A GROUP of Alton residents say “enough is enough” following a crash on Lenten Street that saw yet another driver rip out his vehicle’s sump after failing to register the second of two build-outs, designed to slow traffic down.

According to householders, since the installation of the traffic calming measures in 2016, they have endured nothing but trouble as frustrated drivers take risks by trying to accelerate through the chicanes. Designed to make them stop and wait, as part of a priority right of way system, the three - now reduced to two - build-outs appear to bring the worst out of some people and, with inadequate signage, in the dark and/or poor visibility, and with the added all-enveloping hazard now of fallen leaves, the features put in to enforce more responsible driving seems, in some cases, to be having the opposite effect.

In the past residents in Lenten Street have had to endure some law-breaking speed merchants using the road as a race track but now, for some, it has the added dimension of built-in hazards.

Drivers have complained about the close proximity of the first build-up coming in to town as being dangerously close to the junction with Ackender Road, and that has led to numerous near-misses as drivers exiting left into Lenten Street, towards the New Odiham Road roundabout, do not expect to encounter vehicles driving towards them on their side of the road.

And there is a similar problem with the second build-out, close to the junction with Westbrooke Road.

In addition, the build-outs have made it difficult for some residents to access and exit their properties - a problem which led to the removal of a one-time third build-out.

Of yet more concern is the fact that since they were installed the build-outs have not, in the opinion of residents, been clearly signed, especially at night, and have caused endless accidents with drivers failing to register their presence. As a result, in the early days there was a spate of vehicles crashing into and eventually destroying the signage and now, with all but the jagged post stumps remaining, driving over the islands and the posts, which have become known as “sump busters”.

Says local resident, Howard Rice-Smith, not only do these vehicles cause more damage to the build-outs, but some are so badly wrecked that they grind to a halt in the road, causing a potential blockage, and dripping oil over the carriageway.

The final crunch came when yet another resounding crash sent residents racing from their homes at about 10.30pm on Saturday evening (October 13) to find another sump busted, damaged vehicle limping away.

Like Mr Rice-Smith, fellow resident, Helena Lewis, has written countless letters to Hampshire County Council (HCC) about the on-going problems with the traffic calming measures and is disappointed with what appears to be a lack of response.

She told the Herald that the temporary direction signs currently in place to warn motorists of the presence of the build-outs now present their own hazard as they are unstable, being supported by nothing more than broken sandbags. Furthermore, she feels that if a cyclist were to skid on the build-up of leaves around the islands they could easily fall onto the exposed jagged metal stumps of the old signs and sustain serious injury.

In May this year, resident Adrian Marriott wrote to local county councillor Andrew Joy, urging a discussion on the situation and flagging up the high incident rate of crashes in Lenten Street since the traffic calming measures were installed.

He was seeking to debate the argument that, rather than bad driving these incidents could be down to poor road layout design, and if the island build-outs were in fact effective in slowing traffic and/or whether they were having unwanted side-effects, such as causing an increase in speed.

In addition, Mr Marriott sought to flag up the number of unrecorded “near-misses” that he felt were not being considered by HCC and the increase in “very fast driving to get round the islands to avoid waiting for oncoming traffic,” adding “the statistical likelihood of a serious head-on collision is massively increased.”

Alton county councillor Andrew Joy, has given an assurance that he is “on the case”, adding: “I have every sympathy for the residents living along Lenten Street and their frustration. The fact that accidents have occurred and that the build-outs have not been reinstated is unacceptable, and appropriate action should be taken on safety grounds.”

He continued: “The Hampshire County Council traffic management department designed this traffic-calming scheme in good faith and as part of the 20mph zone, with a view to restraining those drivers who put their foot to the floor on their way out of town. But there are still those who fail to pay attention and, with the lighting taken out, may not see the islands, or are going to fast anyway to avoid them.”Rob Humby, the county council's executive member for environment and transport at Hampshire County Council, said: “I am sorry to learn of the recent incident at Lenten Street. The Lenten Street works formed part of a traffic-calming scheme which was initially completed in 2015 and some further amendments were made in 2016. The scheme formed part of a transport strategy which was subject to extensive local engagement and was supported."However, given the time that has elapsed since the works were last reviewed, I will ask for a further review of the scheme, and its effectiveness in reducing traffic impact, to be undertaken.”