A GROUP of terrified residents in Holywell fear there will be a tragedy if something is not done to stop speeding traffic.

Mum Jo Calvert and her partner Matt Lee called a crunch meeting with residents, West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin and members of Dorset County Council’s traffic department regarding the main road going through the village.

It came after a serious near miss when a tractor carrying a livestock trailer ended up crashing into a car, dragging it several feet up the road before smashing into a traffic barrier and nearly careering into a row of residential homes.

Mrs Calvert said: “On a number of occasions I have literally had to jump out of the way as cars swerve into our parking lay-by to avoid hitting each other.

“Recently I was nearly hit by a speeding vehicle when I was getting my one-year-old son out of the car.

“Now I am terrified to get out of my car with my little boy and we are seriously considering moving out of the area because it is just too dangerous.”

She said that after the tractor incident this week she and her partner decided it was the final straw and decided to write to the authorities.

She added: “People exceed the 60mph limit, there are parked cars all along and a sharp bend at the end of the road. All these factors will, I fear, eventually end in a death on this small stretch of road.

“There are so many parents with young children living on this road and also where the accident happened this week is where the children wait for their school bus.”

Following a heated meeting where residents told council officers that they feared for their lives or one of the children, officers said they will review what traffic calming measures can be put in place.

Residents were told there was not enough money in the council’s budget so MP Oliver Letwin suggested the money could be raised by the community. DCC officers said that restrictions from the Department of Transport would prevent the village road being made into a 30mph zone.

MP Oliver Letwin said he would liaise with the Department of Transport to see if this could be changed. PC Jeremy Cuff, part of the rural team covering Holywell, said: “It is wildly inappropriate for drivers to go 60mph along this road so I understand the residents’ concerns and we will do all we can to help.”

During the meeting road engineer Andrew Bradley of Dorset County Council and his colleague Richard Stubbs were asked why their road is not a priority.

Afterwards Mr Bradley said: “What we are dealing with here is bad driving by people going far too fast on this road.

“I share the frustrations of the residents.”