6 days Ago
Speed cameras and a 30mph speed limit are top of the wishlist for residents living on Eastern Avenue, Southend, who claim there has been a constant stream of crashes caused by boy racers and speeding drivers. Their pleas come after Martin Berry, Independent councillor for St Lukes, demanded speed cameras are installed before “more people are injured or killed”. Mark Manser, 55, who has lived on the road for 49 years, believes it is important speed cameras are put in place on the 40mph road, and described how he and his neighbours have helped a number of people who have crashed there over the past two decades.
He said: “About 15 or 20 years ago it got worse, I have had to get people out of cars after they crashed. “For about 15 years, residents have been contacting the council asking them to put in speed cameras. “I can recall a car crashing into a tree down the road four to six times over that period.
“It’s dangerous, lots of people take a shortcut across that road as well. It’s a complete nightmare. “People are struggling to sell their homes because of the road, there’s no speed controls on it.
It puts people off being on this road.” Daniel Cowan, Labour leader of Southend Council, said the road does not meet the intervention criteria in terms of “accidents and incidents,” but it is taking “a broader view” of what it can do and afford to tackle the issue next year. John Chenery, 65, who lives on the road, added residents had been “promised” speed cameras but this has not come to fruition.
He said: “It’s been promised for a long time. It would help put a stop to these crashes. I have seen the air ambulance land near this road often.
It’s really bad when something happens along here.” Ivor Knight, 73, who also lives on the road, added he and neighbours have lots of examples of crashes on the road. He said: “This has been going on for many years, we need a speed camera to deter them.
I think a 30mph speed limit should be introduced.”.
