Unfinished width restriction 'an accident waiting to happen' (From Borehamwood Times)

Newark Green, Borehamwood, width restriction 'an accident waiting to happen'

10:54am Friday 11th January 2013 in News By Anna Slater

Motorists are seeing red over a “tattered and dangerous” width restriction the council promised would be fixed almost four months ago.

The four wooden posts at the 7ft restriction in Newark Green, Borehamwood, were knocked over by a car two years ago so the council replaced them with two metal posts.

But a proper restriction actually requires four posts – and last year, Hertfordshire County Council assured the Borehamwood Times the work would be completed by September.

Residents claim the situation is all the more dangerous as lorry drivers swerving into the road from Rowley Lane roundabout are currently able to use the street as a short-cut.

Last year, Craig Bray was left counting the cost of the road layout when a lorry pushed through the width restriction and smashed his parked car, causing £250 of damage.

Craig Bray, who lived in Newark Green for five years, said: “It is crazy. I feel the council are being far too light-hearted about this because lorries keep pushing through.

“They are waiting for a serious accident to happen. It is only a small road and not big enough for lorries. We should be deterring them from coming down the road.

“The council are going about this in the completely wrong order. Why are they dodging this?

“It is a serious issue and it worries me they cannot see that. Something drastic has to be done.”

Councillor Richard Butler, (Labour, Kenilworth), first campaigned for the restriction to be fixed two years ago.

He said: “I am not happy. It is such a big issue because lorries are trying to fit through, causing a nuisance to residents.

“They have just done half a job on this. The two metal posts just look disgusting and tattered. We need to make sure the “We should be proud of where we live, but this restriction is just so off-putting.”

Mark Gates, who also lives on the road, previously suggested the width restriction should be moved further up the road.

The gardener claimed he has seen lorries realise they are too big for the restriction, so reverse back up the road the wrong way creating a “dangerous obstacle course”.

The Borehamwood Times is awaiting comment from Hertfordshire County Council.