Wyre residents terrified "someone will be killed" after CCTV footage shows daily dangerous driving

The junction at Park Lane, Burned House Lane and Cemetery Lane in Preesall, and Hall Gate Lane in Stalmine, has been flagged by residents as "an accident waiting to happen" if changes are not made soon.

The speed limit currently stands at 60mph along Park Lane, changing to 30mph just after the junction towards Knott End.

Numerous Preesall residents contacted the Gazette with their concerns about the safety of the junction, with concerns that "nothing will be resolved until an accident happens."

Despite the 'give way' signs on the road, CCTV footage from Park Lane Auto Sales recorded multiple failures by motorists to do so, driving through the junction.

Michael Williams, 42, is the general manager of the car sales garage and said the CCTV footage he recorded from his office and viewed was "shocking."

"It isn't even speeding that's the problem, said Michael.

"The problem is that the give way signs aren't visible enough, and for people who aren't familiar with this junction they don't know they shouldn't be driving straight through it.

"Lorries are the main issue. It's been always been bad but it's getting worse and the road markings have worn off, so people just don't know how to use the junction properly."

Margaret Carradus, 60, lives on Rosslyn Avenue and said she has used the junction since 1971, and it had "only got worse" since.

"The amount of traffic has increased over time, which has caused massive problems at the junction, she said.

"There are too many large vehicles who can't see where they're going on a blind bend, and I've seen the aftermath of crashes where there has been glass and car parts everywhere.

"As a car passenger and a cyclist, it makes me so anxious when I approach the junction that I must admit I go through it with my eyes closed in the car, or wait for others to check the corner is safe first."

Rossall school teacher Lee Hodgetts, 45, owns the barn on the corner of the junction, which can be seen in the CCTV footage, and said he had witnessed various accidents at the junction.

He said: "About 18 months ago we had a car crash into the end of our barn, there was video footage that showed she was travelling far too quickly and failed to make the turn to Lancaster.

"Unfortunately I have witnessed the air ambulance landing to recover people before, I've seen a car on its roof down Cemetery Lane and numerous other accidents.

"A combination of vehicles travelling too quickly, poor road surfaces, poor road markings and signage is going to lead to a fatality sooner rather than later.

"Due to the sharp turn on the main road, HGVs regularly have to swing onto the opposite side of the road to get round the corner, this junction really needs to be bypassed."

Road users have called for action from Lancashire County Council to make the junction safer, and said they have contacted the authority on multiple occasions over the last few years.

MP for Lancashire and Fleetwood Cat Smith said: "Regular users of this junction will know that there have been accidents here, and many of us have seen near-misses too. I have been putting pressure on the transport authority, Lancashire County Council, to address its serious issues. This includes the safety of local residents who have had vehicles hit their houses on impact from collisions.

“The new CCTV footage shockingly highlights how frequently these near-misses are. It should be a rocket up the behind for the County Council. As an immediate action they should be repairing the road surface and repainting road markings, then there needs to be a long term solution for the junction.

"We keep hearing there will be a consultation, I am left asking how much longer do residents have to wait? Lancashire County Council, pull your finger out!”

The Gazette also approached Wyre and Preston North MP Ben Wallace for comment.

In response to protests for change by Ms Smith and residents, County Coun Matthew Salter said: "I very much share concerns about safety at the Burned House Lane junction, and have been shocked to see some of the appalling driving in recent videos circulated on social media, although this junction has been a longstanding concern.

"I have met with Highways to discuss this on multiple occasions and as a result Lancashire County Council have been developing a safety scheme for the junction for some time, to be consulted on, which should include a reduction in the speed limit around the junction, and improvements in signage and markings amongst other measures, so the County Council is being proactive in looking to address these issues. This is on top of the major road safety scheme already being implemented on the A588."