Residents want action over Howey Lane “rat run”

ANGRY residents of Howey  Lane, Frodsham, are calling for urgent action to solve the problems caused by  heavy lorries and speeding cars using the narrow road as a “rat run” to avoid the town centre.
They attended the monthly meeting of Frodsham Town Council to highlight their worries – and sounded a warning that sooner or later there would be a fatality if nothing was done.
Resident Debbie Albeson told the council: “I hate to have to say it, but something major is going to happen – some Mum or Dad is going to lose a child.”
Mrs Albeson said traffic problems had been in an issue in Howey Lane for many years. But the traffic had got worse in the last year and safety was critical.
In addition to speeding cars, there were heavy tankers and car transporters using the road. There was noise and pollution caused by diesel engines in low gear as well as the safety hazard.
In places there was no footpath. One cottage had been hit by vehicles at least five times. A sandstone wall had been damaged and overhanging trees had been damaged.
Children going to school used the road and there were too many gates to the Churchfields playing field which children could run out of into the path of traffic.  Existing traffic calming measures were of little use as they did not slow down the traffic.
Mrs Albeson said possible solutions would be to have a 20mph speed limit on the road and another would be to make it one-way downhill
Cllr Frank Pennington said the council were to blame for trees hanging over the road. They should be cut back. He agreed the traffic calming was useless.
“You could drive over those humps at 80mph” he said.
Cllr Alan Oulton said it was a serious problem. One solution would be to make Howey Lane a cul-de-sac but the cost would be “phenomenal”
Chairman Cllr Judith Critchley said the residents had the council’s sympathy and support. But it was an issue for Cheshire West and Chester Council as the Town Council was not the highway authority.
But CW&C member Cllr Andrew Dawson stressed the importance of partnership working between the Town Council and Cheshire West. The very fact that the issue came before the Town Council increased the amount of debate.
While the Town Council may feel it did not have any power, the very fact it was debated and reported upon could make a difference.