Council sticks 'random' traffic island in the middle of road

Homeowners’ fury as council sticks speedbumps and ‘random’ traffic island in the middle of road – stopping them from turning into their drives without clipping it

• Locals on Dixon Street in Wolverhampton have blasted ‘random’ traffic island
• They claim the ‘monstrosity’ makes it harder for them to turn onto driveways 
• Council installed island and speed bumps in bid to clampdown on boy racers

Angry homeowners in Wolverhampton have blasted a council’s ‘random’ decision to install a solitary traffic island in the middle of the road which they claim is stopping them from turning into their drives without clipping it.

The traffic island was installed on Dixon Street last month along with a series of eyesore speedbumps after residents had complained to Wolverhampton Council about boy racers.

But locals have now slammed the position of the speed bumps – and in particular the island, which they insist is making it hard for them to turn into their drives and makes an accident more likely. 

Balvinder Sond, 46, says that he can no longer turn his transit van onto his driveway without clipping the edge of the traffic island – and instead has to drive down the road to perform a U-turn.

‘I’ve got no problems with speed bumps but this is on a different level. It’s going to cause an accident, not stop one,’ he said.

The traffic island was installed on Dixon Street last month along with a series of eyesore speedbumps after residents had complained to Wolverhampton Council about boy racers

But locals have now slammed the position of the speed bumps – and in particular the island, which they insist is making it hard for them to turn into their drives and makes an accident more likely

Balvinder Sond, 46, says that he can no longer turn his transit van onto his driveway without clipping the edge of the traffic island – and instead has to drive down the road to perform a U-turn

‘I’ve complained to the council so many times but all they said is ‘send in an email’. Then they ignore it. 

‘It cannot work out what the point of it is. It’s a long road and this part of it is wide and with good visibility. There’s not been an accident here in the 10 years I’ve lived here. It’s down the road, where there is a bend, which is a danger zone. But not this part.’

Kamaljit Caur, 37, told The Sun: ‘There are lorries that can’t get past and I’m there’s going to be an accident where a car clips the kerb and crashes. It’s causing more issues than before.’

Wolverhampton Council insisted the traffic calming measures were ‘designed to reduce vehicle speeds and personal injury collisions’.

A spokesman said: ‘The varying width of the carriageway on Dixon Street means that the number of speed cushions also has to vary. It is however, not always possible to fit a full set of cushions across the road.

Wolverhampton Council insisted the traffic calming measures were ‘designed to reduce vehicle speeds and personal injury collisions’

‘Under such circumstances we are able to introduce a central splitter island of appropriate width to ensure the traffic calming remains within specification.

‘The splitter island includes ‘Keep Left’ signs which are mandatory to inform drivers that they must pass to the left side of the island. Contravention of the ‘Keep Left’ signs is a criminal offence.

‘We appreciate that the splitter island will prevent a small number of residents from parking on-street directly outside their properties.

‘However, there is extensive, unrestricted on-street parking in the vicinity on Dixon Street.

‘City of Wolverhampton Council’s Traffic and Road Safety will monitor the effectiveness of the scheme over the coming months.’

MailOnline has contacted the council for further comment.

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