BREAKING - Council promises review into '˜accident blackspot' A60

Marianne Heeley made the plea after her daughter Lizzie, a student at Portland College, next to a 50mph stretch of the main road at Harlow Wood, was struck by a car.

Lizzie, aged 18, (pictured) was struck by a car travelling at 40mph just after she left the campus on September 28.

She was left in a coma for 11 days with brain injuries and is still struggling to communicate with her family.

It was the second accident at the site in three weeks, after 11-year-old Ben Cappin was involved in a collision with a car.

Nottinghamshire County Council has now commissioned a safety review into a two-mile section of the A60, south of Mansfield.

The road includes entrances to and exits from the Harlow Wood housing development, in addition to both Portland College and Fountaindale School, and is used by a large number of people with disabilities.

Safety experts from Via East Midlands, which manages highways services on behalf of the council, will examine the circumstances of all injury accidents on the road between Ravenshead and Mansfield over the last three years.

The review will include a meeting with MPs, councillors and representatives from local schools and colleges.

Issues covered as part of the review will include signage, crossing facilities, sight lines, road markings and speed limits.

Councillor Kevin Greaves, council transport and highways committee chairman, said: “Despite its relatively rural location, this section of the A60 is unique because of its hilly nature and the three large educational establishments in the immediate vicinity, two of which are for people with disabilities.

“The review will include an audit of existing safety measures and crossings on the road and an assessment of the accidents resulting in injury over the last three years from police data, to establish if there are any recurring themes.

“The local MP and councillors have also been gathering the experiences of residents who use the road which, together with the input of representatives from Fountaindale School and Portland College, will play an important role by flagging up specific problems they face.

“Once we’ve gathered all this information together, we’ll assess the outcome and bring forward some new safety measures.”

Last week Ashfield MP Gloria De Piero pledged to support residents campaigning for more safety measures on the A60.

Dozens of residents have met Ms De Piero and Councillor Steve Carroll, Nottinghamshire County Council member for Sutton East, to raise their concerns about the the A60.

More than 40 people also gathered at Portland College to explain why they feel the road is so dangerous and why action needs to be taken to make it safer.

Ms De Piero said: “This review is an important step in making this busy road safer for all who use it.

“Local residents feel very strongly that the speed limit of this road is too fast and that safety measures have to be put in place before anyone else is seriously injured or worse.

“I will make sure their experiences are shared with the team carrying out the review when we meet so that a suitable solution can be found and put in place as soon as possible.”