Fed-up drivers are calling for action to be taken on a town centre junction blighted by several crashes.

Residents in Ashford say a four-way crossroads by the town’s railway station could cause “a serious issue” if restrictions are not implemented.

The concerns follow another collision at the junction, which connects the A2042 with Elwick Road and Station Approach, on Saturday evening.

Although nobody was seriously injured, two vehicles including a Range Rover collided outside the former Cappadocia restaurant just before 6pm.

The crash was at least the third incident at the traffic-light controlled junction in 2024.

Resident Clive Knowles believes the installation of cameras would benefit motorists.

"Driving standards have dropped significantly in recent years,” he said.

"The lane discipline at this junction and on Drovers Roundabout probably causes more incidents.

"Maybe red light cameras would help in both locations."

Another resident believes it is not just cameras which need to be installed at the four-way crossroads.

"As someone who drives the town daily, the need for yellow junction boxes and cameras to enforce them is something Kent County Council (KCC) needs to look into,” he said.

"It causes total gridlock due to people not judging lights and being unable to clear the junctions, thus leaving them stuck in the way of the traffic that has right of way when the lights change.

"When you consider the need for keeping traffic moving and also emergency services needing to be able to manoeuvre through traffic quickly, it’s a serious issue."

Cllr Paul Bartlett (Con), who represents Ashford Central on KCC, says drivers “pre-empt the change of lights” at the junction.

“They move into areas which are dangerous because they believe they can clear the area before the traffic lights change," he said.

“So the reason for the level of accidents at the site is because people think they can clear the junction, but because all the sets of traffic lights are so closely together they are mistaken and traffic ends up being stranded in the middle of the junction.

“People also get impatient which causes the problem at that site."

When asked whether plans are currently on the cards for traffic calming measures, Cllr Bartlett replied: "I have asked for a yellow patched area at the junction.

"It's something which has certainly been considered in the past, but it was put on hold because there were plans about two years ago for the 'Ashford Shard' project for new flats [on the corner of Beaver Road and Avenue Jacques Faucheux].

"When that application was considered, it was agreed a yellow hatched area of no waiting would be included.

"But because the flats are not coming forward immediately, I have asked KCC to put it in now because it's an area which needs attention.

"Both the station junction and the junction by the Hampton by Hilton hotel a bit further down needs to be assessed for the safety impact of the additional flats - where some have also been postponed in Elwick Road because of the Stodmarsh nutrient neutrality issue."

In a statement, a KCC spokesman said: “Government has opened the way for councils to enforce moving traffic offences, such as stopping in yellow box junctions, which cause congestion on local roads and used to only be actionable by police.

“Like many local authorities, we know these powers would be a useful tool to keeping our roads safe and moving.

“Following a KCC consultation in 2022, we have commenced enforcement at a number of key locations and will look to implement new locations on a case-by-case basis.

“Locations for sites are consulted on via Moving Traffic Enforcement - Let’s talk Kent.”