Nottingham City Council wins funding to make busy routes into the city safer for everyone

Nottingham City Council will today (Tuesday) officially accept £1.425million funding from the Department of Transport (DfT) to make changes that will make roads in the city safer.  

The Safer Roads Fund was introduced by the DfT to support road safety in England as part of a wider package of investment into Britain’s transport network. In total, £47.5 million of Government funding is being invested across England to improve 27 of the country’s most dangerous roads. 

The A609 Ilkeston Road and Wollaton Road and the A6130 Gregory Boulevard, Radford Boulevard and Lenton Boulevard will be upgraded and improved after being identified as high-risk.  

The proposals on both A-roads aim to reduce the number and severity of road traffic collisions and resultant casualties by providing a safer environment for road users and safer crossing points for pedestrians.  

The project includes improving signage, road markings, cross hatchings, signalised turnings, installing central refuge points and School Safety Schemes. The proposals will reduce the risk of collisions, which in turn will reduce congestion, journey times and carbon emissions, and promote walking and cycling, encouraging Active Travel.  

The proposals put forward for this project aim to achieve three main objectives. Firstly, to provide a safer environment for vehicles, secondly to improve connectivity via safer crossing points for pedestrians, and finally to create two School Safety Schemes. 

1. A proposed 20mph speed limit is to be introduced outside Djanogly City Academy on Gregory Boulevard.  The proposals are subject to the consultation process, which is due to start in the next few weeks.  This scheme is being funded by the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund (dual funded by the Streets for People and School Streets funding streams within the Levelling Up Fund).  The 20mph speed limit proposed is  west of the junction of Burford Road, including all three accesses to Djanogly City Academy and on to Foxhall Road to the north-east  

1. On the A6130 Lenton Boulevard between Church Street and Abbey Bridge roundabout which will capture two  schools; Edna G Olds Primary and Dunkirk Primary.  The consultation for that element is planned for Spring/Summer 2024, with construction for 2025. 

A consultation will launch from in the next few weeks via the Transport Nottingham website, and nearby affected residents and businesses will receive a consultation letter and plan. 

Councillor Angela Kandola, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport, said: “We’re pleased to win this funding from central Government to help us make these key routes in and out of the city safer for everyone, reducing the risk of future accidents and deaths – as well as creating two School Safety zones with a lowered 20mph speed limit to further protect our children and young people.”