A COUNCIL has refused to erect bollards around a property crashed into four times, saying its safety is not their responsibility.

Great-grandmother Mavis Wallis pleaded with Darlington Borough Council to install safety measures close to her home after a number of cars smashed through her garden wall.

The elderly lady begged for bollards after watching four cars plough into the garden of her Wensleydale Road property within six years, leaving her fearing for her safety and that of others.

The most recent incident – which happened in March – saw two cars collide close to the junction of Wensleydale Road and North Road, one of which smashed through Mrs Wallis’ garden wall and came to rest just inches from her house.

Mrs Wallis was devastated to find out from a third party – prospective ward councillor Alan Macnab – that Darlington Borough Council would not install any safety measures to combat the issue.

In a letter to Mr McNab, the authority said it had reviewed the junction and found nothing unsafe.

The letter said a crash barrier would be needed to protect the wall and continued: “...this is very expensive to erect and maintain and we do not consider it appropriate in this location.”

A spokeswoman for the council told The Northern Echo that the repeated incidents related to driver behaviour and suggested Mrs Wallis use the car driver’s insurance to pay for damages.

She added: “Bollards wouldn’t have stopped the vehicle from hitting the wall as they aren’t designed to withstand a vehicle striking them with any force.

“The wall belongs to a private property and unfortunately the safety of private properties isn’t a council responsibility.”

Mrs Wallis said: “It’s disgraceful and I don’t know where to turn.

“They’re fobbing me off and I’m sure if it was their mother in my position they’d do something.

“I just want something putting up – the police have suggested bollards but the council say nothing will stop this happening.

“They’re saying it’s the driver’s fault but when it’s happened four times in the same place, surely that shows there’s danger there.

“It’s a busy road and people could be hurt or killed, I’ve told them that but I think they’re waiting for someone to be hit by a car or for something serious to happen before they do anything – I’m a bag of nerves.”