Complaints traffic calming scheme has led to crashes

Residents have complained new traffic calming chicanes on roads through in a Leicestershire town have actually led to crashes.

Leicestershire County Council installed build-outs at four points in High Street and Bondgate in Castle Donington in October, to try to slow down traffic.

But residents have since complained drivers often fail to give way or sometimes just plough straight over the build-outs, which are also designed to act as crossing points for pedestrians.

The council says it has already installed upgraded street lights, bollards and extra signs to alert motorists to the new build outs - and will go further if extra measures are needed.

The exact number of incidents at the chicanes is unknown, but the authority said it had received reports of three crashes in Bondgate alone since the work was completed on 1 November.

A council spokesperson added: "There may have been further subsequent incidents but none of them were reported to us.

"The first two incidents were reported as vehicle damage only with no injuries.

"The third incident was vehicle damage only initially, but we understand that the driver then tripped over in the road after the incident and an ambulance was called for him."

Steve Salt, 64, a lecturer at Derby University, said he witnessed a near-miss while walking his dog.

He said: "There was a large sound of car horns and skidding tires. Luckily, the cars didn't collide, but I was feet away from a head on collision.

"It is a crossing point and there have been vehicles that have actually hit the kerb at that point, so if anybody was actually crossing there it could be very, very serious.

"I believe now that they need to be removed before something happens."

Tilly Dowler, who owns nearby Wanted Wardrobe, said she had heard "there's been a lot of accidents, cars crashing into the chicanes".

"I'm registered blind, and I struggle with crossing the road there," she added.

"It's a very busy road and, in my opinion, the chicane hasn't eased the speed - If anything, it's sped people up because they race round it to try and beat the opposite side."

Councillor Ted Parton, who has been acting as a liaison between the council, residents and the parish council on the issue, said the scheme was installed to combat "car cruising" through the village and to encourage drivers to use alternative routes such as the village bypass.

As well as the new streetlights, illuminated bollards and temporary 'new road layout signs' which have already been installed, an additional bollard will soon be installed at one of the build-outs in Bondgate.

The county council is also carrying out a road safety audit to see if additional measures could also help.

Parton added the council was considering if a 20mph zone would also help "quieten road noise, emissions, and give the impression it's a lot more safer".

He said: "We're fully aware of what's been happening on this stretch of road since these chicanes have been put in, and as a result, we've made some changes. We'll continue to take steps as necessary."

Elsewhere in the village there will be further traffic calming measures installed on Park Lane in February.

Instead of chicanes, workers will construct speed tables, which are longer than speed humps and flat-topped, at the junctions with The Green and Bosworth Road.

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