WANSTEAD: Road safety campaigners slam council (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
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WANSTEAD: Road safety campaigners slam council
2:33pm Monday 1st October 2007 in Search By Sam Adams
ROAD safety campaigners in Wanstead have accused the council of putting lives at risk by 'deliberately withholding' the findings of a controversial traffic report.
Critics have slammed councillors for failing to release the document, which examined the need for speed reduction measures to be introduced in Redbridge Lane West and surrounding roads affected by traffic from the busy A12.
Redbridge Green Party activist, Ashley Gunstock, says residents are entitled to view the report, which was received by the council in May, after campaigning for more than eight years to have it carried out.
He said: "I am outraged the council is deliberately withholding information and research which should be in the public domain.
"It appears that it wishes to have the issue all stitched up before presenting its version of the report to residents."
Mr Gunstock, of Beechwood Park, South Woodford, claims the lives of residents have been blighted by heavy traffic since the A12 extension was completed in 1999, and that the safety of pedestrians, particularly schoolchildren, will continue to be put at risk until action is taken.
He said: "After so many broken promises from the council for so many years, the people who live in and around this area of Wanstead deserve to be allowed to view the findings.
"It amazes me that the council has taken so long to address this issue, when one of the borough's biggest schools is situated in one of the affected roads."
Wanstead ward councillor, Michelle Dunn, denied the document had been deliberately withheld, and said it was likely be made public in the New Year.
She said: "It's simply not true to suggest that we have withheld this report on purpose, and it is due to be sent to area one committee for public discussion soon.
"This is a very important issue for us, and the only reason it hasn't been made public already is because we've had so many other things to deal with recently."
