Residents protest about Blackacre Road closure (From Dudley News)

Residents protest about Blackacre Road closure

11:40am Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in Local

Buy this photo » Residents Jayne Smith and Shazadi Shah with petition, with members of Buffery Residents Association behind. Buy photo: 431222M

KATES Hill residents have submitted a petition of almost 600 signatures calling for the reopening of Blackacre Road.

With placards urging Dudley Council to “listen to the residents” and “think of the majority”, the residents took their petition directly to Dudley Council House as they made their opposition known towards the experimental traffic regulation order to close part of Blackacre Road to traffic.

The residents claim the council failed to consult properly and argue the problem with rat-run traffic has just diverted to other parts of the estate, as cars try and find a new shortcut from Dudley Southern Bypass.

The petition has been spearheaded by resident, Shazadi Shah, from Sheddon Street and also includes signatures from business owners in the area, who say the closure has had a considerable impact on their livelihoods.

Mrs Shah said: “I have lived in the area for over 30 years as have other residents and we have never been so passionate concerning this closure.

“We have constant traffic filtering through our streets and the situation is very dangerous with children using Buffery Park and for the elderly residents.

“There have been several accidents already, whereas we never had any accidents in these back streets before.”

During the summer residents set-up action group Buffery Residents Association which is currently putting together counter proposals to present to councillors and highway officers.