Bentley Lane Road Safety Scheme

Thank you to everyone who shared their views on the proposed road safety measures for Bentley Lane. 

The scheme was developed following residents’ concerns about traffic speeds and road safety, alongside records of collisions involving personal injury. 

Feedback highlighted that speeding traffic and and driver behaviour is a concern.

The proposed scheme uses speed cushions and central islands, where needed, to help reduce vehicle speeds. Physical measures are intended to support safer driving alongside road safety education and campaigns.

Some responses raised concerns that speed cushions may not work as intended and could increase congestion.

Speed cushions were chosen because Bentley Lane is a bus route and is regularly used by emergency vehicles. They allow wider vehicles to pass over them more easily than full-width road humps. Their size and spacing will follow Department for Transport guidance to encourage steadier speeds rather than repeated acceleration and braking. Central islands are proposed where needed to prevent gaps that would allow drivers to avoid the cushions.

Some people said that the measures look too close to driveways and junctions.

We have considered access when planning the locations. Positions will be adjusted on site where necessary to ensure the measures do not prevent access to properties or side roads.

Some suggested the need for a 20mph limit, pedestrian crossings and speed cameras.

We considered a 20mph limit, but this would need a wider-area approach beyond this scheme (a 20mph zone). We will keep this under review, with any future proposals depending on evidence and available funding. Formal pedestrian crossings are also outside this scheme’s scope and budget, although requests for specific locations can be assessed separately. Speed enforcement, including cameras, is the responsibility of West Midlands Police, and new camera locations must meet specific criteria.

Comments highlighted that existing road surfaces and traffic signals need attention.

General resurfacing cannot be funded through this road safety scheme, but local repairs needed to install the measures will be carried out. We have passed the request to review the High Road/Bentley Lane traffic signals to our Urban Traffic Control team. New signals at Birchtree Hollow are outside the scheme’s scope and are considered unlikely to be justified by traffic flows.

Taking into account this feedback and other information the proposed road safety scheme for Bentley Lane will go ahead as detailed in the proposed plans. Properties along the route will be notified of when the works are due to take place. It is anticipated that works will be completed by the spring 2027.