Calls for action after two vehicles smash into frontage of Dudley house
A concerned resident who has had two vehicles smash into the frontage of his house within the last year is calling for speed measures to be installed on the road.
Nigel Wilkes, 48, who lives on Cinder Road in Gornal, has had a car and van crash into his front wall - on one occasion just moments after his children were stood on the driveway.
Mr Wilkes' house is on a four-way junction of Brookbank Road, but has became a 'death trap' for drivers careering around the corner.
He explained: "It has always been a problematic area but it first started for us last January when we had a van come down and crash straight into the wall and landed on the front of our house.
"This year we have had a car do the same. The children had been outside earlier on the drive. If they had been there when that happened then they would have killed.
"Our MP and local police agree that something needs to be done.
"Ideally, we need some barriers or bollards to be put across the front path by the side of our house - for our safety if nothing else. Or even some speed calming measures like humps put on the road instead.
"We are really vulnerable because we are right on the edge.
"The whole community are sympathetic to us and everyone agrees something needs to be done.
"It is down to the council but they keep saying it is not within their budget. It is very concerning. How about if someone dies and they say they couldn't do anything because it wasn't in their budget?"
Mr Wilkes is registered disabled and lives with his wife and two children Saskia-Jayne, age 5, and Gabriel, age 13, who both have special needs support.
He added: "For the safety of our children if nothing else something needs to be done."
Alan Lunt, strategic director for place at Dudley Council, said: “We sympathise with Mr Wilkes, who is understandably annoyed at damage to his property on two separate occasions.
“There is nothing unusual about the junction at Chase Road and Cinder Road. The two incidents, the last of which occurred in January, were both the result of driver error in failing to negotiate the junction properly.
“The junction already has red highlighting painted onto the road to increase driver awareness. There are no current proposals to install bollards or make any other changes to the road. The pavements by Mr Wilkes’ property are narrow. The installation of bollards could force some pedestrians, especially those with pushchairs and buggies, into the road.”
