At the LLRA AGM, on 23rd May 2017, a number of residents raised concerns about the safety risks from parked cars on Carram Way at both the north and south junctions with Long Leys Road. At certain times, there is poor visibility due to parked cars, with traffic having to drive on the wrong carriageway which can create safety risks. This web page has been set up by the LLRA to identify the level of the problem.
If you are involved in an incident or near-miss on Carram Way as a result of parked cars then please use the comment form at the bottom of this page. Please provide the date and time of the incident together with a brief description of what happened and why you think it happened. Please don’t identify specific individuals or vehicles in your description. Ideally this should be supported by photographic evidence showing how cars were parked and how visibility was affected . Photographs can be emailed to info@long-leys.org. The LLRA committee will review input over coming months to see what can be done in response. Your input may be used to support any proposed future changes.
Previous suggestions from residents to resolve the risks generated by parked cars include: painting double yellow lines, enforcement action against parking on the bend and introducing a one way system.
Published on behalf of the LLRA Committee 5th June 2017
Courtesy of Google Maps
Near Misses on North End of Carram Way
Hi, After the AGM we were encouraged to report near misses. Here are two reports:
Friday 26th May approximately 10.40am
My wife and I were on the north end of Carram Way heading towards Long Leys Road. There were 4 cars parked next to each other on my right blocking the view down the road. A car sped up towards us from Long Leys Road on the wrong side of the road. I managed to swerve into Dorrigan Close and avoid a collision.
Saturday 27th May at approximately 2.10pm
My wife and I were on the north end of Carram Way heading towards Long Leys Road. There were some cars parked next to each other on my right blocking the view to Long Leys Road. A car came up from Long Leys Road at speed causing me to brake sharply just before the row of parked cars to avoid a collision. I couldn”t see him until the last moment.
What should happen?
I believe that the two near misses I have reported will go some way towards getting the County Council to paint double yellow lines at the North End of Carram Way. This would benefit all motorists using Carram Way by raising safety standards.
Hospital staff cars and supply vehicles (including Veolia) are speeding down the straight run of Benbow Way down to the hospital site once they turn the corner of Manrico/Benbow. There are a number of children living and playing out in this area…….
With the construction work in progress to the former education centre on Long Leys Road can we as residents ensure procedures are put in place for the following:
1) The workers vehicles, which appear to cause obstructions are parked within their compound away from the main road.
2) Ensure Long Leys Road is swept by a mechanical sweeper on a regular daily basis.
3) Insist both entrances to Carram Way have signs supplied & installed by the Contractors advising ‘ No Construction Traffic Beyond This Point’ . Several lorries delivering materials have been seen turning into the estate and then reversing once they realise they have missed the entrance into the site.
There are enough pot holes along Long Leys Road already.
Carram Way, North end. This is a problem probably created by whoever developed Carram Close. Residents there are only allowed to park one car on the close I understand, hence creating a parking problem on the nearest available road with the overflow.
Carram Way, South end . I have complained to the hospital several times, as much of the difficulties are caused by their staff. They have apparently created 29 new parking places ( however a small number are now reserved for ambulances). Clearly there are still not sufficient numbers, and there are proposals for further expansion of services. Yellow lines will impact on residents as well, and simply result in other roads being used. I am awaiting a reply about other changes promised but not completed.
Hi Martin
Thanks for the feedback. On Carram Way, South end, we are waiting for a date for installation of the barriers on Benbow Way to prevent vehicle access to the hospital – the work should have been completed by now but they hit a problem and are awaiting replacement barriers. When the barriers are in place then no-entry (to hospital) signage will be put up – this should help visitors finding the hospital for the first time. Staff will be encouraged to change their behaviour – they will have to use the Long Leys entrance if they want to try parking on site first anyway. I appreciate this does not stop people parking on Benbow Way and walking through the barriers. Clearly we will have to wait until the work is complete before we can judge the effectiveness of the new measures.
Kind regards
Jon Davies
Hi Jon
Clearly some staff are using the “new” entrance, but by no means a majority. Also HGVs still arrive every day, starting anytime between 6am and 7am, including our friends from Veolia, and all seem to use Carram Way.. Staff arrivals seem to start just after 7:30am. People do not just park on Benbow Way, but on Carram Way and Manrico and Fordham Drives. The works carried out so far have made a minimal difference.
Thanks for the feedback Martin. As soon as we get a date for the work to be completed we will share with the community.
Kind regards
Jon
Sorry, staff arrivals should read just after 6:30 am.