MP backs 'slow down' campaign

12:20pm Friday 18th July 2008

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THE Guardian’s campaign to cut the number of deaths on a notoriously dangerous road has received heavyweight political backing.

Shadow chancellor and Tatton MP George Osborne is getting behind our Keep Your Speed Down campaign that aims to get police and highways officials to improve safety in Manchester Road, Lostock, before another life is lost.

It’s obviously a fast road in a built-up area with lots of young families living locally so something needs to be done.

Shadow chancellor and Tatton MP George Osborne

As well as displaying our posters and petition forms in his office, he will be putting pressure on the authorities himself and will hand our completed petition in to Parliament.

He said: “I am very happy to be supporting this campaign. I will be contacting Cheshire County Council and also writing to Cheshire Police Chief Constable Peter Fahy about enforcement along the road.

“It’s obviously a fast road in a built-up area with lots of young families living locally so something needs to be done.”

Twelve-year-old Jessica Ditchfield died after her bicycle was in collision with a car on July 1, and now residents and businesses in and around Manchester Road are calling for action.

To reduce the chances of another accident, the Guardian is collecting signatures to present as a petition to Cheshire Police and the county council’s highways department calling for: A crossing near Bargain Booze and the play area to help children cross safely, Increased police patrols and enforcement to make sure drivers stick to the 30mph limit, More 30mph signs, Traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, Improved parking in and around Manchester Road.

Having launched our campaign only last week, completed petition forms have been flooding in but there is still a long way to go.

To download and print copies of the petition, Click here