Speed camera call on blackspot road

Pleas have been made for a speed camera on an accident blackspot road in Dudley amid fears someone could get killed unless urgent action is taken.

It follows the latest in a string of crashes in Brook Street, Woodsetton, where a car careered off the road causing thousands of pounds of damage to property. Councillor David Simms says a permanent camera is the only way to stop speeding motorists from using the road as a "rat-run". "You see cars speeding down the road at all times of the day and night," he said.

"Somebody is going to get seriously injured or killed if something is not done soon.

"There is a layby in Brook Street, which was put in two years ago so it could be used for a mobile camera but it is hardly ever used, in fact, I think it has only been used once in that time.

"What we need is permanent camera which would act as a good deterent to anyone speeding and reduce the number of accidents in the street."

During the early hours of Tuesday morning, an out-of-control Ford Focus smashed through three gardens damaging a garden wall belonging to Howard and Margaret Hampton, aged 71 and 66. It was the second time their garden wall had been destroyed since January.

Barry Beardsmore, 57, a company director, had his car damaged as the Focus ploughed into it before coming to rest. The front of his house was also been scraped by flying debris.

The neighbours say they are fed up of people speeding up and down the road and want to stop people using the road as a rat run.

Councillor Angus Adams, cabinet member for transport at Dudley Council, has pledged to take heed of residents' concerns.

"If it's a rat run issue it clearly needs addressing. I will be speaking to engineers and asking them to have a look at it," he said.

No one was available for comment at the West Midlands Police's casualty reduction scheme, which is responsible for speed cameras.