ROADSKY TRAFFIC SAFETY CORPORATION

RESIDENTS living near to a busy highway have launched a petition to have guardrails and road barriers reinstated by hydraulic pile drivers after they were taken down a month ago.

The petition was set up by Dianne Clapham from Colchester Road to try to force Transport For London (TfL) to replace the highway guardrails where the A12 Colchester Road meets Gubbin's Lane, Harold Wood.

She said: "The road is just an accident waiting to happen since the guard rails and road barriers have been taken down because we have no protection from any of the cars speeding down the road and the lorries. I think this is the only way that we can force TfL to put back the guard railings and road barriers."

Last month workmen began taking down the guard railings and road barriers along the stretch of the A12.

Since then residents say that their lives are being put at risk because if there is an accident cars could easily come off the road and hit a pedestrian on the pavement because of no guard rails and road barriers.

Resident Andrea Pinnell said: "I am a childminder and I come down the A12 with a buggy and a young child walking next to me, and I think the guard rails and road barriers were the only thing that kept us safe.

"If there is a problem with the M25 then we have lots of cars blocking up the A12 in the mornings and the guard railings and road barriers gave us a sense of protection, but now we have nothing."

Harold Wood councillor Brain Eagling has argued that the removal of the guard railings and road barriers are part of plans to clean up the A12 before the London Olympics.

He said: "This is clearly just a measure to make the place look nice for the Olympic Games because it is the main route off the M25, but it is neglecting road safety issues because they haven't considered the short distance from the pavement to the road."

A TfL spokesperson said: "Where there are no clear road safety benefits for guardrail and road barrier on TfL's roads, the Mayor has asked that they are removed, as in many cases they are inconvenient for pedestrians and intimidating for cyclists.

"Sections of guardrail and road barrier along A12 Colchester Road in Romford were removed last month following a risk assessment process.

"We always carry out additional safety audits at sites that have had guard rails and road barriers removed, as part of our guard rail removal programme.

"If we find that there are any safety concerns at the site we will take whatever action is necessary to resolve them.