Bus firm asks for bollards near Wyke academy to be moved (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bus firm asks for bollards near Wyke academy to be moved

7:00am Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News By Kathie Griffiths, T&A Reporter

Christine Oliver and Julie Palczak with a damaged car

A bus operator is asking Bradford Council to consider moving newly-built traffic islands on a busy road that it blames for a spate of accidents involving its vehicles.

Last week the Telegraph & Argus reported how residents next to Woodside Road in Wyke , and close to the new Appleton Academy, feared lives would be in danger unless action was taken quickly to ease congestion.

People whose homes overlooked the road said there had been three accidents in the past month involving buses trying to squeeze past a line of parked cars. Residents had seen buses clipping parked cars at the side of the road and spinning vehicles round.

One of the neighbours Allan Oliver said: “There's just not enough room on the road. Lucky there wasn’t anyone in the van and cars this time, but who knows next time.”

Now First Bus has asked Bradford Council’s High-ways engineers to consider moving the islands because they make the road too narrow.

But the road islands were among measures including residents-only parking permits and double yellow lines taken in readiness for the academy’s opening in a bid to alleviate problems.

Academy principal Dwayne Saxton said they had worked with the Council to ensure that additional road safety measures were put in place but that any further comment would be a matter for the Council and First Bus if they are in dispute regarding the islands.

A spokesman for First Bus said: “The road islands/bollards make the road even narrower in places and therefore are, in our opinion, a contributory factor, in the road traffic accidents we have suffered.

“We are keen to talk to the Council and police about the range of road safety concerns in this area, both short term because of the building works, but also more longer term as and when the school opens.”

The Academy’s primary phase opened yesterday with the first intake of pupils, an official ceremony will be held on Friday.

Wyke councillor David Robinson (Ind) said: “Road safety is high on my list of priorities and if it means dialogue between the Council and First bus can help avoid anymore accidents then I think speaking to each other is the right thing to do.”

No comment was available from Bradford Council.