It was a cold November night and Gavin Andrews had just left his local conservative club having enjoyed a game of snooker. Before heading home, he decided to grab some Chinese food.
But just moments after stepping out of the takeaway on Walmersley Road in Bury, the dad-of-one was struck down by a vehicle. He never made it back to his family that evening.
Tragically, Gavin was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind his partner Karen Farnworth and their seven-year-old daughter Lacey. He was just 34.
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Devastated Karen has now spoken out about speeding on Walmersley Road – saying more needs to be done to stop other families enduring the heartache they have.
Her fears are shared by many others in Bury. Complaints about speeding and dangerous parking have been made about the street more than a decade, according to a local councillor.
Measures including barriers, traffic wardens and police visits have been attempted since 2018, but nothing seems to be able to stop the problem at the bottom of the road.
Speed enforcement measures including hand-held speed guns, new speed warning signs and two new flashing speed signs across the length of the road have also been tried.
But residents say the speeding issue continues – with the problem particularly being bad between Chesham precinct and Moorgate.
“I’m furious,” Karen, 36, told the Manchester Evening News. “It’s one of the worst roads in Greater Manchester; it’s awful.
“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. How many more lives do they need to lose before they actually do something?”
Cleaner and mum-of-three Karen had been with Gavin for almost eight years when he passed away. Reflecting on life without him, she added: “It’s difficult. I’m angry, frustrated, confused. Just pretty much all the emotions you can think of.
“Since Gavin died, you notice things more. But there have been so many incidents, accidents and deaths up that road.
“I 100 per cent think there should be cameras or an average speed check at the bottom of the road and at the top of the road. Something needs to be done about the speeding.”
“More lives are at risk. Nothing is done about it; drivers aren’t going to change their driving. When someone does get run over, if there were cameras there to monitor speed, at least it would clock the reg.”
Gavin’s mum, Isabelle Kane, says her health struggles have drastically worsened since the tragic death of her son.
“It’s been absolutely horrendous,” the 54-year-old, from Radcliffe, said. “Myself personally, I’ve got a few health struggles. Since this happened, I’ve got a lot worse. Every day is a struggle. You see something every day that reminds you.
“It’s just awful – it's not even just myself and Karen, it’s my children Stacey, Rebecca and Daniel.
“He was very outgoing; he loved fishing and anything outdoors. He was a hard worker and he would do anything for anyone. He was such a big character and a big presence.
“My daughter lives up near [Walmersley Road], it’s not a nice feeling knowing it’s just up the road from where it happened.”
Gavin, from Tottington, isn't the only person to have lost their life following an incident on Walmersley Road. Just over a year after his death on November 9, 2021, Irene Allen died after being struck by a Mercedes Sprinter van.
The tragedy happened near the junction of Wolstenholme Avenue on December 6, 2022. The 87-year-old was rushed to hospital but sadly succumbed to her injuries.
Bury council says it has lobbied the government about the rules on where speeding cameras can be located in a bid to tackle the problem.
However, councillors say they are unable to install speed cameras as the national guidance for installation requires at least three speed-related accidents in a three-year period on a 1km stretch of road in which one or more person was killed or seriously injured.
Meanwhile, parking has been identified as a big problem at the bottom of the road where there are multiple takeaways on each side – causing major difficulties for drivers.
Residents say customers and takeaway delivery drivers regularly park on double yellow lines, with locals describing the area as “dangerous” due to obstructions in the road.
Plans to tackle these parking conditions have now been put forward, with Labour councillors Kevin Peel, Ciaron Boles and Sandra Walmsley launching a consultation to make Walmersley Road a 'red route'.
A red route is where red lines are painted on a certain stretch of road, imposing a strict no stopping rule. The proposed red route would start from the junction of A56 Peel Way to the St Mark’s signalised junction.
The new rules would be enforced by traffic cameras and anyone found to be in breach of them will be handed a fine.
It’s hoped the route will tackle the problem of illegal parking and congestion on the street, improving traffic flow and emergency vehicle access.
Moorside Cllr Ciaron Boles told the Manchester Evening News the council has brought in numerous measures to stop problem parking over the years but nothing has seemed to work.
“Residents were parking half on the road and half off the road,” he said. “Barriers were installed and it fixed the problem initially but it moved the problem into the road.
“We tried traffic wardens but that hasn’t been effective either. We hoped it would deter it but sadly it didn’t.
“We have secured police support for a handful of visits over the last two years but that only deals with the problem at that specific window of time. The second they go, it picks up again. We had no other option but to explore the option of a red route.”
Cllr Boles says the congested road means ambulances are often unable to pass through, delaying paramedics getting to those in need of help.
“[The illegal parking] can happen from any time really, but it’s especially bad late on into the evening,” he continued.
“We have an ambulance station really close to that side and we’ve had complaints from them saying they’ve had difficulty getting out with the blue lights on.
“They’ve not been able to get past because of the sheer amount of parked cars on that side. It’s a hazard and it’s dangerous, and quite simply, it’s illegal. It’s clearly an issue.”
Walmersley resident Mazzie Graham told the M.E.N she’s witnessed countless near-misses due to dangerous parking on Walmersley Road over the years.
“The bottom of Walmersley Road is a free-for-all to park – double yellows or not,” she said. “The amount of near-misses by drivers and people pulling out of their ‘parking space’ without warning is unreal.
“People U-turning, opening doors wide and just walking out – it's a miracle someone has not been seriously injured.”
Gill Eagle-Cooper, also of Walmersley, described the area near the takeaways as a “nightmare”. “Parking attendants need to enforce the double yellow lines and not just go for easy tickets in the town centre,” she said.
“It’s a nightmare near the takeaways, [parking] is constantly blocking the way for emergency vehicles.”
Louise Porter added: “[There are] many accidents on the main road and some unfortunate fatalities with families losing loved ones, yet the speeding continues.”
Local resident Ewa Entwistle believes cars may still ignore red lines if the ‘red route’ goes ahead.
“It is going to be a red route in front of the railings at the bottom of the road near the takeaways, but cars will probably still ignore the red lines like they do the double yellows,” she said.
“Just one van parked there in a morning can cause massive traffic delays; no one enforces the restriction.”
Deborah Turner added: “As soon as the weather brightens up, Walmersley Road becomes a race track resulting in accidents and fatalities.”
Nicola Hancock says cars regularly double park on both sides of the road. “The takeaways at the bottom of Walmersley Road can have upwards of nine cars parked,” she added. “Also often double parked on both sides.
“This causes obstruction to oncoming traffic and blocks the lanes, meaning drivers pull out into the far lanes then weave back in when it becomes clear again.”
Jennifer Bowring says more lives will be at risk if changes are not implemented. “The parking at the bottom of Walmersley Road increases with the number of takeaways growing,” she said. “Cars are now being parked on both sides of the road often in the bus stops.
“I've been told traffic wardens have been challenged for giving parking tickets. Personally, I've seen a blue lighted ambulance trapped between traffic, [which is] someone’s loved one going to hospital.
“The ambulance drivers go around the junction on the wrong side to get to the hospital fast – lives are at risk.”
In a statement, Cllr. Kevin Peel, lead member for transport at Bury Council, said: “The council has done and continues to do everything in its power, in partnership with the police, who are responsible for speed enforcement, to tackle speeding on Walmersley Road.
“There are some things we just cannot do, like install speed cameras. But we have lobbied ministers to change the guidance which determines where speed cameras can be located and we bring the police to Walmersley Road and other key hotspots across the borough as often as their resources allow.”
A spokesperson from GMP said: “We will not allow the safety of our roads to be compromised by dangerous drivers, and appropriate against will always be taken against these offences.
“Officers from GMP Bury North Neighbourhood team are aware of residents’ concerns about speeding in their local area, especially along Walmersley Road. In response, local officers regularly conduct speed operations in this area and across speeding hotspots. Just yesterday, 200 traffic offences were recorded and actioned, including 73 speed offences, and £1,130.00 worth of Fixed Penalty Notices were issued.
“This is just one step towards tackling speeding and anti-social driving in Bury and we will continue to work with local partners and authorities to help keep the residents of Bury safe.”
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