Barrier removal puts Wellington pedestrians at risk
A mission by the Government to "de-clutter" the streets of unnecessary signs and barriers could put pedestrians in a Shropshire market at risk, councillors have been told.
Barriers on the four corners of a crossroads in Wellington in Telford have been removed as part of a de-cluttering being carried out by Telford & Wrekin Council as part of a government scheme.
The barriers are at the junction of Bridge Road, Haygate Road, Walker Street and Wrekin Road.
Former Wellington mayor John Alvey told last night's meeting of the town council: "Over 10 years ago there was a fatal accident outside the pub on that corner.
"I requested from Telford & Wrekin Council that we have safety barriers erected on all four corners. Telford & Wrekin assessed the situation and agreed safety barriers would go up.
"They have served very good purpose and created a safer situation."
Mr Alvey ased the council to ask Telford & Wrekin to reinstate the barriers.
Councillor Frank Burns said he was not sure what the council could do. He said: "It's nothing to do with us. Central government want to de-clutter so they have to de-clutter. Some people think it looks very nice – I prefer the railings."
But Councillor Phil Morris-Jones said: "Those barriers were all erected for road safety, no other reason. I would have thought common sense would have prevailed and they would have engaged with local councillors. I hope they are replacing them. I cannot understand it in this day and age when they appear to be so hard up why they are spending money on this."
Councillor Rob Sloan, who represents the area on Telford & Wrekin Council, said he would write to borough cabinet member responsible for transport Councillor Hilda Rhodes to ask what was happening with the barriers.
Town clerk Howard Perkins said he believed some of the barriers which had been taken down around the town would be replaced.
