Past Evidence of Risk
Rufford Lane had a long-standing history of accidents, long before the social media craze amplified the problem. The images below show just how long this had been going on, representing just a tiny fraction of the incidents before the Ford was closed.
A Recipe for Disaster
The council’s solution of speed humps is dangerously flawed. This location has always been a disaster waiting to happen, and the new fixes only amplify the risk.
Rufford Lane, particularly in the vicinity of the ford, was the site of numerous accidents each year, damaging residents' property and forcing them to live in fear.
Traffic travelling through the ford caused permanent wet road conditions, and worse still, in winter, deadly black ice. Any surface grit spread onto the road to combat ice was quickly washed away by the constant flow of water pouring off the traffic. All of the accidents pictured above were caused by vehicles losing control in wet or icy conditions.
Add the social media circus egging on exhibitionist drivers and the additional hazards—launch pads in the guise of road humps—and we have the perfect recipe for disaster.
Residents Living in Fear
This stark image below illustrates the reality for residents. Where else would you be compelled to install a motorway-style crash barrier to protect your home from vehicles that regularly lose control?
Safety Must Take Priority Over Convenience
The time for compromise is over. The evidence is clear: the Ford is an accident blackspot, which will be made worse by new, ill-conceived obstacles. The only way to eliminate the risk and prevent the inevitable catastrophe is permanent closure, as initially proposed by the council's own experts.
Our aim is simple: to ensure decisions are made on evidence, not convenience. We urge the council to shelve the "hybrid" solution and close the road to motor traffic, preserving this area for walkers, horseriders, and cyclists.