'Safer roads funding' granted for St Helens Road, Bolton

Bolton Council has been granted “safer roads funding” to invest in St Helens Road.

The most recent crash on St Helens Road, which leads from Over Hulton through Daubhill into the town centre, took place on Monday July 22.

This came just a month after grandmother Karen Kimblin was killed in a crash on the  same stretch of road and this week prompted urgent questions at Bolton Council.

Ayyub Patel, a Rumworth councillor, said: “Since June to now, to date, there have been a further five collisions and members may be aware that on Monday there was a collision which seven vehicles were involved in.

“If anyone saw the pictures you would realise it’s a miracle that nobody actually died.”

The most recent crash took place on Monday July 22 (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Patel said that traffic had increased in the area around Derby Street and St Helens Road for several reasons.

These included increasing populations, the growing number of businesses and schools and the introduction of bus lanes.  

Cllr Patel said: “Bolton is our home, and it is an unsettling reality of poorly regulated roads posing imminent danger to the safety of our community.

St Helens Road has become notorious for crashes (Image: Newsquest)

“Too many of us who live and work in Rumworth have had near misses while legally crossing the road, and the last straw for many residents was the unfortunate incident where a resident lost their life.

“I fear for the safety of my children, family and residents everyday.”

Cllr Patel had been addressing a full meeting of Bolton Council and asked what the borough’s leadership was prepared to do to address the fears about St Helens Road.

Several cars were involved in the crash on Monday July 22 (Image: Newsquest)

In response council cabinet member for transport, housing and highways Cllr Hamid Khurram said that there were various moves in place to make the road safer.

He said that this included encouraging more people to walk, cycle and use public transport to take pressure off the roads.

But it would also mean specific measures on St Helens Road.

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Cllr Khurram said: “Officers in our highways team are very aware of the issue at this location and at others within the borough.

“And I can confirm that we have been successful in obtaining safer roads funding from TfGM to specially deliver intervention along this route which will enhance the road safety.”

Cllr Khurram said that he hoped to be able to share more details about these plans soon.

He also said a new anti-social driving strategy would soon be trialled by the council and Greater Manchester Police and that he hoped to hear more details about this at a future meeting.