EXCLUSIVE

By Emma Grove

Residents are demanding action after a two-car smash in an accident hot-spot.

The latest crash in the Bell Road area, near Fulston Manor School, in Sittingbourne, happened at 9.20am on Wednesday when a BMW and a Toyota Prius collided at the junction with Capel Road.

One of the cars ploughed through a garden wall, destroying it.

No one was seriously injured, but it happened less than 24 hours after another two cars were involved in a crash yards away in Capel Road when a lamppost was damaged.

The first accident happened at 5.15pm on Tuesday.

A resident who lives nearby said there have been more than six accidents within the last eight weeks.

One of these was on September 7 when a minibus collided with a car and an eight-year-old schoolboy was injured in Bell Road.

The resident said: "The collision speeds are such that the vehicles are thrown considerable distance.

"The crossroads are very close to two important schools so there is a major risk to children and the highway authority should assure us they are addressing the issue as a matter of utmost urgency to protect drivers and pedestrians.

"All the local residents are well aware of the problem and are absolutely amazed that seemingly nothing is being done."

Another resident said they thought the traffic lights at the junction, which were installed in 2002, could be part of the problem.

Ward councillor for St Michael's, Derek Conway (Con) lives in Bell Road and said he is well aware of the issue and has raised it with Kent Highways.

He said: "The junction is there because of the estate but it is a worry.

"It's a combination of things that contribute - the buses parking down there, speeding and a lot has got to be driving error. What concerns me is speed."

Cllr Conway said he has also had residents complain about speeding at the top of the road, near Northwood Drive