Two cars smash into house in Bramley as resident complains of speeding in the area

Two cars ploughed into a house in Bramley on Saturday and a resident of the damaged property has complained of speeding in the area.
Two cars crashed into a house on Randolph Street in BramleyTwo cars crashed into a house on Randolph Street in Bramley
Two cars crashed into a house on Randolph Street in Bramley

The crash happened at about 2.15pm on Randolph Street, near Stanningley Fire Station.

Pictures show one car overturned and another crashed into a garden wall which had partly collapsed.

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-> Drivers warned by West Yorkshire Police after multiple crashes in adverse weatherRandolph Street is a residential road and has two crossroad junctions.

Damage to a wall outside the house after the crashDamage to a wall outside the house after the crash
Damage to a wall outside the house after the crash

A resident of the damaged house, who does not wish to be named, was away at the time of the crash but was alerted to the damage by a neighbour.

He said: "Cars speed past the houses every day at least four to five times, it's not going to be long before someone gets killed.

"Accidents happen on these crossroads on a regular basis due to speeding, but councillors don't deem it enough to warrant speed bumps to stop it.

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"Kids walk through this crossing every day for school, I think it won't be long before there is a major tragedy."

Bramley and Stanningley councillor Kevin Ritchie said he is aware of the issue and has written to the Highways Officer to suggest changes to the area.

Roads have to meet a criteria to grant traffic calming measures such as speed bumps or reduced speed limits.

Coun Ritchie said: "We have tried as best we can to get measures implemented and as Bramley and Stanningley councillors, along with MP Rachel Reeves, we have campaigned for traffic calming measures on Leeds and Bradford Road.

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"The trouble is that highways officers have to work to a certain criteria which is laid down by the Department of Transport.

"Often roads do not meet the criteria and it is incredibly frustrating to us, and incredibly frustrating to constituents, when we have to communicate that message.

"These roads are constantly under review and we have pushed our neighbourhood policing teams to do speed monitoring on the Fairfields roads and deal with speeders accordingly.

"But behaviours do change when police are around."

Coun Ritchie pointed out that there is often opposition from drivers when installing speed bumps, which is why protocol has to be followed before introducing traffic calming measures.

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He said: "People ask whether we are waiting for a death or a serious accident before introducing measures and it is immensely frustrating that there is no real answer to that.

"What I'd like to look into, but that would be financially difficult, is to redesign Fairfield Avenue to try and use soft engineering to encourage people to slow down."

A similar project was introduced in Chapel Allerton to reduce speeding along a set of terraces.

Coun Ritchie added: "I've argued that if Chapel Allerton can have it then Bramley and Stanningley can have it too."