Improved Highway Safety for RNOH

In last December’s edition of My Stanmore News, Brockley Hill Residents Association (BHRA) expressed their concerns about Road Safety. Since then BHRA has been active in persuading Barnet Council to improve Highway safety near the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital Stanmore. Richard Chalmers, the director of RE, the Regional Enterprise Ltd who are the new joint enterprise between Capita plc and Barnet Council, advised that two measures are in place that will now be carried out quickly. This concerns signage both up and down Brockley Hill approaching the main entrance to the hospital, also dropped kerbs to help with patients crossing to the 107 bus stop opposite to the entrance. In recent email to BHRA dated March 30, Richard Chalmers, said: “Can confirm that the two VAS (Vehicle Activated Signs), are due to be erected this week and the drop kerbs providing access from the hospital to the bus stop opposite should also be installed within the next two weeks.” This is good news as in December 2015, Paul Crosby, transport consultant for the hospital, reported that a patient had an accident at the crossing. Paul advised that he would like to see an island introduced at the crossing to avoid further accidents. He continued in his email: “Whilst the dropped kerb option assists with vulnerable users getting on and off the footways, it does not address the issue of those users being able to safely cross the road itself. Only last week a pedestrian fell in the road whilst trying to cross quickly, fortunately the traffic stopped in time. As I stated previously, I do therefore feel the design of a ‘refuge island’ option needs to be thoroughly explored before ruling it out in the short term.” Julian Anders Chairman BHRA. For Membership email: JlnAnders@gmail.com.