Long Lane in Brundall called a death trap due to speeders

Villager Sophie West says that motorists are being forced to use Brundall as a diversion route due to dualling roadworks. The works are expected to last until 2026.

She says that drivers are regularly breaking the 30mph speed limit in the village - putting people’s lives in danger.

Long Lane in Brundall is being used as a rat run for motorists coming off the A47 at North Burlingham (Image: Google Maps)

"In the last eight weeks, SAM (speed awareness message) cameras set up by the parish council have caught 20,000 people speeding through Brundall," she said.

Norfolk police, however, say that their own speed survey found that between 69pc and 75pc of vehicles kept to the 30mph limit.

They added that the force is attending regular meetings with the contractor leading the works and the parish council about the issue.

Sophie West has been trying to have something done about the excessive speeding for months (Image: Sophie West)

‘SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED’

Sophie, who lives in Brundall, says she has been fighting for safety improvements on the roads in the village for months.

The 40-year-old claims the situation has become even worse when a telegraph pole was knocked down by a speeding car outside her home recently, disrupting the internet supply and damaging her garden wall.

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"No one is doing anything about this and it's only a matter of time before someone is killed," she said.

"I'm afraid to go out of my own front driveway to walk the dog because of how dangerous it is.

"I don't even use the front rooms in my house for fear of a speeding driver coming flying through the walls."

A telegraph pole was knocked down outside Sophie's house by a speeding driver just last week (Image: Sophie West)

Much of the traffic is being rerouted off the A47 due to the ongoing work to dual it between Blofield and North Burlingham.

Sophie said since the £100 million scheme started last year, thousands more cars are coming through the village.

"In the last eight weeks, SAM (speed awareness message) cameras set up by the parish council have caught 20,000 people speeding through Brundall," she said.

"That would be 40,000 people if you counted both ways, many of which are going 40 or 50 miles per hour.

"I've been telling the police about this for months and nothing has been done."

WHAT DO THE POLICE SAY?

A police spokeswoman said: "Norfolk Police are attending regular meetings, with both the contractor leading the works and the parish council, where the issue has been raised.

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"The situation continues to be monitored."

The force carried out its own speed survey in May and found that between 69pc and 75pc of vehicles are keeping to the 30mph limit in Long Lane.

But Sophie claims the data collected was not a true representation of the issues facing Brundall because the junction with Stone Road chosen for the survey was a common turning point so cars regularly slowed down to use it.

SAM (speed awareness message) cameras have caught tens of thousands of speeders in the last several months (Image: Newsquest)

However, the police said: "There can often be a perception difference between what a person thinks is the speeding issue and what the data shows.

"This will mean some sites will be deemed to be safe and not require a bespoke policing response."

BREAKING POINT

Sophie is not the only one losing sleep over motorists being diverted through the village.

She said her elderly neighbours are unable to leave their houses because they do not feel safe enough to pull out onto the road.

"We're all at our breaking points," she said.

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"I'm genuinely frightened someone is going to die here.

"But I'm still fighting the good fight and want to see someone take responsibility."

More traffic cameras with flashing signs, speed humps and warnings are among the safety measures Sophie wishes to see installed in the village which she does not believe would come at great cost but would make a world of difference to those who live there.

Norfolk County Council and its highways department have been contacted for comment.