By John Connell

Last updated at 14:09, Wednesday, 14 November 2012

Calls for action on a danger road are growing following a crash which saw several vehicles burst into flame.

In April, Prospect residents Carol Muckley, Tina Richardson, Lynda Snowdon, Peter Wilson and Ron Wilson called for something to be done

The A596 at Prospect, near Aspatria, was closed yesterday morning after a smash involving five vehicles, three of which caught fire.

It is not clear whether speed was a factor in the collision at Moorside, but residents have been calling for traffic calming measures including a reduced speed limit for several years and are “frustrated” at the lack of progress.

The A596 that runs through Prospect is a 40mph zone but villagers said many cars travel at much higher speeds.

Marcus Cosgrove, chairman of Oughterside and Allerby Parish Council, wants to see representatives from the police and the county council and other agencies sit down at a meeting and listen to the resident’s concerns.

He said: “We keep saying ‘Ultimately someone could die’. Do we have to have another fatality before something is done? I hope not.

“There could be kids crossing the road but because of the nature of the road people don’t slow down.

“It’s a very long and straight road and certainly late at night a lot of speeding goes on. I have seen motorbikes doing wheelies and all sorts. It is something we have brought up with the police and the county.

“We hear about it constantly and we keep putting it on the agenda but nothing happens. It is frustrating.”

Residents and councillors have previously suggested a number of measures including a 30mph speed limit and traffic calming measures such as speed humps.

Residents agreed that one of the most hazardous areas in the village is the junction between the Miner’s Arms and the post office where there is very “poor visibility” due to parked cars.

The area has seen several accidents in recent years, including a one-vehicle collision in March this year.

And in 2009, Tina Richardson, landlady of the Miners Arms, had to claim back about £3,500 after a car collided with a wall outside her pub, a spot where children wait to get buses to school.

In April this year Prospect villagers made a desperate plea for the speed limit to be reduced.

Among them was Carol Muckley, of Westmoor End, who works as a shop assistant in the post office.

She said: “When you see people driving they are not doing 40mph. You see people trying to get across the road and there is quite a high elderly population here.”

First published at 14:07, Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk