THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset
6th April 2022
Issue 724
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New signs tell people to ‘familiarise’ themselves with High Street changes as elderly victim speaks out After B&NES Council’s defence of controversial changes to the layout of Keynsham High Street, which have seen at least four pedestrians end up in hospital, signs have been put up advising people to “familiarise” themselves with the new arrangements. It comes as one of the victims, Michael Lowe, who suffered head injuries when he fell, is calling for compensation and for
Also in this week’s issue
urgent action to be taken so that no more pedestrians have to suffer. In his letter, which is addressed to the council’s chief executive Will Godfrey – and which has also been sent to council leader Cllr Kevin Guy, his deputy Cllr Richard Samuel, High Street manager Georgi Tyler, and The Week In - Mr Lowe also asks for evidence that a risk assessment was properly carried out into the potential danger to pedestrians from the design. Local MP Jacob Rees-Mogg and local councillor Alan Hale, who has received numerous reports of people sustaining injuries after tripping and falling, were also copied into the letter. The £1.5m High Street project has seen footpaths widened and resurfaced, a new cycle lane and new street furniture. But differing kerb heights have seen pedestrians trip and fall, with reported injuries including broken bones, sprains, cuts and bruises. In last week’s issue we published a statement from the council which said that the design had gone through a full consultation, road safety audit and technical review and complies with relevant legislation, specification and guidance. The council also encouraged people to use the pedestrian crossings to cross the street safely. It added that it would be monitoring usage and that comments raised were being reviewed by the traffic management team. In response, Mr Lowe, who has lived in Keynsham for more than 40 years, has written to say he was the “older man” referred to in our article who had suffered a nasty injury. He said: “On Saturday 26th March around midday, I crossed the
Barrs Court School governors condemn plans for nearby drive-thru . . . page 2
‘Reckless’ teens hurl brick through car windscreen in Mangotsfield . . . page 4
road from near the post office, stepped down from the pavement onto the cycle lane, and then fell heavily where the cycle lane drops down again in the middle of the road. I suffered a gash to the head, cuts and bruises to my knees, hands, wrists and shoulder. I fell onto my glasses, which are beyond Michael Lowe repair and which caused damage around my eye socket and gave me a black eye. “Passers-by were kind in their attention and a pharmacist from Boots came with dressings to give initial coverings and stem the flow of blood. When it was apparent that it would be some time before an ambulance would come, his wife drove me to the Royal United Hospital A&E where after some six hours’ wait, I was thoroughly assessed and treated by a doctor who, as well as cleaning and dressing the wounds, carried out numerous tests and a CT scan. I was able to leave at approximately 10.30pm. “My fall was caused by the unexpected second drop down kerb from the cycle lane. The cycle lane part of the road is fully segregated from the rest of the road by markings and bollards. What then is the purpose of the added step down kerb? It has so clearly demonstrated itself to be a major hazard to pedestrians. In just the few days since the road was reopened there have, shockingly, been at least eight and probably more than a dozen pedestrian accidents. Continued on page 3
Poor education and risk of violence at Stockwood academy . . . page 6
Keynsham Conservative Club loses appeal to stay blue . . . page 11