‘Someone is going to get killed’: Moulton resident’s concern over wrong way driving on one-way street

A resident who lives in the Northamptonshire village of Moulton is seriously concerned that someone will be killed on the road where he lives.

Eamonn Byrne who has lived on Church Hill for 18 years claims that ‘seven or eight cars a day’ drive the wrong way up the road where there is also a primary school, a nursery and several houses.

Recently there has been an incident where a father had to quickly pull his four-year-old son, who was in a pram, out the way of a vehicle that was driving the wrong way on the street.

Eamonn, who has CCTV cameras on his house that capture wrong way drivers, said: “It has always been a problem over the last five years. It has worsened as the village and the college have got bigger.

“Drivers nip up this way so they don’t have to go through the whole village. I would say there are seven or eight a day.

“There is a real risk that someone is going to get killed.

“I wonder how I would react if my daughter came out of nursery and got hit by a car knowing the council and the highways agency knew about the problem and had known for years.”

Eamonn has been in regular contact with Moulton Parish Council about the issue, has spoken at a council meeting and has sent councillors ‘close to a hundred pictures of people going the wrong way’.

Eamonn added: “A councillor came to visit and his first suggestion was to make the street two ways, which isn’t feasible.

“The council did also suggest one-way spikes near to the school, but it was assessed and it was deemed too expensive.

“And they put out a questionnaire to all the residents of Church Hill. I think most responded with solutions to solve the problem.

“I suggested a higher curb to take away the appeal of whizzing round but the cost is too much for the higher curb and to move the two signs.

“New plastic signs saying no through road were put up about six months ago after the council questionnaire.

“If they are doing that then they recognise that it is a problem.

“That is a cheap fix to the problem that is not going to make a difference.

“It is a serious problem. I am realistic and I know it’s one of many serious and urgent problems that need to be dealt with by the council.

“But putting extra signs at the end of the street is not going to stop them.”

A PCSO has also been out to visit Eamonn regarding this problem. He was told that repeat offenders would be sent a letter.

Eamonn became even more concerned by the problem when a young boy was ‘nearly hit’ by a car driving the wrong way.

Keith Balbi, who has lived in Moulton for three years, was crossing Church Hill with his wife and four-year-old when he had to quickly move his son’s pram.

He said: “The car missed his head by about half an inch.

“If I had not realised he most likely would have been hit.

“It took a few minutes for us to compose ourselves. It was quite a shock.

“It happens a lot because people don’t want to go around the village.

“It’s only supposed to be an entrance way for the school but people just ignore it.

“There are signs saying no through road but people are not listening.

“Measures need to be put in place as it’s a lane where we have school children.

“One of these days there will be a major incident.”

Church Hill, the street in question, is a one-way street for the most part, but is a two-way street for a short distance at both ends.

It is a two-way street from the junction with West Street to the primary school entrance, then a one-way street from the primary school, past the nursery and the houses, to the church car park.

From the church car park to the junction with Church Street, the road is two-way.

The nursery on Church Hill, which has a capacity of 38 children, is also concerned by the wrong way driving.

The manager said: “It’s not very clear on the road as to what it is or where you can drive.

“We have had parents come for visits and go out the wrong way because it’s not clear.

“And people use it as a cut through as well.

“It’s an ongoing issue.

“It has just gotten worse recently and the traffic is just getting worse and worse anyway.

“Had letters and questionnaires from the parish council and sent them back, but we’ve not actually had direct contact with them.

“They’re leaving it until something happens really and the village is getting bigger and busier.

“How long is the council going to leave it before something actually gets done?

“I think the road layout is a really good idea. Changing it and extending the curb more will make a difference for cars trying to get down the road.

“It will be safer for children who use it everyday.”

The primary school on the road was contacted, but was not prepared to comment on the issue.

When Moulton Parish Council was contacted, it pointed the Chronicle & Echo towards the minutes from its meeting that are posted online.

In the minutes, the council said: “The matter of vehicles travelling the wrong way down Church Hill was first brought to the attention by a resident of Church Hill in September 2018. We immediately contacted the Highways Liaison Officer Northamptonshire County Council (HLO) and Northants Police for advice and assistance.

“The HLO suggested placing ‘no through route’ signage at the Church Hill/Cross Street/West Street junction in addition to the recently installed ‘no entry’ signage and ‘no entry’ road markings. Northants Police concurred with this suggestion.

“In January 2019, Sgt Dobbs confirmed he was writing to all drivers captured on CCTV and this information was passed on to the resident.

“In July 2019, CF designed and distributed a resident survey regarding the problem to all residents of Church Hill.

“A number of engineering options were available but HLO (qualified Highways Engineer) felt there would be little impact on the situation.

“Moulton Parish Council takes residents safety very seriously and have recently purchased a mobile speed camera (largely funded by a grant), at the request of the proactive Moulton Speedwatch group which is being rotated around the main entry points into the village.”