Silence row over unsafe junction on the edge of the borough

Talks are set to take place over 'significant' safety concerns at the Lime Lane junction with Morley Road on the edge of Derby (near the Kings Corner pub). Images by LDRS

A new row has broken out over plans to make a “dangerous” Derby junction safer following serious accidents.

In August a meeting was called for between council officials to discuss safety concerns at the Lime Lane and Morley Road junction on the edge of Derby, near Oakwood.

The junction, close to the Kings Corner pub, has been the location of several serious accidents and police closures over the years.

Concerns have been raised for some time as Lime Lane – a narrow street – is a high speed road with a speed limit of 60mph.

Phil Brown, the manager of the Kings Corner pub on the edge of the junction, said he and his staff were in “constant” fear a vehicle may crash into the pub garden due to the high speeds driven on the route.

Residents living nearby have said possible solutions could include improved street lighting and/or the creation of a mini roundabout.

But forming a plan to tackle the safety concerns is not straightforward as the junction is on the edge of Derby – but also on the border with Derbyshire County Council’s highways.

Derby’s Conservative Oakwood councillors Matthew Eyre, Freya Trewhella and Jamie Mulhall wrote a letter calling for a meeting with Derbyshire County Council’s leaders to try and find a way to making the junction safer.

Due to its location they told residents no “big change” can happen without Derbyshire County Council involvement.

However, the councillors have issued a new statement saying they have had “no response” from the Reform-led county council to their letter.

They add this “does not give them hope the county will take this seriously”.

The statement says: “The junction is partly in the city, partly in the county – no big change can happen without the county being on board. We are deeply disappointed and frustrated that no response has been received to their letter, over 60 days later.

“Is this how Reform UK Councillors treat the concerns of residents in Oakwood and Morley? How would you feel if your councillor had not bothered to acknowledge your concerns after over 60 days?”

Derbyshire County Council was approached for comment over the councillors’ claims of having “no response” to their letter but a reply has not been provided.

When the letter was sent out over the summer, the county council did state road-marking improvements were carried out on Lime Lane last year and new data was being analysed.

Councillor Charlotte Hill, cabinet member for highways, said at the time: “We are aware of concerns that have been raised regarding the Morley Road/Lime Lane junction and are reviewing the data we currently hold.

“Any potential improvements at the junction would need to be considered alongside other road safety priorities across Derbyshire and based on the available evidence.”