Thetford residents calls for safety measures to be introduced on Nuns’ Bridges Road and Ford Street
The junction of Ford Street and Nuns' Bridges Road at Thetford, where Phil Waring has had his vehicles damaged. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2017
A Thetford resident has said something has to be done to make the road he lives on safer.
Phillip Waring has said cars are travelling to fast along Nuns' Bridges Road onto Ford Street, which is jeopardising the safety of pedestrians and damaging residents' property.
The 63-year-old's van, parked outside his house on Ford Street, was hit over the weekend of August 26 and 27. He estimates it will cost around £500 to fix.
It is not the first time one of his vehicles has been hit. Three years ago £700 worth of damage was caused when his van was hit and his wife's car was written off ten years ago.
Other residents have had walls damaged.
The damage done to Phillip Waring's van. Picture: Phillip Waring - Credit: Archant
Mr Waring believes people drive too fast along the narrow Nuns' Bridges Road and do not heed the give way signs before turning onto Ford Street.
'Cars cannot take that corner,' he said. 'These roads and bridges were not designed for that type of traffic or the volume. It is immensely frustrating.'
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He said he fears for the safety of people who come to the area for the river walks and to visit the British Trust for Ornithology.
Mr Waring said he would like Norfolk County Council to introduce safety measures.
The damage done to Phillip Waring's van. Picture: Phillip Waring - Credit: Archant
He approached town councillor Stuart Wright who himself recommended the authority look into better signs and a physical deterrent.
Mr Wright said: 'It is a highly used rat run and will only get worse if Thetford expands.'
However a spokesman for the county council said no traffic calming measures would be implemented because 'neither road has a significant accident history'.
They added: 'When looking at traffic calming measures, air pollution from traffic emissions - which is increasingly becoming a concern - is another factor to consider.
'Inhibiting free-flowing traffic has a negative impact on air quality and pollution due to the deceleration then acceleration of vehicles negotiating measures to reduce speed on residential roads.'
Mr Waring now intends to contact MP Elizabeth Truss.
He added: 'It is a ridiculously busy road. They [Norfolk County Council] have to do something on that junction.
'Am I to spend all my life at Ford Street periodically having my vehicles damaged?'
What are your thoughts? Email rebecca.murphy@archant.co.uk
