On 20 August, I hosted a community speeding and road safety forum at Stourbridge Town Hall, bringing together residents, representatives from West Midlands Police and Dudley Council to discuss speeding and anti-social driving across Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Netherton. The forum gave local people the opportunity to raise concerns about dangerous driving, speeding hotspots and the impact irresponsible road use is having on their communities.
I have worked long and hard alongside the Thorns Road Action Group, local councillors and Alex Ballinger MP for speed cameras to be introduced on Thorns Road, and I was delighted that the official announcement was made at my community forum. This is a significant step forward for residents who have worked tirelessly to highlight the dangers caused by speeding traffic. It shows what can be achieved when communities come together and persist in making the case for action.
Speeding and dangerous driving are issues that residents have raised with me repeatedly, with too many people feeling unsafe on our roads. This is particularly important for families, children and older residents, who should be able to move around their community without worrying about vehicles travelling at dangerous speeds.
That is why I wanted to bring residents and the organisations responsible for tackling these issues around the same table, so we could have a constructive conversation about what more can be done.
I am grateful to everyone who attended the forum and shared their experiences, and to West Midlands Police and Dudley Council for listening to residents and explaining the work that is already taking place.
There is no single solution to tackling speeding, but proper enforcement alongside other road safety measures can make a real difference. The introduction of speed cameras on Thorns Road is long overdue and I will continue working with residents, West Midlands Police and Dudley Council to push for practical measures that make our roads safer.
Ultimately, this is about preventing serious collisions and making sure everyone can feel safe in our community.
I also want to thank residents for approaching the meeting in the constructive spirit in which it was intended. These conversations are important, and I will continue to ensure local people have a voice in finding practical solutions.
This forum forms part of my ongoing work with residents and local partners to improve road safety and tackle anti-social driving across Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Netherton.
You can view the minutes from the meeting here:
