Traffic calming 'not worth all the damage to cars'

nlnews@archant.co.uk
12 October 2005

RESIDENTS who have suffered smashed and damaged cars since traffic calming was installed in their road are furious after a report revealed that speeding cars are still

the norm.

Creighton Road was narrowed and fitted with chicanes two years ago but since then cars have been forced closer to parked cars - resulting in a series of crashes and scrapes.

One resident estimates that he has lost £1,000 worth of wing mirrors since traffic calming was introduced.

Irritation has now increased after a traffic report showed that two per cent of cars have lowered their speed.

The worst time for speeding was during the school run. Between 3pm and 4pm on a particular Friday 446 cars used the road - with 135 vehicles travelling between 31 and 35mph and a further 51 travelling up to 40 mph.

Resident Michelle Von Ahn, a local authority worker, has fought against the scheme since it was introduced.

She said: "Drivers come down the road and when it narrows, they swerve into our cars to avoid the island.

"I do not think a two per cent reduction in speeding cars is significant enough."

Of 78,183 vehicles which used the road, a total of 35,805 were recorded as driving over the speed limit, according to the report.