A WOMAN who has witnessed cars crashing into her garden wall on two separate occasions has become increasingly anxious about the potential consequences of further accidents.
Earlier this month, two 4x4 style vehicles collided at the junction of Hanover Street and The Avenue in Leigh, resulting in one of the cars flying into the garden wall of Kathleen Guy's home.
Nine months earlier, the same thing happened as another collision resulted in a car spinning around and again hitting her garden wall on the corner of Hanover Street, close to Leigh Infirmary.
With cars either not stopping at the give way signs along Hanover Street, or speeding down The Avenue, Kathleen said that four houses have had their garden walls demolished due to road traffic collisions in recent years.
Although give way signs are in place on Hanover Street, and there is a road calming hump on The Avenue, this does not seem to have had much of an impact on reducing collisions.
With many residents, patients, and hospital staff using the two roads to walk to Leigh Infirmary, Kathleen explained that she has become increasingly anxious about the consequences such collisions could have if a pedestrian was involved.
Kathleen said: "I've lived here for 17 years and you constantly hear horns blaring at the junction. We have had several crashes over the years and many near-misses.
"At one of the crashes, there was a nurse on her way to work who was about ten paces in front of the impact, so the crashes could have been much worse.
"It frightens me to death to think that pedestrians could be involved in these crashes, and I'm terrified of my grandchildren coming here in case it happens again."
After raising her concerns with the council, local councillors told her they will monitor the situation and have set up a meeting to discuss her concerns.
However, the grandmother believes monitoring the situation is not enough, and more thorough traffic calming measures need to be implemented in order to greater reduce the chances of more collisions.
Councillors also believe that traffic incidents have increased in recent weeks following the alterations to Leigh Infirmary car park.
Debra Wailes, councillor for Atherton South and Lilford, said: "As councillors we have been aware of the difficulties in the areas surrounding Leigh Infirmary and unfortunately these have increased substantially with the alterations being made to the hospital car parks.
"Residents in this area are being penalised by inconsiderate parking. Driver errors have resulted in accidents and driveways being blocked.
"The buses, which are vital to getting everyone to the hospital, have also been affected by not being able to drive through these streets as they are blocked.
"We have worked extensively with residents , TfGM and the Council to alleviate this situation.
"A meeting has been arranged with Mrs Guy and the Council to discuss her concerns.
"We would advise everyone to drive and park sensibly in this area. There is also a regular bus service which is being well used."
A spokesperson for the Wigan, Wrightington, and Leigh Hospitals Trust, said: "We are not aware of any accidents on the main highway as a direct result of the upgrading work.
“The second phase of the car park redevelopment at Leigh Infirmary has been delayed by one week only, however the contractor handed over the car park back to the Trust last week, and the car park will be fully in operational use for public access from Monday, April 29.
“The work to upgrade the car parks will increase public car parking capacity to 40 additional spaces on the Leigh Infirmary hospital site.”
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