Traffic calming call from residents after car skids in road

WORRIED residents are calling for traffic calming measures on a Hinckley road after a bad crash was narrowly avoided.

Neighbours on Middlefield Lane were disturbed on July 14 just before 9pm by what they say was the loud screeching of brakes as a car travelling at high speeds skidded to avoid a collision.

People who live on the 30mph road, which often has cars parked on either side, say there have been problems with aggressive and reckless driving for a long time.

One resident of Middlefield Lane who has lived there for more than 25 years said she hears motorists speeding along the road almost every other night.

She said: “You cringe when you hear them going past, you think, are we going to have another crash.

“There’s no speed limit put on, it’s just lit at night. They go up and down like they don’t care.”

She said the problem has been getting worse recently and that the dangerous drivers, who are often young people, go at speeds of over 40 and 50mph.

The woman said: “In years gone by, we have had walls knocked down, due to people hitting the kerb and crashing.

“There was one time someone hit the kerb and flipped onto their roof, and knocked a lamppost over.”

Hinckley county and borough councillor Michael Mullaney (LibDem) was told about the near miss, and he has written to the council to call for action.

He said in his message: “As the local county councillor for this area, I have previously reported speeding on Middlefield Lane.

“I believe it is essential that traffic calming measures of some kind are taken on this road.

“There are numerous reports of speeding on this road on a regular basis.

“The incident last night could very likely have led to a collision killing or injuring the drivers of the car and potentially other people, fortunately it was avoided this time.

“There are many elderly residents living in the vicinity particularly in some of the roads off Middlefield Lane, Middlefield Close, Middlefield Court.

“I would therefore urge you to please look at appropriate calming measures for this road.”

The county council has had three complaints in the last five years about speeding concerns on Middlefield Lane.

Councillor Trevor Pendleton, cabinet member for highways and transport, said the authority would be happy to look at any ideas for traffic calming measures.

He said: “We investigate all community concerns relating to road safety and we have found that the majority of motorists comply with the existing speed limits on Middlefield Lane.

“Unfortunately, there is a stubborn minority who disregard speed limits, endangering the lives of road users, and it is for the police to enforce these restrictions, as is their duty.

“We run a number of initiatives to try to influence driver behaviour, including our Community Speed Watch scheme, and welcome any traffic calming suggestions which come forward. We will investigate the latest concerns reported to us and contact residents with our findings.”

The resident said: “We need something done definitely, because someone’s going to get killed one day.

“If we have to wait for that to happen, it’s one young person’s life wasted.”