Conservative Shadow Minister Caroline Spelman Visits Atherstone

Local campaigners in Atherstone this week met with Shadow Secretary of State Caroline Spelman to discuss the controversial speed bumps on Witherley Road in Atherstone.

Mrs Spelman met with local Town and Borough Councillors, and with disgruntled residents who demonstrated to her their concern that the speed bumps do not conform to national safety standards and therefore represent both a safety hazard and are a potential cause of damage to residents’ cars.

Residents are particularly upset at local County Councillor Richard Grant for refusing to meet with them over the issue. Campaigners have been calling for a meeting with the Labour councillor and with local authority engineers to discuss their concerns, but their requests have been repeatedly refused.

Bizzarely, at the regular Town Council meeting on Wednesday evening, Cllr Grant dismissed resident’s concerns the comment that drivers were being “…immature and irresponsible…”, and refused to consider requests that he investigate the issue further.

Local campaigner Carol Fox, who is standing at the County Council elections in June for the Conservatives, has been listening to residents. She told the Nuneaton News today:

“This is an issue that has really concerned local people, and they feel that their voices are simply not being heard. I don’t understand how anyone can claim to represent local people, yet refuse to listen to the people who elected them.

“These road bumps really do appear to be outside the recommended dimensions, but we need a proper engineer to come and look at them. They are forcing drivers into the middle of the road which is dangerous, and they are encouraging drivers to avoid the Witherley Road altogether and to head off down smaller residential roads, which is totally inappropriate.

“All local residents are asking for, is not to be ignored. The local community is frustrated, and I am doing all I can to listen to the community, and to hear their concerns.”

Speaking exclusively to the Nuneaton News after her visit to Atherstone today, Mrs Spelman said: “It is clear that local people feel passionately about this issue, and what saddens me is the apparent lack of interest by their elected County Councillor.

“That’s why I’m pleased to see that the people of Atherstone are fortunate to have such a doughty and hard working campaigner for the area as Carol Fox, and she will clearly prove to be as effective a local champion on the County Council as she already is on the Borough Council.”