RESIDENTS living near a local prison are continuing to form a 'human barricade' in a bid to stop speeding traffic using an access road.

After waiting for 18 months for council and prison action, they took to the streets in a peaceful protest claiming promises had been broken over safety measures to stop-up Gibson Street.

But on Monday, Council and Hindley Prison officials met and have now promised the residents that the diversion and signs will be in place in 14 days.

"But until then we stay here,' said protest organiser Angela Fishwick.

The residents have been told that bollards will be erected and traffic forced to use Barracks Street instead, which has no houses on it.

Mums, dads, youngsters and teenagers set up chairs in the middle of Gibson Street and stopped traffic, appealing to the good nature of motorists to turn around and use Barracks Street.

Angela, a mother of four children between 11 months and seven years old, said: "We have 30 odd young kids in this street and we are fed up of broken promises to put up bollards and make this street a cul-de-sac so they can play in safety.

"We get all sorts of vehicles down here, from prison wagons to delivery vehicles and visitors to the prison who speed up and down here.

"We will continue blocking off this road every day until those bollards and a 'no-through road' sign are put up. We must get 100 cars a day down here and double that number sometimes, but we have had enough."

And neighbours Mark and Marion Morrison, who have three youngsters, added their weight to the battle.

Marion, 26, said: "The speed and amount of traffic is ridiculous, and there is absolutely no need for anyone to come down this street when Barrack Street is so close and there are no homes on it. It was built as an access road to the prison so why don't people use it.

"I will be supporting this stand until something is done to protect our children, and I will be arrested if necessary to make a point that our children's safety comes first."

Mark added: "Our children are four and three years old and we have a baby, so we are not prepared to put up with it any longer. The council and the prison have had long enough to sort it out."

Teenagers too have strong opinions about the campaign, and Scott Williams, 16, who lives nearby, said: "I wish someone had done this for us when we were little. We would have felt safer playing on the street, and I'll be supporting the campaign."

A council official told The Journal: "The prison officials have promised the residents the work will be implemented."

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