This film is part of Free

Road Safety Protest

Parent power blocks historic Watling Street as banners and placards bring traffic to a halt on the A5.

News 1967 4 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for Media Archive for Central England

Overview

The A5 through Brownhills in Staffordshire follows the ancient Roman road known as Watling Street. By November 1967 it was carrying more traffic than even the Romans could have predicted. So much so that parents are demanding a pedestrian crossing that will make the walk to Watling Street Primary school less of a lottery. As tempers begin to fray the reporter is unable to get a word in edgeways. (The opening traffic scenes do not have any recorded sound.)

We don't know if this appeal to the then minister of transport, Barbara Castle, was effective but a look at the same location today reveals traffic lights with a pedestrian crossing situated outside the school. The traffic levels now are even greater than could have even been predicted in 1967.