting stupid peak-hour traffic light in.
The issue is we all do shortcuts because Tong Street doesn't move!!
Why can't they get rid of bike lanes that hardly anyone uses shorten the middle road dividers, shorten the curb because their's alot of it and make Tong Street two lanes on each side were possible and merge it in were not, you would instantly half the traffic even if it wasn't moving.
If only locals had a say in what goes on rather than people who make the decisions and don't use the roads.
All the local customers I pickup tell me the same thing.
If anyone out there agrees email me at ashsarf@gmail.com and I will take it further

Thank you

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TirNaNog says...
1:21am Tue 8 Jan 13

I used to drive along St Margarets to get to Madison Avenue and people usually drove sensibly due to the chicanes etc so I don't believe there was a problem with speeding. The council just want you to go the way they want you to go ie Tong Street. That isn't going to happen! Nearly everyone I know who needs to go that way devises a plan to avoid as much of Tong Street as they can. Going down Knowles Lane and up Broadstone Way will be just as quick as drivers will 'boot' it. The residents of Knowles Lane are the ones who should be worried.

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georget says...
10:29am Tue 8 Jan 13

Council **** Ups Every Day, With Tin God Attitudes
All Bradford Is Crap Because of them
They have an Obsession To Knacker Bradford Alltogether

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Andr3wKay says...
1:40pm Tue 8 Jan 13

The council need to look at why Tong Street traffic is so bad, and address those issues. I drive along there each evening (out of Bradford towards Birstall) and have noticed so many things they could do to improve throughput.
1) Toftshaw Lane does not need traffic lights. It's a small country road with hardly any traffic coming out of it turning right. It should just be a normal junction. It unnecessarily stops traffic moving southbound.
2) Have a 17.5tn weight limit for Tong Street (apart from deliveries). The M606 should be used by HGV drivers, not this small road.
3) The triangular shaped mockery of a junction outside the High School should be changed into a roundabout with no traffic lights. It's 3 main entry roads all going round would allow traffic to flow freely.
4) The Denbrook Ave junction, again does not need traffic lights. If the triangle was turned into a roundabout, traffic can exit any road.
5) Left turning traffic going into the high school carpark do not need traffic lights!
6) Look at potentially shortening the width of the pavement as one previous commentor mentioned - it looks like most of the route could be dual carriageway, at least in one direction.

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