CONCERNS were raised about the lack of enforcement on the Church Hill Way bus only lane just two weeks before two elderly women were hit by a reversing lorry on the road.
Councillor Bill Hartnett (Lab, Church Hill) had raised the issue with West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion himself at a Partners And Community Together (PACT) meeting in St Andrew’s Church, Church Hill.
Coun Hartnett said: “When they were re-designing Church Hill Centre and it was proposed to open the bus lane I argued against it because there was nowhere else in the county where this was happening and I didn’t feel it was right here in Redditch.
“However we were in opposition at the time and I didn’t win the argument.
“Now not only do we have vehicles crossing the bus lane but they’ve created a rat run between north and south Church Hill which is taking traffic through the estate instead of around the outside.
“This is really a county and police matter but I will be raising this issue again at future PACT meetings because I feel obliged to do something about this.”
The incident involving the two women took place at 8am on Monday, October 15.
Both were cared for by ambulance staff at the scene and later taken to a major trauma centre by land ambulance for further treatment.
The lorry driver was breathalysed but allowed to leave afterwards.
A spokesperson at PCC Campion’s office said: “On closer inspection of this, whilst the Commissioner was at the meeting, he has no control over this as it is now a live investigation and a council matter in the longer term.
“He is reassured, by local officers, that they are fully aware of the problems this bus lane in Church Hill brings and will continue to monitor the situation.”
Police are still appealing for witnesses and want to speak to anyone who was at the scene and saw what happened, either on foot or driving past.
Call 101 and quote incident reference number 088s 151018.
