SPEEDING drivers crashing into garden walls have triggered calls for speed restrictions and a one-way system on a Leigh road.

A group of 30 fed-up residents living in Wren Avenue have sent a petition to Southend Council claiming speed bumps installed 11 years ago have been ineffective in stopping reckless motorists who have used the road as a rat run.

They are calling on the council to turn the road into a oneway street and cut the speed limit.

Elaine Ventura, 55, lives on the corner of Wren Avenue and said she has twice had cars crash into her back garden when they have lost control at high speed.

She said: “A few of us have had cars come through into our properties.

“One of my neighbours had it three times and I’ve had it twice, the cars are just going too fast, they lose control.

“We are asking the council to look at what they can do, such as making the speed bumps higher.

“Others have suggested turning the road into a one-way system.

“I just wish the traffic would slow down because someone will be killed.

“I could have been sitting in my garden when they hit my fence.”

While only 30 people signed the petition, Ms Ventura said she believes many more would be in support of it but she had to stop collecting signatures when the Covid-19 lockdown came in during March.

Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Collins, of the Eastwood ward, has backed the campaign from residents.

He said: “A speed calming scheme was put in about 10 years ago but it hasn’t made the traffic any slower.

“The speed humps in place are not capable of making a difference to modern cars and that is why they launched the petition.

“A one-way system and other options all need to be discussed.

“I am not sure a one-way system would slow them down and actually knowing less people will be down there may speed the traffic up, we need things that will physically slow cars down.”

The petition will be considered at a Full Council meeting on Thursday