Campaign to stop drivers racing in street rejected by Coventry City Council
Residents had asked for road humps along Blackwell Road in Foleshill to prevent people using it for “racing and excessive speeding”
A campaign to stop antisocial drivers using a residential street for racing has been rejected by Coventry City Council.
Residents had asked for road humps along Blackwell Road in Foleshill to prevent people using it for “racing and excessive speeding” and said there had been near-misses.
A petition signed by 36 people living in the road called on the council to install traffic-calming measures to tackle the issue.
But city traffic officers said there were “no current plans” to do so because the safety record in the neighbourhood is “good” with no collisions resulting in personal injury recorded in the past three years.
However, they reassured householders a speed survey would be carried out to see if there is a local issue with speeding or ‘boy racers’ and the results shared with police. This will be used to decide whether any further action is needed.
The petition urged the council “to install appropriate traffic calming measures, including speed bumps, on Blackwell Road to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety for residents, pedestrians, and road users.”
It went on to explain: “We are concerned about frequent speeding along Blackwell Road, with some drivers using the road for racing and excessive speeding. This creates a dangerous environment for residents and significantly increases the risk of serious accidents.
“There is a particular concern for the safety of children and pets, who may be crossing or near the road, as well as pedestrians and cyclists. Many residents have experienced near misses and feel unsafe on their own street due to the speed and behaviour of some drivers.
“The introduction of speed bumps would act as an effective traffic calming measure, encouraging drivers to slow down and discouraging reckless driving.
“We ask the council to treat this as a priority and assess Blackwell Road for the installation of speed bumps or other appropriate traffic calming measures to improve safety and prevent potential harm.”
Responding to the campaign, Martin Wilkinson, the council’s senior officer for traffic management, said in a report to a City Services meeting that “Blackwell Road has not previously been identified as a priority location for a road safety intervention, and there are therefore no current plans to install traffic‑calming measures for road safety purposes.”
Mr Wilkinson said: “The road’s safety record is noted to be good, with no personal‑injury collisions recorded in the last three full years.
“However, mindful of the concerns that have been raised, we will arrange for a spot speed survey to be undertaken on Blackwell Road. Any data collected will be shared with West Midlands Police to assist them in determining whether this is a location where further speed education or enforcement may be appropriate.
“Blackwell Road also forms part of the Foleshill Transport Package. Through this initiative, enhancements to parking control measures are proposed at junctions along the road to improve parking management and support the flow of traffic.
“These changes are scheduled to be advertised in 2027 and are expected to help address concerns regarding obstructive parking, visibility and access.”
The decision on the petition was confirmed at a meeting of the Cabinet Member for City Services, Cllr Patricia Hetherton (Lab, Radford.
Cllr Hetherton said she endorsed the action taken by officers in dealing with the concerns.