'Speeding' maniacs

RESIDENTS in Theydon Bois believe their mobile speed camera is doing little to curb "speeding maniacs" after yet another car crash.

Concerns were raised after a stolen VW Polo hit a post and rebounded into dense undergrowth on Piercing Hill.

Police say the driver fled before officers arrived.

Clare Pollock, of Piercing Hill, said the mobile safety camera did little to slow speeding motorists.

"I've only seen it around once and it hasn't done any good. Speeding will continue and the situation is getting worse."

Mrs Pollock is concerned for those who have to walk along the road, for fear of speeding cars leaving the road and causing a fatality.

"I don't have sympathy with those involved, they were driving too fast and could have killed other people," added Mrs Pollock.

"We've had four crashes since August and with the bad weather approaching a bad crash is only around the corner."

Councillor Janet Whitehouse also believes the mobile speed camera is inadequate.

She said: "I'm urging county highways to provide a variable speed indicator, which flashes the speed limit when cars are going too fast, and better signage.

"Hopefully that would warn drivers of the bend and the need to slow down."

Rev Colin Travers, of St Mary's Church, who lives on Piercing Hill, said: "There's an ever increasing rate of accidents and we've had two cars in as many days in the ditch outside the vicarage.

"I'm very concerned. We've had one fatality and it's only a matter of time before the next one."

A county council spokesman said Piercing Hill was in its 2006-07 maintenance initiative programme.

A decision was yet to be taken whether resurfacing or surface dressing will be undertaken.

Mrs Pollock added: "I'd welcome speed indicators or resurfacing, but it won't stop the maniacs from speeding along the road."

A spokesman for Essex Safety Partnership said it was bound by strict rules that determined the location of fixed and mobile speed cameras.