Speed barriers called for after car hits Brompton garage (From The Northern Echo)

Speed barriers called for after car hits Brompton garage

8:00am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Northallerton News By Andy Walker

A HOMEOWNER has called for speed barriers outside his isolated property after a car crashed near where his grandchildren had earlier been playing.

The green Ford Focus was travelling on the A684, just outside Brompton, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, at about 7.20pm on Sunday when it left the road.

It went through some hedges before hitting a garage that is now in danger of collapsing.

The incident happened at an area known as Hallikeld Corner, where the road bends and rises.

The Focus driver, a 39-yearold man from Middlesbrough, who was unhurt, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

He has been bailed pending investigations.

Homeowner Alan Saxby said the incident could have easily had tragic consequences.

He said: “I know this happened when it was dark, but the grandchildren had been out here playing earlier that day.

“If they had been here when this happened, or if anybody had been walking nearby, they would have been cleaned out.

“There are toys that the kids have left near the garage; they could have been playing here at the time.”

Mr Saxby, 71, said a similar incident happened at his property several years ago, when a van hit the garage, resulting in it being demolished. It was later rebuilt.

He said he wanted crash barriers installed by North Yorkshire County Council at the time of the first incident, but was frustrated.

Mr Saxby said: “They put chevrons up and other warning signs.

“We have been here more than 30 years and this has only happened twice when a car has hit the garage.

“There have been other cars go off the road in between these two incidents.

“We should have crash barriers to cut down the risk of this being repeated.”

Mr Saxby, who will consult a builder before deciding whether the garage will have to be demolished again, said it was fortunate that the driver had not veered slightly to the left, because he could have hit gas canisters and other fuel sources.

He said: “There was a hell of a bang. We just knew straight away what had happened because we have been here before.”