“Somebody is going to get killed” says West Pinchbeck crash blackspot resident

Residents of an accident blackspot in West Pinchbeck are afraid to use their front rooms and gardens for fear of speeding vehicles crashing into them.

In the early hours of last Sunday morning, a car drove through Karen French’s fence, across her garden and into her neighbour’s garden, only stopping when it smashed into a raised doorstep.

The driver, a man in his 30s, was arrested for failing to give a breath test.

While the drama would be rare in some neighbourhoods, it is becoming run of the mill for Karen and her neighbours, whose properties are regularly pummelled by out of control cars.

“Enough is enough,” Karen said. “At night you lay there thinking what’s next? Somebody is going to get killed.”

Karen doesn’t use her front bedroom and said anything they put in the front garden is smashed down. “You take your life in your own hands cutting the lawn,” she added.

Karen said the corner was resurfaced a few years ago which helped a little with keeping cars on the road, but didn’t stop speeders.

“People use it as a race track,” she said. “It’s scary.”

Karen and her neighbours have contacted the council about the problems.

In response, Coun Elizabeth Sneath said a 40MPH roundel will be painted on the road and she has asked the parish council to provide a flashing speed warning sign.

But Karen said these measures won’t be enough to stop drivers ignoring the law and instead wants police enforcement.

“A speed camera would make a fortune,” she said. “But there are no speed cameras or police.”
Coun Sneath has advised the residents to report all incidents to the police, so evidence is always collected.

Lincolnshire Police and Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership were not available for comment at the time of press.