Should they stay or go? Fate of Walsall speed bumps set to be decided

A campaign was launched by resident Oliver Jones to address problems with the bumps on Goscote Lane in August, which he said were damaging people's cars.

And it will be addressed by councillors on Walsall Council's corporate and public services overview and scrutiny committee at a meeting next Tuesday.

In a council report officers say the bumps should be kept as they are.

It states: "Walsall Council has ensured with all reasonable care that the traffic calming features installed along Goscote Lane are in accordance with all current legislation and design guidance. As such the size and height of the speed cushions are correct, therefore, there is no requirement for them to be altered in any way."

Mr Jones' petition complained the speed bumps installed on the road were placed too high.

He argued in the petition: "Many people feel the recently installed traffic calming speed humps on Goscote Lane have been installed too tall and are damaging people's vehicles when attempting to drive over them. I for one have had my car damaged by them."

The councillors will be asked to recommend whether any further action on the bumps is taken.

When more than 500 people but less than 1,500 people sign a petition, the council's relevant senior officer attends one of the council's scrutiny and performance panels to address concerns.

The council's cabinet decided to place the bumps along the road in March 2015 as part of its Local Safety Scheme programme. It was told that in three years, from October 2011 until October 2014, there had been 19 crashes on Goscote Lane.

At the time the authority said it was the second most pressing priority location in the Walsall borough.

It said in a consultation on the bumps, 95 per cent of people who responded were in favour and five per cent opposed. But it only received a 15 per cent response rate.

The council has said no vehicles should be damaged – but said modified ones 'could experience difficulty' if they 'fall outside' national standards.

The committee will meet at Walsall Council's Civic Centre on Tuesday at 6pm.