Third Death on Dangerous Roads in North Acton

Stacey announces safety measures, calling on TfL for more

Residents of North Acton were shocked again last Friday to hear of the death of a pensioner, Jennifer England who lived on Wulfstan Street, East Acton.

Ms England was killed at around 11.00am on Chase Road when a blue Ferrari drove off the road, pinning her against the railings of Acton Cemetary. The driver was treated in hospital before being questioned under caution by police. He was not arrested.

The pensioner's death comes only a few weeks after Rose Cleary, also a pensioner, was killed on North Acton Road. Mrs Cleary died just yards away from the spot where 5-year-old Rachel Popoola had been knocked down by a hit and run driver only 3 weeks beforehand.

Another woman, Maria Kishak, was killed by a hit and run driver on the same crossing as Rachel just over 3 years ago.

Residents say traffic along Chase Road and North Acton Road is extremely heavy as the roads are used by drivers accessing warehouses and businesses on The Park Royal Industrial Estate - one of the biggest in Europe. The two roads are also being used as a rat run by drivers cutting through between the A40 and A406.

Jennifer England's death came only two days after Jason Stacey, Leader of Ealing Council, met residents to tell them about proposed safety measures for North Acton Road.

Mr Stacey wants to make improvements to existing pedestrian crossings and have a Pedestrian Island installed at Chase Road by the end of March. He has also called on Transport for London to help with more long-term safety measures. He said: "I met with residents last Wednesday to set out the plans and these were met with general approval.

"This latest tragic collision shows how important it is that we resolve this issue and whilst these immediate measures will help, it highlights how important it is that TfL gets involved to bring some more substantive improvements to the area, including a speed camera and traffic lights."

However, Travel London Ltd's plan to site a Bus Depot in Cunard Road with the only access from North Acton Road and Chase Road would only make the area more congested and dangerous.

The depot will house 36 single and double decker buses for routes C1 (which operates between Shepherd’s Bush Green and Victoria Station) and 452 (which operates between Kensal Rise Station and Wandsworth Road Station). With Acton residents' pleas for better bus links falling on deaf ears, many feel it is adding insult to injury, not to mention pollution, for buses not serving locals to be using Acton as a bus car-park.

Anyone with information can telephone the police traffic garage at Alperton on 020 8998 5319.

January 25, 2008