Luke Pollard MP has backed a campaign from local councillors and residents to introduce new measures to slow traffic in Laira. Since lockdown restrictions ended local residents are reporting more and faster traffic along this accident blackspot.

Laira is a residential area, and a significant quantity of fast-moving traffic joins Old Laira Road from the adjoining Plymouth Road heading into the city. The narrow street – along Laira Narrows – is the scene of many crashes and near misses for cars, cyclists and pedestrians.

Numerous residents have raised concerns with their MP and local councillors about safety in the area, as they view the speed and quantity of vehicles entering the area to pose a risk to the community.

Under the previous Labour administration the scheme, which includes installation of a pedestrian crossing and extension of the 20 mile an hour zone, was supported by the council. But under the new Conservative-led council little headway has since been made.

Luke Pollard MP said: 

“Lives could be lost unless this essential road safety work is carried out. That is what I hear from local residents and local councillors each time I’m canvassing in Laira and they’re right. Extending the 20mph zone, making junctions safer and installing a new crossing will slow traffic, make the roads safer and save lives. It is a no-brainer and with money allocated by the last council, I call on the new administration to get on with it. All it takes is a green light for this scheme to start and the sooner, the better.”

Councillor Neil Hendy, who represents Efford and Lipson ward said:

“Together with Laira’s other local councillors I have been pressing the Council to extend the 20mph zone and introduce new pedestrian crossings. We have seen accidents here before and I’m worried that with more and faster traffic we could see lives lost along this stretch of road. We now have the plans, we have the support of local people, we just need the City Council to say yes and start this essential work.”

The traffic scheme has the backing of local people. Ms Spillsbury of Norfolk Road said:

“There’s just far too many cars coming into the area at the minute and the speed they travel at just doesn’t feel safe.”

Mr Tuck of Old Laira Road also said:

“The lack of pedestrian crossings on the road makes getting from one side of the area to the other really difficult, it means that people are forced to make unsafe crossings in-between fast moving traffic. The way things are at the moment it’s only a matter of time before there’s an accident.”

More on the campaign to slow traffic in Efford here